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Tabb’s suffocating defense gave its offense good field position early and often.
Mistake-prone Poquoson handed its share of gifts to the Tigers, who dominated from start to finish in winning 27-0 in their Bay Rivers District game Friday night at Poquoson Middle School.
The Tigers (2-1) took advantage of the Islanders’ first two mistakes to build a 14-0 lead almost before the few fans allowed in had settled into their seats.
Tabb linebacker Xavier Martin limited Nate Wilhite to a yard on two carries with jarring tackles on the first possession of the game, and after an incomplete pass, the Islanders lined up to punt.
A high snap cost the Islanders 23 yards, and the Tigers began their first possession at the Poquoson 19. Corey Kidwell’s 10-yard run set up a 2-yard keeper by quarterback Emmit Marks, and the Tigers led 7-0 with 8 minutes, 52 seconds to play in the first quarter.
The Tigers got the ball back at the Islanders’ 36 one play after the ensuing kickoff, when Kidwell recovered a Poquoson fumble. Marks’ pass against the grain, and a diving catch by Eric Arneson for 9 yards on third down, gave the Tigers a first down.
Kidwell ran for 8 yards,
Martin for 5 and Kidwell for 11 and a touchdown, and Tabb’s lead was 14-0 with 5:56 to play in the first quarter.
“We came out playing really hard and really fast, and those scores set the tone for the early part of the game,” Tabb coach Matt Lawson said. “Poquoson did a great job of (recovering defensively), but we did not give in or bend and let them in the end zone.”
Although Kidwell (10 carries, 96 yards) and Martin (eight carries, 89 yards) led Tabb’s ball-control offense, and Marks (6-of-9 passing, 60 yards) was efficient through the air, Poquoson was solid defensively. Linebacker Brayden Hayes and defensive backs Karon Smith and Ryan McCormick were consistently around the ball for the Islanders.
But continued defensive excellence — spearheaded by Martin, Kidwell, Arneson and Michael Adams — as well as Poquoson mistakes enabled Tabb to increase its lead in the second half. Kidwell’s 35-yard touchdown run came moments after the Tigers pushed Poquoson (0-2) back 14 yards on fourth down. Marks’ 36-yard touchdown pass to Adams followed defensive lineman Connor Castle’s fumble return of 23 yards.
“The defense just did a great job,” Lawson said. “Anytime you hold Poquoson to zero points, it’s great because they have a good offense and Coach (Elliott) Duty does a good job.”