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09 30
2022 Prep football: Mechanicsville at Atlee 7:00 p.m.
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09 30
2022 Prep football: Varina at Hanover 7:00 p.m.
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Patriots win defensive battle with Atlee
By Rob Witham for Th e Local
ASHLAND — It is, after all, football.
It’s supposed to be a battle of wills, fought physically and psychologically. When you throw in two teams, rivals for more than three decades, one of them desperate for a win to keep realistic postseason hopes alive — all the ingredients were on the field Friday night for a classic slugfest.
All 28 points were scored in the first half, as both the Patrick Henry and Atlee defenses clamped down. The Raiders’ one scoring chance of the second half went by the boards, and the host Patriots escaped with a 15-13 victory to improve to 3-1 on the season. With the defeat, an Atlee team that could easily be 4-1 had a few plays broken its way now sits at 1-4.
“Every team Atlee has played, they’ve been really, really tough,” said Patriots head coach Ken Wakefield. “Hats off to our defense, making extra stops. That was the difference in the game.”
Both teams were able to score in the first quarter, as Zach Tschantre booted a 40-yard field goal to give Atlee the early 3-0 lead midway through the quarter. The Patriots responded with a touchdown drive, capped by Gracyn Ross’ 9-yard sweep beating Atlee defenders to the front left pylon for the score.
On the next play, Ross was pressed into a repeat performance, as a bad snap on the extra-point attempt turned into
Joel Klein for The Local
In a game full of defensive highlights, Atlee defensive back Austin Gaines (2) breaks up a pass in the end zone intended for Patrick Henry’s Cole Sylvia in Patrick Henry’s 15-13 victory.
Ross racing to the same pylon, scoring two would-be critical points for an 8-3 lead.
Atlee’s best drive of the night opened the second quarter, as the Raiders continually fed junior tailback J.J. Lewis, who doesn’t look like a bruiser, but definitely is as he helps open his own path downhill. But, on his touchdown run of 26 yards, he benefited from good blocking and a blown assignment by the Patriot defense, clearing the right side of the field for an easy score.
Patrick Henry’s Greg Foster took the ensuing kick just inside the 50. Less than two minutes after Atlee retook the lead, the Patriots grabbed it back for good on a 13-yard touchdown strike from Jayden Brown to Jeremiah Grant. Richard Crabbe’s pointafter gave Patrick Henry a 15-10 lead.
The Patriots would start their next possession at the Atlee 42. This is when the Raider defense stood tall. Austin Gaines knocked down a fourth-down pass from Brown to give the Raiders possession. Just before halftime, Tschantre nailed a 30-yard field goal to cut Patrick Henry’s lead to 15-13.
Both offenses struggled early in the second half. The
Hanover goes 4-0 with win over Wildcats
By Dave Lawrence Sports Editor
MECHANICSVILLE — Armstrong opened its game at Hanover Friday night with a score. It closed the game with a score.
But between those bookends, the host Hawks dominated. The nearly unstoppable Hanover offense scored often in walloping the Wildcats with a 47-12 win. The Hawks are now 4-0 on the season.
In many ways, the varsity game Friday mirrored the junior varsity game Thursday. Armstrong scored first both nights with a game-opening kickoff return for a score. But Hanover responded with scores over and over afterward. The main difference in the varsity showdown was the Wildcats’ scoring as time out to leave with a second score of the night.
The Hawks were relentless, scoring on nearly every possession that night. They were led by senior stalwarts such as Beau Sahnow and Cole Elrod, part of a core group of players and coaches who stuck with the program despite its struggles during a hard transition several years ago.
“There’s a lot of guys who stuck around while we were trying to implement this process, this culture,” said Hanover head football coach Sam Rogers. “I’m talking about even coaches, too. Dave Butler, who was the coach in 2019 — interim head coach — deserves a ton of praise. He stuck around and he started helping implement this culture in 2019. Tyler Snow is another guy. Those two guys are huge to our program.
“And add on to that these senior leaders that were there in 2019 when times were tough for Hanover football. … There are certain of those leaders that
Dave Lawrence/The Local
Hanover’s Cole Elrod (10) launches a touchdown toss to receiver Ryan Samardge in the Hawks’ 47-12 win over Armstrong Friday.
are battle tested and they stuck around and they didn’t quit when their friends did. I’m really proud of them for that. Now they’re getting some results.”
Rogers, when he played for Hanover, was one of those leaders: tough, hard-working and ready to do what it took to win. But he demurred when asked if his example has rubbed off on his players.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I think they’ve done an awesome job of preparing and trusting everything that we’re doing. It’s not me. Like I said, it’s the entire team that’s developing that culture and I’m really proud of them.”
Sahnow and Elrod both threw for a pair of touchdowns. Sahnow caught both of Elrod’s scoring tosses. Sahnow finished with nine carries for 100 yards. Elrod’s two touchdown completions were his only pass attempts. They totaled 42 yards.
“They played well,” Rogers said. “They work really hard in practice, and it showed up in the game.”
But the Hawks had many more weapons than Sahnow and Elrod. Peyton Seelman finished with 13 carries for 114 yards and a touchdown as well as two catches for 21 yards and another score. Theo Wingfield had 22 carries for 94 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, Hanover was led by Jay Hoel, who forced and recovered an Armstrong fumble, along with Zach Tyler and Grady Fahed who finished with two sacks apiece.
The Hawks have some tough games coming up, beginning with a visit from Varina Friday at 7 p.m. They host Mechanicsville on Oct. 7, travel to Highland Springs on Oct. 14 and host Patrick Henry on Oct. 21.
Hanover finishes it season on the road with games at Henrico on Oct. 28 and Atlee on Nov. 4.
Mustangs burned by Blue Devils
VARINA — Myles Derricott and the Varina Blue Devils roasted visiting Mechanicsville Friday night, with Derricott completing 6-of-11 passes for 101 yards and three touchdowns to lead the host to a 34-3 victory over the Mustangs.
Derricott also had nine carries for 58 yards and another touchdown in the contest.
Varina nearly doubled up Mechanicsville in terms of total rushing yards with 159 to the Mustangs’ 81. The Blue Devils dominated the air with 114 total passing yards to just 4 for Mechanicsville.
Varina opened the scoring with Derricott’s 33-yard pass
Rob Witham for The Local
Patrick Henry’s Ava Rossman (7) leads the attack in the Patriots 1-0 win over Hanover Thursday.
Scrappy Patriots edge Hawks
By Dave Lawrence Sports Editor
MECHANICSVILLE — There was no shortage of action, but there was a dearth of scoring when Patrick Henry hosted Hanover in a cross-county field hockey battle Thursday night.
The Patriots’ Ava Rossman scored the games only goal in the first quarter of the Patrick Henry win.
“We came up big when we needed to,” said Patriot Henry head field hockey coach Abbie Rossman. “Our defense was there and we were able to make some stops.”
Patrick Henry goalkeeper Maggie Sharp had to stay sharp, especially in the second half when the Hawks got a number of shots on goal. Sharp finished with eight saves on the evening.
“Both teams looked great,” said Hanover head field hockey coach Nicole Yeaney. “The keepers were absolutely on it.”
The game’s lone goal came when Ava Rossman came in the attack. Two teammates were on the other side of the net, and it looked like Rossman was going to pass. Hanover keeper Caroline Wilson stepped toward the others in anticipation of the pass when Rossman saw the opening and scored.
Dave Lawrence/The Local
Hanover receiver Ryan Samardge celebrates with teammate Theodore Wingfi eld Jr. (27) after Samardge’s touchdown reception in the Hawks’ 47-12 win over visiting Armstrong Friday.
HANOVER
Continued from pg. 17
to Jordan Edwards. Edwards scored again on a 20-yard run before connecting once more with Derricott on a 17-yard TD. Derricott found Christopher Coleman for another 17-yard touchdown toss in the fourth quarter.
Varina’s defense also got in some scoring action when Eric Smith intercepted a Mechanicsville pass and returned it for a TD.
The Mustangs’ only score came on a 30-yard field goal by Nelson Morales.
Dave Lawrence can be reached at dlawrence@mechlocal.com.
Mechanicsville 0 0 3 0 — 3 Varina 7 20 0 7 — 34
VAR — Edwards 33 pass from Derricott (Royster kick) VAR — Edwards 20 run (Royster kick) VAR — Edwards 17 pass from Derricott (Royster kick) VAR — Smith interception return (kick failed) MEC — Morales FG 30 VAR — Coleman 17 pass from Derricott (Royster kick)
BATTLE
Continued from pg. 16
Patriots earned zero yards on three plays to start the third quarter. A Lewis run into the red zone was called back because of a penalty.
In the fourth quarter, the Patriots had Atlee pinned back at its own 33 facing third down and 17. Quarterback Brooks Hollins fired downfield, finding Scott Holmes for a 53-yard play down to the Patriots’ 14.
Now, it was the Patrick Henry defense that clamped down, allowing just 4 yards in three plays. Tschantre came on for a 27-yard field goal try to take the lead. The kick pushed wide right.
There was still 6:55 remaining.
Atlee got the ball back with three timeouts at 5:29 left but failed to get a first down as Edwin Henderson made a fantastic play in the secondary on a third-down pass.
Now it was Patrick Henry’s opportunity to chew up the clock.
At Atlee’s 39-3/4, needing less than a yard, Ross lined up in the jumbo wildcat formation, and willed his way to the 38, allowing the Patriots to drain the clock down to :54, and to pin Atlee on a punt down to its own 8-yard line.
The Raiders needed 65 yards to get into Tschantre field goal range, but couldn’t get past midfield, giving the Patriots the victory.
“Our defense came up with big plays when they needed to,” Wakefield said. “We gave up the long pass which could make the difference in the game. We’ve harped on this since week one, if a bad play happens, next play mentality, forget about it.”
The defensive struggle was illustrated beautifully by two players: Patrick Henry linebacker Jackson Thurston and Atlee linebacker Iziah Riley, two seniors who led two determined teams into battle.
Patrick Henry welcomes Henrico this Friday, while Atlee returns home to face rival Mechanicsville. In Region 4B, where a winning record may be required to make the eightteam playoff field, the Patriots are in good position, but with plenty of work to do.
It will be an uphill climb for the Raiders, who still have to face Highland Springs Varina, and Hanover, all three of whom, at the moment, are undefeated.
Rob Witham can be reached at sports@mechlocal.com.
