Churchland holds off Norcom; Phoebus shuts out another foe
PORTSMOUTH — Kingston Hall’s 29-yard touchdown run in the third quarter stood up for the winning points Saturday as Churchland won 21-16 at Norcom.
The victorious Truckers (4-2) began the weekend third in Class 4 Region A. The Greyhounds (3-4) started the weekend second in Class 3 Region A.
Their game was postponed one day because of rain, but precipitation was still a factor in the first half. So were penalties — the Truckers were assessed 140 yards and the Greyhounds were flagged for 125.
Dontavius Booker’s 39-yard touchdown run with 9:14 to go in the first quarter put Churchland ahead before Caden Caris kicked the first of three PATs.
The Greyhounds then forced Churchland to a fourth down deep in its territory, and when Churchland’s punter didn’t handle the snap, Norcom’s Jakobe Powell recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown. Lineman Anthony Dixon’s two-point conversion run gave the Greyhounds an 8-7 edge with 22 seconds left in the first quarter.
Churchland returned the ensuing kickoff to the Norcom 22, and Booker ran for a 6-yard TD soon afterward. But the Greyhounds regained the lead with 22 seconds left in the first half on Raeshon Williams’ 2-yard run and Tyrell Grant Jr.’s two-point conversion pass to Matthew Outten.
Ahead 16-14, Norcom fumbled away the ball early in the third quarter, and Hall capitalized for his eventual winning score with 8:37 in the third quarter.
“When I bounced the run to the outside, I knew no one was going to catch me,” he said.
The Greyhounds were ineffective on offense in the second half. They got the ball on their 20 with 1:38 left and got stopped on fourth down.
Churchland coach Dontrell Leonard said, “What can I say? Our defensive adjustments at halftime made the difference.” — Reported by Gary Lassiter Phantoms blanks another foe: No. 2 Phoebus (5-0, 4-0 Peninsula District) extended its defensive dominance, earning a 35-0 victory over Kecoughtan (1-5, 1-4) at Darling Stadium.
The Phantoms lead the Class 4 Region A power ratings. They have yielded just eight points all season: two on a safety and six to Hampton after what many of them claimed should have been offensive pass interference.
Crabbers pull away from Hurricanes:
Hampton (5-2) rang up 24 second-half points at Todd Stadium to post a 38-12 victory over Heritage (1-5). The Crabbers, who began the weekend fourth in Class 4 Region A, led just 14-6 at halftime, but got untracked to hold off the Hurricanes.