Rams zoom to state semis
Lafayette’s running game stifles spirited comeback by Phantoms
JAMES CITY — Lafayette used its ball-control running attack to build a huge lead, then turned to it again to clinch a 29-18 win over Phoebus in the Class 3 Region A championship game Friday at Wanner Stadium.
The victory in the battle for Peninsula-area supremacy moved the Rams (7-0) into the state semifinals for the first time since 2017. Lafayette will host Independence — a Loudoun County school that beat Goochland in the Region B final — on April 24 at Wanner Stadium.
Lafayette dominated the first half, running the ball behind its offensive line of Lawrence Tyler, Tommy Gardner, Bradley White, Andy Anderson and Bryce Copeland. The Rams built a 29-6 halftime lead, possessing the ball for 18 minutes, 50 seconds, to just 5:10 for the Phantoms.
After trailing by 29 points, Phoebus mounted a spirited comeback to cut the deficit to 11 late in the third quarter. But the Rams stunted the rally by retaining possession for the final 10:03, running the ball 18 of 19 plays en route to six first downs.
Lafayette drove 76 yards on 16 plays — 14 on the ground — to start the game, taking a 7-0 lead on quarterback Luke Hanson’s 1-yard keeper. After keeping the ball on the ground for much of their second possession, the Rams used a little trickery. Halfback Sam Boyer’s 16-yard option pass to Donald Gatling increased the lead to 14-0 in the first quarter.
The Rams went to the ground nine of 10 plays on their next possession. Miguel Reel (33 carries, 136 yards) finished the 57-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run as Lafayette’s lead ballooned to 21-0 with 9:06 to play in the second quarter.
Lafayette’s defense, which limited Phoebus to 29 yards in the first half, set up the next score.
Mike Green recovered a fumble at the Phantoms’ 18, setting up Hanson’s second 1-yard TD run. Reel ran for the 2-pointer and Lafayette, which totaled 177 firsthalf yards, led 29-0 with 6:10 left in the first half.
Phoebus began its rally with David Cousins’ fumble recovery at the Lafayette 2 late in the first half. Ty’Reon Taylor covered the 2 yards with his touchdown run to pull the Phantoms to within 29-6.
Kymari Gray’s 40-yard kickoff return to start the second half gave the Phantoms momentum that led to Mark Wagner’s 25-yard touchdown pass to Keshawn Pruitt. Gray’s 22-yard punt return gave Phoebus good field position later in the third quarter, and his 12-yard reception on third-and-12 kept them moving.
Wagner’s 16-yard keeper set up Taylor’s 1-yard touchdown run that cut the Lafayette lead to 29-18 with 2:39 to play in the third quarter. But the Lafayette defense halted the Phantoms on their next possession before the Rams’ offense hogged the ball for the next 10-plus minutes.