Izaya Terpening had a breakout game to help the Trojans punch their ticket to the state playoffs.
TAPPAHANNOCK- When you have something special you stick with it. Eventually what makes it great will shine through. That is what's special about Coach Todd Jones' offense for the Trojans as it gets better as the time of possession wears down quickly aging to perfection. The Indians of Northumberland got a taste and couldn't keep up Saturday afternoon.
Bryan Roane got things starting by ready a pass perfectly, stepping in front, and tipping the ball until he could coral it. Not long after Essex strike first as Xzayviia Bundy broke up the middle for an 18 yard scamper to put the Trojans up 6-0. Their rivals however would come back to answer as Cintez Gibson would score on a 10 yards out with 10:02 left in the 1st half.
Bundy would strike again going for an impressive 24 yard run up the gut. A facemask penalty pushed the ball to the Indian 12 yard line. From there the grind was on as Bundy would get in from 2 yards out making it 12-6 Trojans with 7:56 left in the 2nd quarter.
Xzayviia Bundy breaks out for a big game to set up another Trojan score,
Northumberland was determined to answer back but things took a turn when a snap sailed over the quarterback's head. Markiel Cockrell would scoop up the ball and break a few tackles and then would be off to daylight scoring from 47 yards out. Anthony Gregory would get the 2-point conversion and the Indians led 14-12 with 4:35 left before halftime.
Essex Izaya Terpening would soon get the call and would gash the Northumberland defense right before the half going for a 35 yard touchdown run. Avari Walker would add the conversion and Essex would lead 20-14.
In the 3rd, Terpening would find his groove scoring from 35 and 12 yards giving him 3 touchdowns on the day. The Essex defense was lights out in the 3rd igniting the crowd to chant "Get ready for basketball season." to their rivals playfully as the quarter ended with a 34-14 lead for Essex.
The first play of the 4th would see Walker hit an opening and go 27 yards for a touchdown while Terpening would get the conversion and Essex led 42-14 with 11:53 left to play.
With the chants and realization that their great season was coming to an end, the Indians would respond. Northern Neck player of the year Tyreek Lundy would showcase his accuracy throwing a 46 yard to Khayleb Williams to make it 42-20.
Essex would change a thing as what makes the offense great would shine through. The Indians defense began to look worn down and it would quickly show as Walker would go for a 52 yard run to make it 48-20 Essex with 10:05 left.
Avari Walker finds daylight to get the games longest touchdown run of the day.
The Indians would try to score quickly but couldn't as more than 4 minutes would run off the clock on one of their best drives. It would conclude with Lundy running in from 8 yards out cutting it to 48-26 with 5:40 to play.
The game would later conclude the same way the Essex scoring began as Bundy would stroll in from 7 yards out to make it 54-26 with 2:22 left to play. The Trojans would force a fumble to get the ball back and run out the clock.
The Class 1 Region A champion Essex Trojans will host the state semi-final versus the Region B champion Altavista Colonels. The Colonels forced a fumble late to upset Sussex Central 22-16 Friday night. The game will be Saturday and the kick-off for the game will be announced soon.
NORTHUMBERLAND 0 14 0 12 - 26
ESSEX 6 14 14 20 - 54
E- Bundy 18 yard run (run failed)
N-Gibson 10 yard run (xp blocked)
E- Bundy 2 yard run (run failed)
N- Cockrell 47 yard run (Gregory run)
E- Terpening 35 yard run (Walker run)
E- Terpening 35 yard run (run failed)
E- Terpening 12 yard run (Walker run)
E- Walker 27 yard run (Terpening run)
N- Williams 46 yard pass from Lundy (pass failed)
E- Walker 52 yard run (run failed)
N- Lundy 8 yard run (run failed)
E- Bundy 7 yard run (kick failed)
