PHOEBUS 34, SHERANDO 0
Phoebus (13-0) 7, 13, 7, 7 -- 34
HAMPTON – Aiming to defend its Class 4 state championship, to go along with a pair of Class 3 titles in 2021 and 2022, the Phoebus Phantoms used the arm of Maurikus Banks and legs of Davion Roberts to whitewash the Warriors of Sherando High 34-0 on Saturday afternoon at Darling Stadium.
The Phantoms, who extended their win streak to a state-leading 48, will face the Varina Blue Devils for the state title next Saturday at Bridgeforth Stadium on the campus of JMU in Harrisonburg.
Sophomore Maurikus Banks was on fire in the game’s first 20 minutes, completing his first twelve passes for 149 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown throw on a textbook post pattern to Noah Jefferson, just one play after a 15-yard gainer from Jefferson was negated by a Phoebus penalty. Banks, who threw four touchdown passes in the first half of last week’s Region 4A win over Hampton, completed 23 of 28 passes for 251 yards and the pair of scoring tosses to Jefferson.
Romeir Smith, who caught four balls for 107 yards, explained the strategy. “We’re opening up the playbook. Today we went pass heavy. We brought them down with hitches and compromised with the deep ball.” Jefferson finished with six receptions for 62 yards and a second touchdown, while Brandon Diggs was a beneficiary of the hitch passes, grabbing five catches for 35 yards, including a pair of receptions on the Phantoms first two plays to earn the game’s initial first down.
Roberts was tough to stop, often requiring three and four Warriors to pull him down. The senior totaled 137 yards on 23 carries with three scores, but it was the ability to avoid losses by keeping himself in motion and driving for extra yardage that was most notable.
The defense pitched its third shutout of the playoffs, and Phoebus has outscored its playoff opponents 114-0. The Phantoms held Sherando (12-2), who hail from the Northwestern District and Stephens City, to 93 yards, 38 of which came on a breakaway pass to Ben Taylor in the game’s last minute. The Warriors entered the contest averaging just over 37 points per game, but coach Jeremy Blunt and staff had their plan ready. On Saturday, Sherando could only muster two first downs.
“They’re a run to pass team, so we had to key on the run, and also to be ready for their false reads,” said Blunt, who is aiming for his fourth state crown as the Phoebus coach. The ground game never surfaced for the Warriors, who rushed for 26 yards on 19 carries, while chasing quarterback Micah Carlson, who spent most of the game running away from defenders, while completing five of 16 passes while being intercepted by Brenden Thompson and Isaac Lipkins. Kaleb Tillery added a fumble recovery.
P – Davion Roberts 3 run (Farriss Knight kick)
P – Roberts 1 run (Knight kick)
P – Noah Jefferson 24 pass from Maurikus Banks (kick failed)
P – Jefferson 12 pass from Banks (Knight kick)
P – Roberts 6 run (Knight kick)
S P
1st Downs 2, 16
Rush-Yards 19-26, 37-140
Pass Yards 67, 251
C – A – I 5-16-2, 23-28-1
Pen-Yards 4-40, 8-64
Punt-Avg. 5-46, 2-32
Fumb-Lost 1-1, 1-0
