Dorian Harris finds daylight to race 48-yards for the opening score. It was 1 of 3 touchdowns on the day for the senior back.
TAPPAHANNOCK- Playing a team a second time sometimes leads to a let down especially when the winner cruised to victory before. And when that rematch consists of a revival that is coming off an upset in the previous round, that likelihood of a game being much more competitive than before increases big time. All of the analytics didn't seem to account that the Essex Trojans were quite different and none would matter.
The Region A top seed came out on fire as running back Dorian Harris blazed down the field on a 48 yard run to set the tone. Kam Robinson would go in easily for the 2-point conversion to make it 8-0 with 11:42 to play in the 1st.
The first of a few miscues would plague the Trojans on their next drive as Harris couldn't handle the bobbled hand off from Brimmer at the Eagle 45. Westmoreland would recover but could not move the ball.
Micheal Brimmer goes through his progressions to find Malachi Thornton for games only touchdown pass.
After the successful defensive stand Micheal Brimmer would find Malachi Thornton for a 16-yard strike and Robinson would again stroll in to give the Trojans a 16-0 lead with 5:41 to play in the first.
Late in the 1st, the Trojans would fumble the punt return attempt at the Eagle 42 yard line. Again, Westmoreland could not capitalize on the momentum. Essex quickly responded and after driving the ball down Amarje Veney would go in from a yard out. The conversion failed as Essex led 22-0 at the 9:41 mark in the 2nd quarter.
Harris would continue to showcase the running game and propel the Trojans as he would add a 7 yard tough run for a score. Javione Garner-Rich would add the conversion run to make it 30-0 Trojans. The next possession would feature Harris as he would cap off the drive with a 22-yard run for a score. Zaccheus Ware would nail the first kicking attempt giving Essex a 37-0 lead at the half.
The future Wahoo Kam Robinson records the pick six to cap off a great day defensively.
Westmoreland would try to add some spark to the offense in the 2nd half after a spirited halftime speech but any sight of a flame quickly became smoke as Robinson would make a perfect read on a pass, intercepting it, and going untouched for a 40-yard return. Essex led 43-0 with 9:06 to play in the 3rd on a running clock.
The 2nd team did the honors the rest of the way preserving the shutout and moving the football well on the ground. Freshman Jaden Holmes showed the future will still be bright and he pinched in on a 10-yard run to close out the scoring at 49-0.
Coach Todd Jones continues to push his guys hard to prepare them for what comes ahead.
Despite some penalties and some sloppy mistakes, Coach Todd Jones crew cruised to victory setting up another rematch. The Class 1 Region A championship, not official yet time wise, is expected to be Saturday when the Trojans (12-0) will host King & Queen Central (10-2). Essex won the previous match up 48-8 in late September.
The winner of that game will face the winner of the Central Lunenburg (11-0) at Riverheads (10-1) contest.
WESTMORELAND 0 0 0 0 - 0
ESSEX 16 21 6 6 - 49
E- Harris 48 yard run (Robinson run)
E- Thornton 16 yard pass from Brimmer (Robinson run)
E- Veney 1 yard run (run failed)
E- Harris 7 yard run (Garner-Rich run)
E- Harris 22 yard run (Ware kick)
E- Robinson 40 yard interception return (kick failed)
E- Holmes 10 yard run (kick failed)
