Where We Are: Lafayette Plays for Class 3 State Football Title (as seen on Recruit757.com)

Lord Botetourt (9-0) vs. Lafayette (8-0), Saturday 2 PM, Wanner Stadium, Williamsburg, VA

Online TV: NFHS Network (subscription required)

Lafayette returns to Wanner Stadium this week, but this time it’s for the opportunity to capture the state championship that has eluded its grasp since 2001.

Under coach Andy Linn’s tutelage, the Rams came close once, in 2014, but fell 25-19 to a powerful Magna Vista squad that would also defeat tomorrow’s opponent, Lord Botetourt, 47-21 the following year.

The Cavaliers, from Daleville, just north of Roanoke, are also undefeated at 9-0, and arrive in Williamsburg on the heels of a 24-22 nail-biter win over Liberty Christian. This will be their third attempt at the championship, having also lost to Hopewell 35-7 in 2019.

Likewise, the Rams received a formidable challenge in the semis but recovered their own fumble in the game’s final two minutes to hold off Independence 17-13.

Both teams rely on the run, but the Cavs have a monster player in 226-pound back Hunter Rice with 995 yards and 20 TD in just nine games. Quarterback Sammy Peery has thrown for just over 1,000 yards, and 14 scores against only two interceptions.

The Rams respond with Miguel Reel (88-489-8) as the featured back. Reel carried 21 times for 107 yards in the Indy game. Luke Hanson should keep the Cavs defense honest, coming into Saturday with 925 yards and nine TD’s through the air.

Both teams have been bitten by the injury bug. For Lord Botetourt, WR/DB Kyle Arnholt is out, while Lafayette LB Sam Boyer, the Region 3A defensive player of the year, also will not play. University of Virginia commit Mike Green (6-4, 215) will be asked to pick up the slack on the Ram defense.

LORD BOTETOURT
Coach: Jamie Harless

Offense
89 TE Ethan Peggins; 6-5 235 Sr.
50 LT Gunner Givens; 6-6 272 Jr.
54 LG Trey Reiter; 5-11 265 Sr.
64 C Frank Sawyers; 5-11 240 Sr.
52 OG Troy Everett; 6-3 280 Sr.
72 OT Hunter McLain; 6-5 290 Jr.
43 WR Joey Isaacs; 5-9 145 Jr.
9 TE Xavier Stephens; 6-2 264 Sr.
1 QB Sammy Peery; 6-0 150 Sr.
44 FB Zach Horton; 6-4 240 Sr.
10 RB Hunter Rice 6-0 226 Sr.

Defense
52 DL Troy Everett 6-3 280 Sr.
78 NT Evan Heck 5-11 270 Sr.
9 DL Xavier Stephens 6-2 264 Sr.
44 OLB Zach Horton 6-4 240 Sr.
5 ILB Bryson Oliver 6-1 220 Sr.
10 ILB Hunter Rice 6-0 226 Sr.
24 OLB Nic Pitzer 6-1 207 Sr.
CB 2 Trevor Catron 5-10 170 Sr.
CB 43 Joey Isaacs 5-9 145 Jr.
11 S Jakari Nicely 6-0 180 Fr.
1 S Sammy Peery 6-0 150 Sr.

Specialists
6 PK Bryson Harvey 6-1 165 Jr.
3 P Mikey Rago 5-11 150 Sr.
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SEASON SCORES
W George Washington 70-6
W William Fleming 49-6
W William Byrd 55-13
W Staunton River 49-6
W Franklin County 57-7
W Northside (forfeit)

Region 3D playoffs
W Christiansburg 55-0
W Abingdon 26-8

Class 3 semifinal
W Liberty Christian 24-22
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Lord Botetourt SEASON STATISTICS

Rushing
Att Yds TD
Hunter Rice 98 995 20
Dylan Wade 94 626 6
K.J. Bratton 53 426 5

Passing
C-A-I Yds TD
Sammy Peery 49-64-2 1003 14

Receiving
Rec-Yds TD
Zach Horton 26-297 5
Kyle Arnholt;; 21-281-9

LAFAYETTE
Coach: Andy Linn

Offense

76 LT Bradley White 6-5 240 Sr.
53 LG Mike Julien 5-9 260 Jr.
79 C Tommy Gardner 6-4 320 Sr.
56 RG Andy Anderson 6-1 270 Jr.
75 RT Bryce Copeland 6-0 200 Jr.
4 TE Mike Green 6-4 215 Sr.
84 WR Donald Gatling 6-4 190 Jr.
2 WB Adrian Warren 5-10 180 Jr.
1 WB Bryce Cupp; 6-2 210 Sr.
8 QB Luke Hanson; 6-2 190 Jr.
5 RB Miguel Reel 6-0 190 Sr.

Defense

5 DL Miguel Reel 6-0 190 Sr.
53 DL Mike Julien 5-9 260 Jr.
79 DL Tommy Gardner 6-4 320 Sr.
9 DL Loyal Gresham 6-2 240 Jr.
7 LB Myric Harris 5-10 185 Sr.
50 LB Aidan Byron 5-11 200 Sr.
4 LB Mike Green 6-4 215 Sr.
22 LB DeMarcus Lawrence 5-11 200 So.
84 DB Donald Gatling; 6-4 190 Jr.
1 DB Bryce Cupp; 6-2 210 Sr.
27 DB Jaylin Pretlow 5-10 160 So.

Specialists

18 PK; Cannon Newell 6-0 165 Sr.
—-

Lafayette: SEASON STATISTICS

Rushing
Att Yds TD
Miguel Reel 88 489 8

Passing
C-A-I Yds TD
Luke Hanson 48-99-5 925 9

Receiving
Rec-Yds TD
Donald Gatling 20-285 6
Mike Green 14 -255 2

How They Got There - Lafayette Defeats Independence in Class 3 State Semifinal (as seen on UltimateRecruit.com)

 In a game that qualifies as an instant classic, Lafayette was taken to the hilt by Independence, but a Luke Hanson fumble recovery in the game’s final two minutes sealed a Class 3 championship game berth for the Rams, who nipped the upstart Tigers 17-13 at Williamsburg’s Wanner Stadium on Saturday.

With the win, Lafayette (8-0) will host Lord Botetourt, a 24-22 winner over Liberty Christian in the other semifinal next Saturday.

Indy struck first, as Florida State commit Brian Courtney tossed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Josh Hand. The extra point gave the Tigers an early 7-0 edge.

Lafayette responded with an 11-play, 80-yard drive that took up a huge chunk of the second quarter, culminated by Adrian Warren’s 10-yard scoring run with 2:50 left in the opening half, which ended with the score knotted at seven.

The Rams relied heavily on their running game, carrying the ball 42 times for 220 times. Miguel Reel (21 rushes, 107 yards) put Lafayette in the lead with 8:40 remaining in the third quarter with a seven-yard touchdown run to put the hosts on top 14-7.

The Tigers struck back immediately, needing just over two minutes to respond, as Elijah Tidwell scored from three yards out. However, the Rams’ Brandon Jefferson got a hand on the extra-point kick to keep the Rams ahead 14-13.

Early in the fourth quarter, Cannon Newell added three more points with a 36-yard field goal, putting the Rams ahead 17-13.

The Tigers had one final chance to score the game-winning touchdown, but the Ram defense held Courtney (8-16, 79 yards, TD, 21 carries, 101 yards) and the offense in check, forcing a punt with just under four minutes left in the game.

Lafayette would face one more nerve-wracking moment when Ram quarterback Luke Hanson fumbled the center snap near midfield with 1:42 remaining. Hanson recovered the fumble, allowing the Rams to run out the clock.

Despite the finish, Independence (5-2) capped its second season of varsity football in an unlikely spot, after starting their inaugural season 0-8, before winning two games to qualify for a playoff spot. Ram coach Andy Linn was impressed with the quick progression of the Tigers.

“As I told their coach (R.J. Windows), they’ve done a great job getting the kids out and running a system. They took their lumps last year but stuck with it and it has paid off. They’ll continue to get better.”

Deep Creek WR J. Jones Commits to W&M (as seen on ultimaterecruit.com)

Deep Creek WR Jalen Jones (c/o 2021, 6-1 170) has found his collegiate home, as the speedy Hornet committed to the College of William and Mary on Thursday.

Jones, who has carried a 4.0 plus grade point average throughout his high school career (and 4.24 overall), will certainly gain from the academic challenge offered in Williamsburg without being overwhelmed by the rigor of study at one of the nation’s most prestigious academic schools.

Jones was primarily recruited for the Tribe by cornerbacks coach Ras-I Dowling, a former NFL cornerback with the Patriots and Raiders, and also a fellow graduate of Deep Creek.

And while Tribe head coach Mike London has gained some speed on the outside (at either defensive back or receiver), there is one other W&M coach who may be equally as happy with Jones’ commitment – W&M director of track and field Alex Heacock.

Jones has enjoyed a solid career with the Hornets, evidenced in his last game, a 23-12 win over Western Branch in which he caught five passes for 59 yards and a touchdown. The Creek team is 5-1 and heading to Virginia Beach next weekend for a Region 5A playoff tilt against Cox.

However, Jones has also starred on the oval which surrounds the field. In the spring of 2019, as a sophomore, he won four individual events (high jump, long jump, triple jump, 100-meter hurdles) to lead the Hornets to a Class 4A region track title. The following week, at the Class 4 state meet, he almost won the triple jump, but fell just short when a Louisa County jumper hit 47 feet on his final attempt, just one-half inch ahead of Jones’ 46-11 ½.

Although he missed his junior season outdoor track campaign to COVID, head football coach Andre Twine, who also serves as the school’s head indoor and outdoor track coach, has made one bold prediction for his star two-sport athlete.

Speaking of the triple jump, Twine told Recruit757, “he’s going for 50 (feet) outdoor,” a mark that would easily rank him in the top-three in Virginia, and among the 50 best nationally.

The Tribe football team (currently 1-2 in its spring season) is scheduled to host Richmond at Zable Stadium on April 10.