Heritage Tops Menchville 21-20

 NEWPORT NEWS – In both teams’ Peninsula District opener, Menchville, behind the power of Charlie Wilson’s 241 rushing yards, held on for a one-point win over city rival Heritage.

In a game married by 24 penalties, the Monarchs (1-1) were never in charge of the game until Corey Harris intercepted a Derrick Gurley Jr. pass in the game’s final minute. At the time, the Hurricanes (0-2) had just converted a 4th-and-3 from the 33, as Gurley’s pass was snared just inside the sideline by Sterling Anderson who landed right on the 30 before being pushed out of bounds.

The loss for Heritage overshadowed a sparkling game from Anderson, who scored on a 91-yard pass play, set up by Menchville’s failure to drop anyone back at safety. The senior also followed up Wilson’s 62-yard touchdown run with a 94-yard kickoff return for a score.

Wilson carried the ball 33 times, including eight for 51 yards on the game-clinching scoring drive. But the senior, who also plays free safety, was quick to recognize the defense.

“Defense wins championships,” said Wilson, who also made some notable tackles on Gurley (12 carries, 106 yards), who escaped the pocket on numerous occasions, leading to several games of cat-and-mouse with the Monarch defenders.

Coach Rodney Wilson praised his team, telling them after the game – “we could have given up, but tonight we showed our heart!”

Menchville held a tenuous 7-6 lead at the half, but passed up numerous opportunities to extend the margin. Three of Gurley’s first four passes were almost intercepted by Monarch defenders, and most of the seven first-half penalties came during long gains, including a 47-yard touchdown run by Amir Harrison, which was called back due to a holding call.

Yet, the Menchville defense held tight. Aside from a 70-yard dash by Gurley, the Hurricanes managed just 54 yards in the opening half. However, Gurley’s long run, from the Heritage 17 to the Monarch 13, set up an eight-yard pass between Gurley and slot receiver Zachary Ray, who connected on a crossing pattern. The Canes quarterback provided most of the offense for his team in the first half, with 93 rushing yards on six carries.

On the Monarch side, Harrison, who rushed for 104 rushing in the season opening loss to Western Branch, opted to hand off to Wilson, who picked up 108 yards rushing on 14 first-half carries.

                    Her.    Men.

1st Downs    8,  14   

Rush – Yds   20-115, 49-376  

Pass Yds.       140, 29       

C- A – I        6-19-2, 4-13-1 

Punts – Avg.   5-31, 4-28

Pen. Yds.       10-65, 14-145

Fumb – Lost   2-1, 1-0

Heritage          0, 6, 7, 7 -- 20

Menchville      0, 7, 7, 7 -- 21

M – Shane Reimann 7 pass from Amir Harrison (Edwin Baker kick)

H – Zachary Ray 8 pass from Derrick Gurley Jr. (kick failed)

H – Sterling Anderson 91 pass from Gurley (kick failed)

M – Charlie Wilson 62 run (Baker run)

H – Anderson 94 kick return (Cunningham pass from Gurley)

M – Wilson 4 run (Baker kick)

Lionsbridge FC Reaches National Soccer Final

Lionsbridge FC 1, Villages SC 1 (Lionsbridge wins 4-3 on penalty kicks)

NEWPORT NEWS – On the biggest day of his team’s history, the newest member of the Lionsbridge FC delivered the most important kick in its five-year history.

Coleman Jennings nailed the fifth of five penalty kicks for Lionsbridge, breaking a 3-3 draw in the final round and sending the hosts to the USL League 2 national championship against Ballard FC, which will be held on Saturday in Seattle, Washington.

Jennings, who just joined the club last week, was even keeled about his new place in the team’s five-year history.

“I just wanted to deliver for the boys,” said Jennings, who hit a perfect line drive into the right side of the net sending the home crowd, which filled the TowneBank Stadium bleachers, into a frenzy.

Davide Materazzi, Sam Hall, and Andrew Bennett also scored on penalty kicks for Lionsbridge.

Jennings’s game-winner was preceded by a crucial save from goalie Tyler Hogan who stopped a grounder by Pedro Santos to keep the bonus round tied.

Asked if Santos tipped him off about which direction he might send the ball, Hogan said, “I know where I’m going before they (kick) it.”

For Lionsbridge (14-2-3), the win extended its streak to eight, as well as its home unbeaten run, which now stands at 32 games. 

The win ends a rugged nine-day stretch for the Eastern Conference champions, who played four games, including two overtime matches this weekend, the first of which lasted until 1:30 am.

The first half was scoreless and highlighted by some rough-and-tumble play and few scoring opportunities. Villages’ Nicolai Muench had the first open shot at goal at the ten-minute mark, receiving a pass within ten yards of the Lionsbridge goal, with only keeper Hogan to beat. But his attempt from the near right side, hit the outside of the goal, getting caught in the netting.

Five minutes later, Lionsbridge midfielder Bennett hooked a 30-yard attempt over the Villages defense and directly toward the top of the Villages goal. But Mathias Tieppo leaped to bat the ball over the crossbar.

Play got chippy in the second half. At the 50-minute mark, a shoving match among several members of both teams broke out near midfield, and two minutes later, Lionsbridge’s Harri Rowe drew a yellow card for upending Muench.

“They’re a physical team,” said coach Chris Whalley. “I think we handled it well.”

Ironically, it was the hosts who eventually benefitted. Lionsbridge earned a free kick from 35 yards out after Sam Hall was pushed to the turf while dribbling. Bennett’s kick was recovered by Adam Kirkwood, who turned to deliver a line drive toward the goal. The ball hit the crossbar, but an alert Josh Baker dove to head in the rebound for a game tying score.

The good news was almost short lived. Villages dribbled into the Lionsbridge zone and sent a kick toward goal where the ball started bouncing toward the net, with Hogan caught five yards outside of the goal.  Instinctively, he turned to chase the ball, which he managed to bat out of the crease with his right hand, saving what would have been the game-winning goal as the two clubs played to a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation.

York Drops State Softball Final

 

FREDERICKSBURG --- After defeating Brentsville and Cave Spring to reach the Class 3 state softball final, the York Falcons hope of claiming its first ever title fell just short on Saturday with the Falcons falling to Northside of Roanoke 3-1.

Still, for York, this season can be considered successful, as Coach Amy Hunter’s team overcame a 1-2 start with two Bay Rivers District losses and a fourth place finish in the district. Despite dropping the Class 3, Region A final to New Kent, the Falcons advanced to the state tournament as the A2 seed, and proceeded to topple a pair of #1 seeds to reach the final game.

The Falcons (18-8) were defiant to the end, scoring the first run of the game in the third inning. Brianna Petrolia walked, and scored on an RBI double from Morgan Hunter. The Falcons held the 1-0 advantage into the fifth inning when the Northside bats came to life. The Vikings struck for two runs, and added an insurance run in the seventh to claim the championship.

Sarah Witt performed admirably on the mound, allowing just two hits and striking out five, but fell victim to five walks, which put Northside runners in scoring position late in the game. For the season, Witt finished with a 2.43 ERA, while batting .485 and leading the Falcons in homeruns, slugging percentage and runs batted in.

Petrolia topped the Falcons in runs scored with 33, while Morgan Hunter hit .509 to pace an offensive arsenal that collectively batted a rousing .414. By comparison, Witt and Petrolia gave up a stingy .207 batting average to opposing batters.