Norcom ineligible for playoffs
‘Sportsmanship violation’ in fight vs. Phoebus prompts sanction from VHSL
The latest Virginia High School League football power ratings list Norcom at No. 3 in Class 3 Region A.But the Greyhounds (3-4) won’t be going to the eight-team playoffs, no matter how they finish, because of a fight during last season’s playoff game against Phoebus.
Billy Haun, the VHSL’s executive director, confirmed the Greyhounds are ineligible for the playoffs because “they had a sportsmanship violation.”
Haun didn’t go into specifics about the violation, saying only that programs have to be held accountable and “demonstrate good sportsmanship.”
“You know if you fight, you know you’re going to be ejected,” he said. “You know if you curse or use profanity, you’re getting ejected.”
Norcom athletic director Les Young referred questions about the incident to Vince Pugh, the citywide athletic director for Portsmouth Public Schools.
Pugh said the VHSL watched the film from that game and made a determination.
“The Virginia High School League, they’re independent,” Pugh said. “They’re the ones who determine who the aggressor was. And if they see that the other team was not as aggressive, then they’re not going to penalize the other squad.”
Heritage improves playoff hopes with upset: A team that will benefit from Norcom’s elimination is Heritage, currently 10th in Class 3 Region A, which will place its top eight of 13 teams in the playoffs. The Hurricanes (2-5) already had made a big move into playoff contention with their stunning 24-0 upset of Bethel (4-3) in the rain Saturday at Todd Stadium.
Although Bethel was favored, the game wasn’t as close as the final score, with numerous dropped or poorly thrown passes costing the Hurricanes points — mistakes that can be forgiven considering the conditions. Heritage’s shutout was no fluke as it thoroughly shut down Victor Romain and the rest of Bethel’s talented skill players.
The stifling defense’s play led to field position for Wesley Dominguez’s 23-yard field goal before linebacker Josh Ray’s long interception return of a Romain pass set up Derrick Gurley Jr.’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Sterling Anderson. Darius Hilliard then returned a Romain interception 42 yards to give the Hurricanes a 17-0 halftime lead.
Another turnover, Charles Lyons’ fumble recovery, paved the way for Tyree Wilson’s 4-yard
touchdown run for Heritage’s other touchdown. With lower-tier Peninsula District teams Gloucester, Kecoughtan and Woodside left on their regular-season schedule, the Hurricanes could qualify for the playoffs at 5-5, with a No. 6 seed and a winnable first-round game.
“We finally put four quarters together,” Hurricanes coach Scott Woodlief said. “I think this win is huge for the program and seniors, and hopefully this gets us kickstarted to where we want to go.
“We put our backs against the wall and needed to win this to have an opportunity to go to the playoffs. Hopefully we find our ‘click’ and move on from here.”
Oscar Smith receiver makes comeback: Jamauri “Bam” Knox was carried off the field with a season-ending knee injury last year. But Knox, rated the No. 26 senior in Hampton Roads, is back.
He returned two weeks ago against Indian River and got one reception. But last week against Deep Creek, he finished with five receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown.
“I worked hard and kept my head focused and I made it back,” said Knox, a three-star recruit who is rated the No. 38 senior in the state by 247Sports and is the No. 170 receiver in the nation. “It’s showtime now.”
He said he never doubted whether he could return.
“No sir. Not at all,” he said. “I knew from that day when I got hurt that I was going to be back, and I was going to be way better.”
Tigers assistant coach Lafonte Thourogood remembers watching Knox work out by himself until he was cleared to return.
“The desire and drive is different,” he said about Knox. “He is definitely on the right track. Could not be more proud of him.”
Linn leads Lafayette’s 50th Anniversary Lafayette’s HOF class: glorious football history includes a Group AAA state final appearance its first season (1973); the launch of incomparable Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor’s career several years later; and dominance of the Bay Rivers District the past 26 years, highlighted by a 60-game district winning streak.
It’s no surprise that six football players were inducted into the Lafayette Athletic Hall of Fame class celebrating the school’s 50th anniversary, and even less surprising Andy Linn was a part. Linn’s record as the Rams’ coach is 132-21, and his teams have won or shared the district title in 10 of his 12 seasons as head coach, while reaching two state finals and winning the 2020 Class 3 title.
Before he became head coach in 2011, Linn was known, starting in 1997, for building the offensive lines on Lafayette teams almost as dominant as they’ve been recently, and which also won a state title (2001) in two finals appearances.
“It’s an incredible honor and I think it speaks volumes about what we’ve put together at Lafayette High School,” Linn said. “It was really special for me to go in together with (late athletic director) Dan Barner at the same time, because he’s the one who brought me on board for all of this stuff.
“It was real special.”
Football players joining Linn and Barner in this year’s class were Andre Hopkins, Drake Kuhn, Brandon Moyler, George Piggott, Dakari Taylor-Watson and George Pittman.
“Except for maybe George Pittman, I think all those guys were all talented multi-sport athletes,” Linn said. “They were all dudes, though, they weren’t just ordinary football players. They were pillars of what we’ve done.
“Like so many of the other kids who’ve played here, or can’t wait to play here, they were different because they really loved playing football. They weren’t chasing scholarships.
“Because of Dan Barner, I understand the responsibility of being Lafayette’s football coach. Dan wanted football to have a lot of spirit and be something the whole school and community can fall back on.”
Lafayette celebrated that hall of fame class Friday with a 52-0 win over Tabb. The Rams are 5-2 and in contention for the No. 1 seed in Class 3 Region A.
Grassfield kicker makes grandfather’s dream come true: Carson Cunningham has played soccer all his life, but two seasons ago, he decided he wanted to give football a try.
The reason: He knew it would please his ailing grandfather, Dick Cunningham.
Cunningham not only made the team, but has been a contributor. This season he has made 12 of 13 PATs and kicked field goals of 25 and 31 yards.
He knows his late grandfather is with him every time he’s on the field.
“I think about him quite often. He just kind of sticks with me every time I go out on the field,” he said. “I feel like he sees me and is encouraging me to do the best I can.”