Lafayette, York, Poquoson among first-round victors
Lafayette advanced past the opening round of the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season with a 56-12 win over Churchland (5-6) in the Class 4 Region A quarterfinals.
The top-seeded Rams (10-0) led 49-6 at the half.
The Rams will play either Bay Rivers District rival Warhill (7-3) or the Peninsula District’s Heritage (5-5) in the semifinals. Warhill and Heritage play at 2 p.m. Saturday at Wanner Stadium. Class 5 Region A
Nansemond River 39, Kecoughtan 0: Kevin Johnson rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns and returned a fumble 80 yards for another score to lead Nansemond River to a win in the region quarterfinals.
Johnson set the tone early for Nansemond River, grabbing an interception on Kecoughtan’s first offensive possession and returning it to the 13-yard line to set up his first rushing score. He scored on runs of 13 and 59 yards and also ran in a pair of two-point conversions.
Rashaad Williams had two carries for 102 yards and two touchdowns, including a 96-yard run that put Nansemond River ahead 36-0 in the third quarter.
Kecoughtan (7-4) finishes with its first playoff appearance since 2015 and just its third winning season since 2005.
Nansemond River will play top seed Indian River (11-0) in the region semifinals. The Braves beat Nansemond River 42-6 in the regular season.
Salem 34, Gloucester 10: Kaelon Black rushed for 243 yards and a touchdown as the SunDevils scored 20 fourth-quarter points.
The SunDevils (9-2) led 14-7 at the half, and the Dukes (4-7) were within a score well into the second half.
Salem will play Maury (10-1) in the region semifinals.
—
Class 4 Region A
Lake Taylor 63, Smithfield 21: After carrying the ball only once in the opening quarter for no gain, Malik Newton scored on runs of 64 and 30 yards in a 28-point second quarter to blow open a close game.
The Titans (10-1), who host King’s Fork in next week’s semifinals, gained retribution for last season’s first-round loss at Smithfield. The Titans’ Javon Harvey intercepted passes in each of the first two quarters and took a screen pass from Jeff Foster 83 yards for a score. Foster completed four of seven first-half passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns.
Smithfield (5-6) finished with its first losing season since 2014.
Class 3 Region A
York 17, Park View 14: York (8-3) held off a late surge from Park View to advance past the first round of the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons.
The Dragons scored a touchdown and a 2-point conversion with 4:07 left in the game, but York recovered an onside kick and got two first downs to run out the clock. Class 2 Region A
Poquoson 44, Nottoway 6: Colten Hicks rushed for two touchdowns and Steven Parker rushed and passed for scores as Poquoson got off to another impressive playoff start with a dominant win over Nottoway.
Poquoson (7-3) will travel to play Amelia County (10-1) in the region semifinals. Amelia County beat Arcadia 46-0 on Friday.
King William 35, Greensville County 0: Fourth-seeded King William (9-1) gained its first playoff win since 2014.
Class 1 Region A
West Point 39, Rappahannock 7: No. 6-seeded West Point rolled past No. 3 Rappahannock in the opening round of the playoffs. The Pointers (8-3) will travel to Northumberland in the region semifinals.