Anthony Cropper for the Tigers came up big late to help power the Tigers over William Campbell.
SUSSEX- When Sussex Central and William Campbell get together it is usually an intense affair and this time was no different. The Generals came in as a team much better than their record would indicate. 4 of their losses were by a touchdown or less. Coach Daniel Broggin had his group coming in after blanking Franklin 44-0 on an emotional high.
The Generals would march down the field early behind the strong running of Xavier Daye and solid passing from junior quarterback Tae Thompson. They would get on the board first with Thompson easily hitting Elijah Jackson for a 7 yard touchdown pass. The extra point would be blocked and William Campbell led 6-0 at the 4;56 mark of the 1st quarter.
Sussex Central was not their typical self offensively but a questionable decision by the Generals faking a punt deep in their own territory backfired. Soon after Edward Birchett would end the scoring drought with a 6 yard run and would cash in the conversion to give the Tigers an 8-6 lead at halftime.
Edward Birchett finds a receiver deep early in the 2nd.
To the 2nd half, the Tigers were anxious for some breathing room and would recover the onside kick and would capitalize on the momentum. Anthony Cropper would burst through from 3 yards out and would get the conversion to give the Tigers a 2 score lead 16-6.
The game would be a bit chippy on and off the field with a lot of jawing back and forth which ignited the Generals. Senior Deshawn Hamlett would make his mark making some great catches along with Daye slashing through creases would set up Ja'zel Garner bulldozing his way from 2 yards out to make it 16-12 with 3:59 seconds in the 3rd as a repeat of the play failed on the conversion.
The visiting crowd got their guys pumped and asked them to "Believe!" For the next 2 minutes their emotions would overflow as Sussex would stall offensively and would have to punt. Hamlett was ready on the other end weaving quickly through defenders and found daylight returning the punt 48 yards, temporarily shocking the home crowd and giving the Generals the lead 18-16 with 2.27 left in the 3rd.
Coach Broggin would see the momentum flip instantly. Justin Patterson would return the kick-off for a touchdown only to have it called back to their own 22 yard line. Following a delay of game penalty, Cropper would explode up the middle and outrace the General defense, responding with an 83 yard run and Rashaun Silver would get the conversion to give the Tigers a 24-18 lead.
There would be no hanging of the heads for Broggin's group as Daye would begin to find daylight himself. He would tie the game at 24 with 10:22 left to play. The Generals would also come up big keeping the Tigers out of the endzone keyed by a huge sack. They would take over at their own 13 yard line after a good attempt from Birchett to make up the yardage.
Xavier Daye was focused in exploiting any open lanes in the 4th.
Looking comfortable to head into overtime behind the legs of Daye, the Generals' drive would stall, giving the Tigers the ball with 31 seconds left in the game. The Tigers orchestrated superb clock management as Cropper would make some key catches to move the ball to the General 4 yard line with 17 seconds left. The next play Cropper would easily go in and get the conversion to make it 32-24 with 13 seconds left. The Generals would try to get a player in space behind a wall of blockers to answer one last time but the pass was read perfectly by Raekwon Brown who would take it back for a 31 yard walk off pick six to give Sussex Central the 38-24 win.
Sussex Central will host the Class 1 Region B championship Friday at 7pm versus Altavista. The Colonels rallied to win in Lawrenceville beating the Brunswick Bulldogs 30-26. Coach Curtis Jefferson takes the Tigers back for the first time since 2019.
WILLIAM CAMPBELL 6 0 12 6 - 24
SUSSEX CENTRAL 0 8 16 14 - 38
WC- Jackson 7 yard pass from Thompson (run failed)
SC- Birchett 6 yard run (Brichett run)
SC- Cropper 3 yard run (Cropper run)
WC- Garner 2 yard run (run failed)
WC- Hamlett 48 yard punt return (run failed)
SC- Cropper 83 yard run (Silver run)
WC- Daye 4 yard run (run failed)
SC- Cropper 4 yard run (Cropper run)
SC- Brown 31 yard int return (No attempt)
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