Northern Virginia Game of Week #14 - South Lakes Stuns Lake Braddock 40-22 in 6A North Semis; Atkins Held to 17 Yards Rushing

SOUTH LAKES 40, LAKE BRADDOCK 22

BURKE – Relying on a run defense that held Lamont Atkins to 17 yards on 12 carries, the South

Lakes Seahawks stunned Lake Braddock 40-22 in front of their home crowd. With the win, South Lakes will travel to Chantilly to face defending 6A state champion Westfield in the 6A North championship next Saturday.

The Bruins (11-2) opened in fine form, driving 80 yards on a seven-play drive that featured quarterback Ty Crabb. Crabb, who alternates on almost every play with Jack Darcy, scored first downs on runs of 23 and 11 yards, before calling his own number for a third time and bursting through the middle for a 39-yard touchdown. Jack Rawlins’ extra point gave the Bruins a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter.

South Lakes held star running back
Lamont Atkins to 17 yards in their
40-22 win over Lake Braddock in
the 6A North semifinals last Saturday.

The Seahawks did not get off to an auspicious start. Devin Miles’ first pass of the game was intercepted by Ibrahim Mansaray, who returned the ball to the South Lakes 25. However, the defense, with key plays from Andrew Funaki and Terry Jackson, held Lake Braddock, first dropping Lamont Atkins for a six-yard loss, and then sacking Crabb for another ten-yard loss on 4^th-and-11.

Down 7-0 and losing momentum, there was a chance that South Lakes could have faced the same type of Bruin whitewall that befell Hayfield last week, when Lake Braddock jumped to a 35-0 halftime lead. Not so, said junior running back Spencer Alston, whose two second half rushing touchdowns helped the Seahawks put the game away.

“(When we were down 7-0) we knew that we had to trust our defense,” said Alston, who finished with 79 rushing yards on 15 carries. “We had to punch in and keep pounding. Our defense did a good job of shutting down.”

And the Seahawks defense could not have done much better. After allowing the 79 yards to Crabb on the opening drive, the Bruins allowed just 66 more yards on the ground, and totally shut down Atkins, who entered the game with 1,869 yards and 31 rushing touchdowns.

And while the Bruins were having difficulty breaking through the line of scrimmage, South Lakes countered with its one-two punch of Alston and fellow junior Albert Mensah. Mensah led the Seahawks with 84 yards on the ground, and added his own touchdown. Not to be outdone, quarterback Miles chipped with two scores of his own on an 11 for 49 ground effort.

The Seahawks (12-1) benefitted greatly from their ability to make the big play when it mattered. One player in particular, Funaki, seemed to consistently be in the right place at the right time, especially on third down. Funaki caught two passes for first downs, both on third-and-long situations. And defensively, the senior seemed to have the knack to be where the ball was, knocking down several crucial Bruin passes and making the right stop on short yardage downs.

Asked about his innate ability to appear at the right place, Funaki was quick to credit his teammates. “On offense, it all comes from our offensive line. The other team’s defenders are focused on our running backs, Albert and Spencer, and it makes me able to make plays for Devin at quarterback. Defensively, we just press up front and that leaves me open to (stop defenders).”

Sky Lubreski had a key 33-yard interception return in the first half. However, it was Kojo Kumi who made the most crucial defensive play for Trey Taylor’s squad. Leading 26-7 to open the fourth quarter, the Bruins were forced to open up their passing game. However, Crabb’s second pass of the quarter was picked off by the junior linebacker, who returned the ball 14 yards to put South Lakes ahead by 26 points, and leave the thoughts of a comeback in the dust.

“I was in flat coverage,” said Kumi. “I wasn’t good at covering out there in the beginning of the season, but I have been working on it. I saw the ball going that way and reacted. Just caught the pass and ran it in.”

Mansaray keyed a fierce second half comeback almost single-handedly, scoring two fourth quarter touchdowns as part of an eight-reception afternoon.

SOUTH LAKES  (12-1)       6, 13, 7, 14 --40

LAKE BRADDOCK (11-2)  7, 0, 0, 15 -- 22

1^st Quarter

LB – Crabb 39 run (Rawlins kick)

SL – Mensah 2 run (kick blocked)

2^nd Quarter

SL – Miles 1 run (pass failed)

SL – Miles 9 run (Dover kick)

3^rd Quarter

SL – Alston 2 run (Dover kick)

4^th Quarter

SL – Kumi-Darfour 14 int return (Dover kick)

LB – Mansaray 18 pass (Rawlins kick)

SL – Alston 26 run (Dover kick)

LB – Mansaray 8 pass (Atkins pass)

           SL      LB

First downs;     15, 15

Rushes-yards;  42-212, 29-156

Passing yards;  82, 180

Comp-att-int;   8-11-2, 14-33-2

Penalties-yards; 6-40, 7-54

Punts-avg;     2-39, 2-40

Fumbles-lost;   1-0, 1-1

INDIVIDUAL STATS: Rushing: SL - Mensah 16-84, TD, Alston 15-79, 2 TD, Miles 11-49, 2 TD. Total 42-212. LB – Crabb 17-120, Atkins 12-17, Metheny 1-12, Darcy 3 – (-4). Total 33-145. Passing: SL – Miles 8-11, 82 yds. 2 INT, LB – Crabb 3-9, 29 yds., INT, Darcy 11-24, 151 yds. 2 TD, INT. Receiving: SL -  Alston 3-31, Funaki 2-31, Mohler 2-9, Seneca 1-11, LB – Mansaray 8-125, 2 TD, Park 4-29, Esposito 1-17, Metheny 1-9.

Virginia Peninsula Game of Week #13: 6A South 2nd Round: Woodside Grounds Out 28-9 Win Over Grassfield

WOODSIDE 28, GRASSFIELD 9

NEWPORT NEWS – Demetri Banks and Tyhier Tyler rushed for over 100 yards to lead the Wolverines to a workmanlike 28-9 victory over Grassfield in their second round 6A South playoff game at Todd Stadium.

With the win, Woodside (10-2) will travel to Chesapeake next weekend to take on top-seeded Oscar Smith, coached by longtime former Phoebus Coach Bill Dee.

The Wolverines relied heavily on their running game, tallying 365 yards on 46 carries. On the first play of Woodside’s second possession, Banks busted through the middle of the Grassfield defensive line for a 58-yard run that took the ball to the Grizzly 5. From there, the senior back finished the job, taking the next carry into the end zone.

The Wolverines were equally successful on their first drive of the second quarter, driving 88 yards on six plays. A 46-yard run by Tyler helped to set up the scoring play with Tyler rolling left and finding a wide-open Christian Walker for the 18-yard touchdown.

Grassfield (9-3) did manage one long drive just before halftime, netting 57 yards on 12 plays, and ending with a 31-yard field goal as Woodside took a 14-3 lead into halftime.

The key to Woodside’s early success was their ability to contain the Grizzly’s 1,000-yard running back Darius Hagans. Earlier this season, Hagans rushed for over 200 yards in three consecutive games. However, in the first half against the Wolverines, the 6-foot, 192 pounder could only muster 26 yards on 11 carries.

The Wolverines struck for a score on their first possession of the second half. A 39-yard pass from Tyler to Kendall Bell set up the quarterback from the 5, as Tyler broke through the middle, broke two tackles and dove into the end zone. Banks, who led Woodside rushers with 194 yards, scored his second touchdown just before the end of the third quarter.

A 17-yard touchdown pass from Justice Bigbie to Austin Wood closed the lead to 19 points early in the fourth quarter, but the Grizzlies were unable to score on their next drive, which lasted for 15 plays and gained only 37 yards before fizzling at the Woodside 44.

GRASSFIELD   0, 3, 0, 6 -- 9

WOODSIDE      7, 7, 14, 0 -- 28

1^st Quarter

W – Banks 5 run (Mitchel kick)

2^nd Quarter

W – Walker 18 pass from T. Tyler (Mitchel kick)

G – Ridenour 31 FG

3^rd Quarter

W – Tyler 5 run (Mitchel kick)

W – Banks 8 run (Mitchel kick)

4^th Quarter

G – Wood 17 pass from Bigbie (run failed)

         Grass   Wood  

First downs;    14, 20

Rushes-yards;  29-73, 46-376

Passing yards;  162, 74

Comp-att-int;   17-29-0, 5-5-0

Penalties-yards; 6-35, 3-20

Punts-avg;     4-36, 0-0

Fumbles-lost;  0-0, 2-2

Key Individual Stats: Woodside - Rushing: Demetri Banks 23-194, 2 TD, Tyhier Tyler 12-118, TD, D'onte Chesson 7-53. Passing: T. Tyler 5-5, 74 yds. TD. Receiving: Kendall Bell 1-39, Christian Walker 1-18, TD. Grassfield - Rushing: Darius Hagans 19-81. Passing: Justice Bigbie 17-29, 162 yds. TD. Receiving: Austin Wood 8-72, TD, Kharron Gilliam 4-47, Shawah Goodman 3-31, Shawndell Joyner, Jr. 2-12.

Virginia Peninsula Game of Week #12: The State Playoffs Begin as Hampton Defeats Warwick in First Round 5A Action

Hampton's Dazz Newsome ran for 284 yards and four touchdowns
as Hampton escaped an early scare to defeat Warwick 33-18
in the first round of state playoff action

HAMPTON 33, WARWICK 18

HAMPTON -- A breathtaking 66-yard touchdown run by Hampton’s Dazz Newsome sparked the host Crabbers, who defeated Warwick 33-18 on Friday at Darling Stadium.

With the win, Hampton will host Indian River next weekend. The Braves defeated Bethel 33-14 in Chesapeake.

Leading 17-12 early in the third quarter, and facing third-and-4 at their 34, Newsome took a handoff from Crabber quarterback D.J. Nunn and headed right. Finding no room to run, Newsome headed back toward the middle of the field, and began weaving his way through Raider defenders. One defender dove and got a hand on Newsome’s foot, causing the senior back to stumble forward at midfield. Newsome continued falling forward, but maintained his balance over the course of eight shaky steps, before regaining his posture and accelerating to the end zone, leaving a sea of Warwick players in his dust.

For the night, Newsome gained 284 yards on 21 carries, plus scoring all four of Hampton’s touchdowns, as well as a pair of two-point conversions, accounting for 28 of the Crabbers points.

Hampton (10-1) scored on its first possession, marching 71 yards on five plays. A 34-yard pass from D.J. Nunn to Jaquarious Bellamy set up Newsome, who shaked and baked through the middle of the Raider defense for a 30-yard score.

Warwick blocked a field goal attempt on the Crabbers’ next drive, but Newsome struck again on the next drive, scoring from 24 yards out, and Hampton led 14-0 after the first quarter.

The Raiders caught a break as a 41-yard punt by Connor Murphy drove Newsome backwards to his own 10-yard line. The ball bounced off his raised hand and was recovered by Tayshaun Porter at the 11. Raider quarterback Tzion Lucas called his own number twice, running for six yards on the first run, and, after a fake handoff, running up the middle to score from the 5.

Warwick’s special teams came up big again later in the second quarter as Deandre Livingston caught a Crabber punt at his 30 and outran the Hampton defenders for a 70-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion pass failed, but Warwick trailed only 14-12 until the half’s final play, when Valenzuela drilled a 33-yard field goal, made easier by two movement penalties by Warwick, which brought the ball ten yards closer.

The Raiders (4-7) were hamstruck by penalties throughout the game, drawing ten flags for 70 yards in the first half alone.

WARWICK   0, 12, 0,  6  -- 18

HAMPTON   14, 3, 8, 8, -- 33

1^st Quarter

H – Newsome 30 run (Valenzuela kick)

H – Newsome 24 run (Valenzuela kick)

2^nd Quarter

W – Lucas 5 run (kick blocked)

W – Livingston 70 punt return (pass failed)

H – Valenzuela 33 FG

3^rd Quarter

H – Newsome 66 run (Newsome run)

4^th Quarter

H – Newsome 28 run (Newsome run)

W – Lucas 2 run (pass failed)

         War    Hamp

First downs;     8, 14

Rushes-yards;  27-85, 37-314

Passing yards;  82, 74

Comp-att-int;   8-15-0, 5-10-1

Penalties-yards; 14-90, 8-65

Punts-avg.;   7-29, 1-31 

Fumbles-lost;   0-0, 4-1