Western Branch boosts playoff chances
Mack’s 14-yard scoring run in OT wins it for Bruins
CHESAPEAKE — In a battle of teams fighting for their VHSL Class 6 Region A playoff lives, Western Branch did just enough to earn a needed victory.
Terrance Mack scored on a 14-yard touchdown run over the right side in overtime Friday night, giving the Bruins a 20-14 victory at home over Grassfield.
Western Branch (4-5), which began the night seventh in the region while Grassfield held the eighth and final playoff berth, squandered a 14-point first-quarter lead, but bounced back in overtime.
That’s when the Bruins’ defense stiffened, limiting Grassfield (3-6) to minus-2 yards, including the last of its eight consecutive incompletions. The Grizzlees attempted a 29-yard field goal, but the snap was high and the kick was blocked.
Needing only to score, Western Branch’s offense started with a hiccup, committing illegal procedure and gaining just 1 yard on first down. But on second-andgoal, Mack took the snap in a wildcat formation at the 14 and scored along the sideline to end the game. The 14 yards on the touchdown provided more yards than the Bruins had in the third and fourth quarters combined (13).
“Hats off to our defense,” Western Branch coach Rashad Cook said. “We understand we’re a young team, and we’re growing up each week. It may not be all phases of the game, but it’s the small parts that make a big difference.”
Devin Cook’s 9-yard run and Ky’Nique Baines’ 55-yard run for touchdowns, along with two Carson Cunningham PATs, put Western Branch ahead 14-0 with 4:35 to go in the first quarter.
The Bruins almost went ahead by three touchdowns, but Grassfield stopped quarterback Derrick Cook inside the 1-yard line on fourth-and-goal from the 3 with 6:47 left in the second quarter.
In the third quarter, Willie Moore capped a Grassfield drive with a 7-yard TD run. Baines fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and the Grizzlies’ Javon Turner scooped it and ran 25 yards for a touchdown.
— Reported by Charlie Baumgardner
#757Teamz MVP
Kam Kirby had a game’s worth of offense in a single quarter as Bayside defeated Princess Anne 55-14. The Bayside quarterback threw four touchdown passes during the second quarter as the Marlins turned a 7-6 deficit into a 41-7 halftime lead.
None of Kirby’s touchdown passes were little plays, either. Kirby threw a 22-yarder to Martrez Chavious-Fenner, a 60-yarder to Halim Hardnett, a 68-yarder to Demetriz Chatman and an 80-yarder to Daequan Howard.
Storylines
Stallions catch fire:
K’Saan Farrar threw four touchdown passes — three in the second half — and passed for 261 yards as No. 2 Green Run broke open a close game in the second half and defeated Tallwood 47-7 in a Beach District game.
Keylen Adams had touchdown receptions of 5 and 45 yards while amassing 91 yards on four catches. Quran Reames-Jones had touchdown runs of 9 yards and 49 yards.
Warhill nears perfection:
Warhill (9-0) moved to the brink of a first unbeaten regular season, and first outright Bay Rivers District title, with a 37-6 win over Tabb at Wanner Stadium.
Taylen Eady (six receptions, 97 yards, one touchdown), Jaedyn McAdoo (197 total yards, three touchdowns) and Liam Francisque (186 yards passing and two touchdowns, and 57 yards rushing and a TD) were the offensive stars for the Lions. The Warhill defense pitched a shutout against Tabb (5-4).
Oscar Smith controls the second half:
The No. 7 Tigers had a few tough moments, but they powered past Hickory 41-14 in a Southeastern District game in Chesapeake.
Isaac Huffman scored three touchdowns — two in the fourth quarter — to lead the Tigers. Lonnie Andrews threw two touchdown passes and Brandon Nesbit had a touchdown run.
Hickory’s Owen Kelly threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Lance Watters early in the third quarter. On the Hawks’ final drive of the game, he executed a perfect fake that had the entire Tigers defense going the wrong way while he took off for a 71-yard run. Two plays later, he bobbled the snap and ran in from 1 yard.
Gage Trefry scored on a 17-yard touchdown
Cox cuts it close:
run with 1:25 left in the fourth quarter and the No. 14 Falcons avoided an upset at the hands of Kempsville, winning 22-21.
Trefry’ rushed for 100 yards. Tyre Jefferies, who rushed for 175 yards, had two touchdowns for the Falcons, and Sam Braidwood kicked a 32-yard field goal.
Cade Eidson had a touchdown pass and a touchdown run for the Chiefs.
Extra points
Poquoson remained at the top of the Class 2 Region A rankings with a 42-7 win at Bruton in a Bay Rivers District game. Mason McGavran and Cody Little ran for two touchdowns apiece for the Islanders (7-2). Bruton (5-4) will likely remain in third place in the region standings.
Gloucester blocked a short field-goal attempt by Woodside as time expired to win 15-14 in a Peninsula District contest. Corey Skay kicked field goals of 47, 32 and 30 yards, the latter giving the host Dukes the lead with 1:11 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Dukes trailed 14-6 at halftime, but pulled to within two points on Preston Prentiss’ 76-yard touchdown pass to Will Turner in the third quarter. The win sends the Dukes (3-7) into the Class 4 Region A playoffs as at least the No. 6 seed.
Luke Bryant threw six touchdown passes in the first half as Grafton beat Jamestown 62-0 in a Bay Rivers District game at Bailey Field. Owen Seaford and Koy Snyder were on the receiving end of two of Bryant’s TD tosses, while Dylan Swisher and Jaden Brown caught one apiece. The victory kept the Clippers (5-4) in contention for the No. 3 seed in the upcoming Class 3 Region A playoffs.
Smithfield remained in the No. 5 spot in the Class 4 Region A rankings with a 27-24 win at
New Kent in a Bay Rivers District game. The Packers (4-5) were penalized for holding on their overtime possession, but won the game when Jakai Parker threw 20 yards to Christian Velez for a touchdown.
The Collegiate Cougars of Richmond knocked off No. 12 Norfolk Academy 38-7, handing the Bulldogs their second loss in a row.
Tristen Williams scored four touchdowns and had a fumble recovery during Norfolk Christian’s 42-6 victory over Roanoke Catholic.
Collins Redd scored four touchdowns and rushed for 202 yards as Portsmouth Christian defeated Catholic 42-32.
Friday night’s scores 757Teamz Top 15
#1 Maury 81, #11 Churchland 0 #3 Green Run 47, Tallwood 7 #5 King’s Fork 48, Deep Creek 7 #6 Warhill 37, Tabb 6
#7 Oscar Smith 41, Hickory 14 #9 Nansemond River 66, Lakeland 6 #10 Indian River 33, Great Bridge 13 Collegiate 38,
#12 Norfolk Academy 7
#13 Granby 30, Manor 8
#14 Cox 22, Kempsville 21
Bay Rivers District
Poquoson 42, Bruton 7 Grafton 62, Jamestown 0 Smithfield 27, New Kent 24
Beach District
Bayside 55, Princess Anne 14 Landstown 56, First Colonial 17 Salem 17, Kellam 3
Eastern District
Lake Taylor 34, Norcom 28
Southeastern District
Western Branch 20, Grassfield 14
Peninsula District
Gloucester 15, Woodside 14
Private schools
Portsmouth Christian 42, Catholic 32 Norfolk Christian 42, Roanoke Catholic 6
St. Anne’s-Belfield 49,
Isle of Wight Academy 0