ADVERTISEMENT

***STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BLOG***

VaPrepsRod

VaPreps All Region
Staff
Jul 5, 2008
6,963
550
113
This thread will be used by the VirginiaPreps.com staff as a running blog for the state championship game
 
We're about to get underway here at Liberty University's Arthur L. Williams Stadium in Lynchburg for the 4A State Championship between the Lake Taylor Titans (14-0) and Salem Spartans (14-0) in a battle between undefeated teams, the lone matchup of unbeatens in the VHSL Football Championships for 2014.

Titans win the toss and elect to defer. Salem ball to start.

Follow here for updates as well as my Twitter feed below...

Follow Hatfield Sports on Twitter
 
Salem gets the ball first and it's a splendid 33-yard kickoff return from Davonta Womack. They follow that up with gains of 6 by Isaiah Parker on a catch and 8 from Donte Clayborne on a run into Lake Taylor territory. Fullback Alex Ramsey then shows off the power between the tackles with a run of 8 yards to the Lake Taylor 37.

It'll be interesting to see if/when Coleman Fox gets in this game on offense for the Spartans. The Virginia Tech commit has been battling an ankle sprain and been limited lately. Spartans will burn their first time-out at the 10:12 mark.

A pass intended for Parker is batted down by Marquise Poole, the hero for Lake Taylor last week when he ran in his own blocked field goal for a touchdown to stun Monacan in a 19-14 win.

Speaking of Poole, he comes up with a stop on 4th-and-12 when Salem goes for it from the 38-yard line of Lake Taylor, tripping up QB Austin Coulling. On the two plays in between Poole's PBU and sack, sophomore Darnell Ewell (6-3, 295) made his impact on the game by stoning the Salem running game.

Scoreless here with 8:07 to go 1stQ and Lake Taylor starts at its own 49-yard line...

Follow Hatfield Sports on Twitter
 
Re: ***STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BLOG*** - 7:18 1stQ - Lake Taylor 7, Salem 0

Lake Taylor begins its first offensive series at their own 49-yard line and quickly went to work, capping a 5-play, 51-yard scoring drive in 1:19 with QB Shiheem Johnson (the Conference 17 Offensive Player of the Year and Eastern District Defensive Player of the Year) keeping it for a 7-yard touchdown run out of the read option.

The key play that extended the drive was Johnson hitting ECU commit Nhyre Quinerly for a 9-yard gain on 3rd & 7 on a comeback route. Johnson also found Daz Palmer for a shovel pass that netted 30 yards. Palmer was tackled by VT commit Coleman Fox at the 9-yard line.

7:18 left 1stQ - Lake Taylor 7, Salem 0

Too early to press the panic button for Salem, but they need to move the ball a bit or things could get troublesome for the Spartans and LT can start to feed off its aggressive defense.

Follow Hatfield Sports on Twitter
 
Re: ***STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BLOG*** - 2:29 1stQ - Lake Taylor 7, Salem 0

As you would expected an undefeated team to do, Salem has responded from falling behind 7-0 to Lake Taylor by putting together a really solid drive here as we near the end of the first quarter.

On 3rd-and-5 at their own 25, QB Austin Coulling finds Davonta Womack for a 14-yard completion. The Lake Taylor defense can apply heat in a big way, but Salem is not being disturbed too much by the pressure of the Titans just yet. Donte Clayborne picks up a chunk of about 10 or 11 before Nhyre Quinerly brings him down. A costly drop by Coleman Fox brings up 3rd-and-5, and it's Marquise Poole stepping up yet again with a pass deflection.

So Salem goes for it on 4th down and the pass near their sideline falls incomplete.

Two drives for the Spartans into Lake Taylor territory, just outside the red zone, end up empty. Lake Taylor takes over at its own 34-yard line with a 7-0 lead with 3:11 remaining in the first quarter.

For Hank Sawyer's Titans, it's important they don't let up with the lead and ball and want to try put their foot on the throat.

Follow Hatfield Sports on Twitter
 
Re: ***STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BLOG*** - 1:22 1stQ - Lake Taylor 7, Salem 7

Lake Taylor goes 3-and-out after stopping Salem for a second consecutive time on fourth down and the Titans decide to punt it away on 4th & 1 from their own 43-yard line.

Marquise Poole gets about 30 yards on the punt. However, Salem knots the score up at 7 as junior tailback Donte Clayborne rumbles 72 yards to the house untouched off tackle for a game-tying touchdown, extra point is good.

1:12 left 1stQ - Salem 7, Lake Taylor 7

Things don't get better for Lake Taylor as on their first play from scrimmage on possession #3, it's an errant pitch by QB Shiheem Johnson, resulting in a fumble that Salem scoops up. Credit the recovery to Davonta Womack.

Salem is in business at the Titans 22 with 1:12 left in the 1stQ and now has major momentum on its side.

Follow Hatfield Sports on Twitter
 
Re: ***STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BLOG*** - End 1stQ: Lake Taylor 7, Salem 7

Salem appeared to be in trouble down 7-0 with Lake Taylor in possession of the football, but a three-and-out from the Titans followed by a Spartans touchdown and fumble that they recovered has changed this game in a hurry.

End 1stQ - Salem 7, Lake Taylor 7

The Spartans have the football with 3rd-and-2 at the Lake Taylor 14 to start the second period. Coach Stephen Magenbauer has to feel good about how his team has responded. Meanwhile, the Titans need to buckle down in the red zone and hold Salem to a field goal try if possible.

Follow Hatfield Sports on Twitter
 
Re: ***STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BLOG*** - 9:57 2ndQ: Salem 10, Lake Taylor 7

Lake Taylor jumps offsides on 3rd-and-2 to give Salem a fresh set of downs and at the Lake Taylor 9-yard line. But 3 trips inside the 40 of the Titans have resulted in only 3 points for the Spartans.

That's because on 3rd-and-6 from the 6-yard line, middle linebacker Anfreny Yancey makes a tackle for loss for the Titans defense to force a field goal try.

Salem boots it through on a 26-yard kick from Kyle Reighard.

10:04 left 2ndQ - Salem 10, Lake Taylor 7

It's clear that as talented and aggressive as the Titans are, they cannot overwhelm this Salem team if they turn the ball over and make mistakes.

Follow Hatfield Sports on Twitter
 
Re: ***STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BLOG*** - 3:14 2ndQ: LT 14, Salem 10

Realizing the importance of answering the 10 straight points from Salem, Lake Taylor is marching and putting togeher a really effective drive with a mixture of run and pass.

Salem's defense gets a couple of quality stops up front from Jack Wilkinson and Kenneth McCaulley, who sacked QB Shiheem Johnson. But Johnson shows his toughness with a first down run on 3rd-and-1, shortly followed by a 19-yard pass to ECU commit Nhyre Quinerly on 2nd-and-4.

Johnson is running this twin-veer option style offense so much better than he did a year ago when he was thrust into the position because All-State performer Delmon Williams (who led the Titans to a state title in 2012) went down to injury. He pitches to Daz Palmer and Marcus Hawkins; they combine for 3 runs that gain 14 yards.

And on 3rd-and-goal from the 1-yard line, it's Johnson muscling his way into the end zone for a touchdown. Poole's PAT is up and true.

3:14 left 2ndQ - Lake Taylor 14, Salem 10

That drive chewed up 6:43 and the Titans' offensive line really started getting in sync on that possession after a couple of minor breakdowns.




This post was edited on 12/13 5:22 PM by matthew328826

Follow Hatfield Sports on Twitter
 
Re: ***STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BLOG*** - HALF: Lake Taylor 21, Salem 10

A face-mask penalty on Lake Taylor moves the chains for Salem, but this Lake Taylor defense is starting to flex its muscles, playing fast and physical. Following that first down, the Spartans are forced to punt and what seemed to be an ordinary punt return for Nhyre Quinerly was anything but.

The future ECU Pirate zigged and zagged his way past defenders before sprinting roughly 83 yards down the right sideline in front of the Lake Taylor bench for a game-changing touchdown.

That gives the Titans some breathing room heading into the locker room, and before the break, it's A.J. Williams, Darnell Ewell and Prezhontay Wilkins making impact hits against the running game of Salem.

HALF - Lake Taylor 21, Salem 10

We'll have some numbers and more in a bit... stay tuned!



Follow Hatfield Sports on Twitter
 
Re: ***STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BLOG*** - Stats at the Half: LT 21, Salem 10

Numbers at the break...

Lake Taylor 21:
23 plays for 126 total yards (17 rushes for 76 yards)
3 of 4 on 3rd Downs
0 of 0 on 4th Downs
3 Penalties for 25 Yards

Shiheem Johnson 4 of 6 for 50 yards; 2TD's rushing
Daz Palmer 2 carries for 37 yards
Nhyre Quinerly 4 catches for 50 yards; 82-yard PR TD; 4 Tackles
Prez Wilkins 5 Tackles
Darnell Ewell & Anfreny Yancey 4 Solo Tackles each


Salem 10:
31 plays for 140 total yards (22 rushes for 121 yards)
1 of 5 on 3rd Downs
0 of 2 on 4th Downs
1 Penalty for 5 Yards

Austin Coulling 3 of 9 for 28Yds.
Donte Clayborne 12Car. 96Yds. TD
Alex Ramsey 9Car. 35Yds.
Isaiah Parker 2Rec. 14Yds.
Kenneth McCaulley 4 Tackles, Sack

Follow Hatfield Sports on Twitter
 
Re: ***STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BLOG*** - 6:51 3rdQ: Lake Taylor 28, Salem 10

Lake Taylor opened the second half with the football first and continued its hot finish to the first half with a really good looking drive, highlighted by a 25-yard pass from QB Shiheem Johnson to Nhyre Quinerly (boy, is ECU getting a good player in him). However, the drive would stall and on 4th-and-6 from the 15-yard line of Salem, it's Alex Ramsey with a sack of Johnson.

The Salem offense turns the football over on its third play of the second half with Titans junior defensive back J.T. Wahee recovering the fumble.

On the very next play, it's Lake Taylor taking a shot - Johnson connects with Class of 2016 prospect Wayne Davis for a 45-yard touchdown pass. Marquise Poole tacks on the extra point.

6:51 left 3rdQ - Lake Taylor 28, Salem 10

The Titans can sense a second State Championship in three years well within their grasp.

Follow Hatfield Sports on Twitter
 
Re: ***STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BLOG*** - 3:05 3rdQ: Lake Taylor 34, Salem 10

Down 28-10, Salem knows it has to go to the air and they do so with success as QB Austin Coulling hits Cody Peregoy for 49 yards. It's one of the few times the Lake Taylor defense gets hit for a big play, and as they've shown all game long, the Titans buckle down when you approach the red zone.

On 4th-and-5 from the 26-yard line of the Titans, junior DB Wayne Davis supplies solid coverage on a pass thrown in his vicinity, nearly intercepted. When the Titans get it back, they go back to work.

It's QB Shiheem Johnson proving his worth as a very valuable two-way performer for the Titans by breaking off a 72-yard touchdown run where he outran several defenders, even somehow getting into the end zone as he looked like he would finally get chased down. Johnson's play has been excellent as he looks to finish out his senior season 15-0 as a starting quarterback. Extra point is no good.

3:05 left 3rdQ - Lake Taylor 34, Salem 10

Salem has too much pride to throw in the towel. This is a program with 6 State Championships, and while overcoming a 24-point deficit against a team with the weapons that Lake Taylor has seems highly unlikely, they have broken off some big chunks here and there.

Follow Hatfield Sports on Twitter
 
Re: ***STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BLOG*** - 1:25 3rdQ: Lake Taylor 34, Salem 16

Salem comes up with a quick-strike scoring drive as Donte Clayborne rips off a 43-yard run, followed shortly after by a 32-yard touchdown run where Austin Coulling hits Isaiah Parker. Surprisingly, Parker beat the usually reliable lockdown corner Wayne Davis for that TD. Seldom has Davis been beat this year.

1:25 left 3rdQ - Lake Taylor 34, Salem 16

This one isn't over yet, but the Spartans defense has not been able to stop the Lake Taylor offense this half, surrendering 181 yards on 16 plays. The gains seem to be getting longer for the Titans, too.

Follow Hatfield Sports on Twitter
 
Re: ***STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BLOG*** - 6:20 4thQ: Lake Taylor 34, Salem 16

Forgot to mention on the last touchdown for Salem, they went for 2 and didn't get it... Lake Taylor now has the football and are doing yeoman's work chewing up the clock as QB Shiheem Johnson continues to find Nhyre Quinerly time and time again underneath for pass completions.

On a wonderful escape play, Johnson rolls out of the pocket, avoids two rushers, and finds Daz Palmer for a gain of 24 on 3rd-and-8. The Salem defense would eventually hold to keep the score at 34-16 and get the ball back.

Unfortunately for the Spartans, when they get the football back, the Lake Taylor pass rush starts to unleash as Jaylen Cuffee unloads on Austin Coulling. Marquise Poole follows suit with a quarterback pressure on 3rd down. The Spartans can't move the chains on 4th down.

Lake Taylor takes over at the Salem 33-yard line with 7:26 to play, comfortably in front by a count of 34-16.

Follow Hatfield Sports on Twitter
 
Re: ***STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BLOG*** - 1:55 4thQ: Lake Taylor 41, Salem 16

It's hard to believe that Lake Taylor trailed 10-7 with a little less than four minutes to go in this 4A State Championship at Arthur L. Williams Stadium at Liberty University.

Senior QB Shiheem Johnson has played another wonderful ballgame, rushing for a total of 4TD's, the latest on an 8-yard burst. As fine as Johnson has played, he might not even be the best player on the field for the Titans as that could easily go to Nhyre Quinerly, possibly even an argument for Darnell Ewell (2017 lineman).

1:55 left to play - Lake Taylor 41, Salem 16

The Titans will look to run out the clock on a perfect 15-0 season. Salem's year, a great one at that, will end at 14-1.

Final to come shortly...

Follow Hatfield Sports on Twitter
 
Re: ***STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BLOG*** - FINAL: Lake Taylor 41, Salem 16

It is now a Final - the Lake Taylor Titans have defeated the Salem Spartans 41-16, rallying from a 10-7 deficit in the second quarter, to win the VHSL Group 4A State Football Championship for 2014.

The victory caps a perfect 15-0 season for the Titans, who win their second state title in three years for Head Coach Hank Sawyer (whose wife Saundra has led the girls basketball team to 3 state titles at Lake Taylor). The Titans finish the year outscoring opponents 623-134 in what was a dominant season for a team that was crisp most of the day.

We'll have Final Stats + Postgame reaction coming soon...

Follow Hatfield Sports on Twitter
 
Re: ***STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BLOG*** - Final Stats: Lake Taylor 41, Salem 16

The Lake Taylor Titans prevailed by a count of 41-16 in the Group 4A State Championship over the Salem Spartans at Liberty University in Lynchburg.

Here are the numbers...


Final Stats:

Lake Taylor Titans 41: (15-0 Overall)
Shiheem Johnson - 11-19 for 168Yds. 1-0TD/Int. ratio; 21Car. 123Yds. 4TD's
Daz Palmer - 6Car. 52Yds; 1Rec. 1Rec. 25Yds; 5 Tackles
Marcus Hawkins - 9Car. 43Yds.
Nhyre Quinerly - 8Rec. 97Yds; 7 Tackles (6 Solo); 82-Yd. PR TD
Wayne Davis - 1Rec. 35Yds. TD; PBU
Anfreny Yancey - 8 Tackles (5 Solo), 2TFL
Darnell Ewell - 5 Tackles (4 Solo)

Titans finish with 381 Total Yards on 58 Plays (39 rushes for 213 yards)
25:06 Time of Possession
7 of 11 3rd Downs
0 of 1 4th Downs
Titans commit 1 turnover


Salem Spartans 16: (14-1 Overall)
Austin Coulling - 8-18 for 132Yds. 1-0TD/Int. ratio
Donte Clayborne - 18Car. 148Yds. TD
Alex Ramsey - 11Car. 42Yds.
Isaiah Parker - 4Rec. 64Yds. TD
Grant Foley - 9 Tackles (6 Solo)
Coleman Fox - 7 Tackles (4 Solo)

Spartans finish with 298 Total Yards on 52 Plays (34 rushes for 166 yards)
22:54 Time of Possession
2 of 9 3rd Downs
0 of 4 4th Downs
Spartans commit 2 turnovers


... Stay tuned to VirginiaPreps.com for More Coverage from Jason Stamm & Rod Johnson - including Game Recap, Postgame Sound, Photos!




Follow Hatfield Sports on Twitter
 
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest posts

ADVERTISEMENT