Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Week Four Colonial District Game Summaries

Courtesy of the Richmond Times-Dispatch! A more detailed report on Patrick Henry's win over J.R. Tucker forthcoming.

Monday, September 29, 2008

Quick Updates!

SCORES:

Clover Hill 62, Manchester 41
L.C. Bird 55, Huguenot 6

Lee-Davis 43, Armstrong 6

Cosby 17, Monacan 14 (game with D5 playoff implications!)


PH/Tucker on the air at 605pm on WHAN, hope to have podcast up later this week and game summary posted later tonight or tomorrow.

Friday, September 26, 2008

J.R. Tucker at Patrick Henry---POSTPONED

Tonight's PH game at home against J.R. Tucker will now be played on Monday night at 6:30pm.

Pregame coverage will begin at 605pm on WHAN (1430) AM.

We'll see you at the field Monday night!!

Week Four Postponements!!! UPDATED

As of noon Friday:

Huguenot at L.C. Bird, Saturday - 1:30pm

Blessed Sacrament Huguenot at Trinity Episcopal, Saturday - 2:00pm

Hanover at Highland Springs, Monday - 6:30pm

Matoaca at Dinwiddie, Monday - 6:30pm

Thursday, September 25, 2008

WEEK FOUR SCHEDULE

J.R. TUCKER (0-3) AT PATRICK HENRY (2-1)--Pregame begins at 7:05p on WHAN-AM (1430)

OTHER HANOVER COUNTY SCHOOLS:
Armstrong (2-2) at Lee-Davis (1-2)
Varina (4-0) at Atlee (0-3)
Hanover (2-1) at Highland Springs (2-1)

COLONIAL DISTRICT GAMES:
John Marshall (1-2) at Deep Run (3-0)
Thomas Jefferson (0-3) at Douglas Freeman (2-1)
Mills Godwin (0-3) at Hermitage (1-2)

OTHER MATCHUPS:

Colonial Heights (2-1) at Prince George (1-2)
Thomas Dale (0-3) at Meadowbrook (3-0)
Matoaca (2-1) at Dinwiddie (2-1)
Petersburg (3-0) at Hopewell (2-1)
Huguenot (1-2) at L.C. Bird (2-1)
Manchester at Clover Hill (3-1)
Cosby (3-0) at Monacan (3-0)
George Wythe (0-3) at James River (0-3)
Benedictine at Midlothian (1-2)
Powhatan at Spotsylvania
Arcadia at King William, 7
Blessed Sacrament Huguenot at Trinity Episcopal, 4:15
Central Va. Disciples at Chincoteague, 7
St. Christopher's at St. Anne's-Belfield, 7.

SATURDAY
Episcopal at Collegiate, 1:30 p.m.

Latest National Weather Service Forecast

Tonight: Periods of rain. Low around 58. Northeast wind between 15 and 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday: Showers. High near 65. Northeast wind between 9 and 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 62. North wind between 3 and 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Saturday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. West wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

National Weather Service Forecast, 1145am, Wednesday 9/24/08

Thursday: Rain, mainly after 2pm. High near 64. North wind between 14 and 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Rain. Low around 61. North wind between 9 and 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Friday: Rain. High near 71. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday Night: A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 58. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday: A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 76. Chance of precipitation is 40%.


We'll keep you posted on how/if this affects Friday night's action.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Fox Richmond/DigitalSports.com Top Ten: Sept. 22, 2008

Records as of Monday, Sept. 22
(All games Friday, 7:30 p.m. unless noted)

Team (Record, previous ranking)

1. Meadowbrook (3-0, 1): idle. Next up: vs. Thomas Dale.

2. Varina (4-0, 3): beat No. 4 Hermitage 22-8.
Next up: at Atlee.

3. Deep Run (3-0, 2): beat No. 5 Hanover 21-14.
Next up: vs. John Marshall.

4. Highland Springs (2-1, 6): beat Mills Godwin 33-14. Next up: vs. No. 6 Hanover.

5. L.C. Bird (2-1, 7): beat No. 8 Manchester 34-0. Next up: vs. Huguenot.

6. Hanover (2-1, 5): lost to No. 2 Deep Run 21-14.
Next up: at No. 4 Highland Springs.

7. Hermitage (1-2, 4): lost to No. 3 Varina 22-8.
Next up: vs. Mills Godwin.

8. Clover Hill (3-1, 9): beat Huguenot 38-0. Next up: vs. Manchester.

9. Patrick Henry (2-1, 10): beat Lee-Davis 14-13. Next up: J.R. Tucker.

10. Cosby (3-0, NR): beat James River 44-0. Next up: at Monacan.

Others receiving votes: Dinwiddie (2-1, NR); Manchester (2-1, 8); Monacan (3-0, NR); Petersburg (3-0, NR)


Check out Fox 35 sports anchor Joe Sullivan on Friday nights at 10:45 p.m. for highlights and scores from football action!

Weather A Concern For Week Four Friday

The National Weather Service forecast for Ashland as of 3pm today (9/23):

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. North wind between 11 and 18 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Northeast wind between 11 and 13 mph.

Thursday: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. North wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a low around 60. Northeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 71. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday Night: A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 58. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday: A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 76. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Looks like a coastal storm is in the offing for Thursday, Friday, and maybe Saturday. This may put this Friday's slate of games in some jeopardy. WAY too early to know yet, but Friday night football fans might want to check out their "Local on the 8's" on The Weather Channel more than usual for the next 48-72 hours.

Monday, September 22, 2008

From DigitalSports.com: Deep Run Survives Hanover

Hermitage is no longer the clear-cut favorite to win the Colonial District. This is a must-read for all Colonial District fans and anyone following Hanover's quest to repeat as Division 5 Regional Champions!

Another great game from Friday night!

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Week Three High School Football Scores

49th Tomato Bowl: Patrick Henry 14, Lee-Davis 13

OTHER COUNTY SCHOOLS:

Douglas Freeman 14, Atlee 7
Deep Run 21, Hanover 14

OTHER COLONIAL DISTRICT SCHOOLS:

Varina 22, Hermitage 8
Highland Springs 33, Mills Godwin 14
Henrico 26, J.R. Tucker 13
Caroline 28, Thomas Jefferson 12
(JOHN MARSHALL was idle)


L.C. Bird 34, Manchester 0
Cosby 44, James River 0
Clover Hill 38, Huguenot 0
Monacan 34, Prince George 33 (Double OT)
Dinwiddie 48, Nottoway 8
Armstrong 21, Colonial Heights 12
Midlothian 31, George Wythe 8
GW-Danville 48, Matoaca 34
Powhatan 19, Monticello 18
Prince Edward 25, Goochland 22

Friday, September 19, 2008

A Tomato Bowl For The Ages: Patrick Henry 14, Lee-Davis 13

What a game!

Going into the 49th Tomato Bowl, I believed we would see two evenly matched teams take the field, fitting to have a great game to cap off the 50th Anniversary celebration of Lee-Davis High School.

It was all that and more. In a thriller, Patrick Henry held on to defeat Lee-Davis, 14-13, winning its fourth consecutive Tomato Bowl.

This game was everything that last week's Atlee game was not. No fumbled snaps for Patrick Henry. Five total penalties. No turnovers. Successful fake punt. Big runs, big touchdown passes, defensive stands, quarterbacks pressured, you name it. And, in the end, it came down to three big plays.

First, the scoring. Both teams scored on their opening possession. Lee-Davis struck first on a 26-yard TD pass from QB Will Burton (9-22, 129 yds, 2 TDs) to WR T.J. Harvey. The Patriots respond with a quick, five play, 68 yard drive capped off by Adrian Cavanaugh's 10 yard scamper right up the middle for the tying score. It was tied at seven after one quarter.

In the 2nd, Patrick Henry took the lead, ending a drive with a one yard run, again by Cavanaugh, just breaking the plane of the goal, and Hayden Dyer's extra point made it 14-7, which was the score at halftime.

BIG PLAY #1---In the third quarter, Lee-Davis drove down to the Patriot six yard line. A snap from center went between the quarterback's legs, was recovered by running Tucker Walton, for a loss of ten yards. So, Lee-Davis had to settle for a 33 yard FG attempt by kicker C.J. Stevens, and it fell just short.

The 14-7 PH lead held steady. Into the fourth quarter we went, and I mentioned on the broadcast that the Patriots offense needed a sustained, time-consuming drive, saying you could only give Lee-Davis so many chances on offense before they would strike again.

Sure enough.

The Pats punt it away. Lee-Davis takes over at their own 49. One play later, it's a 14-13 game, after Burton hit T.J. Harvey again, this time on a slant pattern that Harvey took to the house for a 51-yard touchdown.

Extra point.......oh, wait a minute.

BIG PLAY #2---Lee-Davis decides to go for two. They fall one yard short of the goal line, and instead of a possible tie, going for the lead failed, and it remained 14-13.

Yet, Patrick Henry could not get a drive going to keep the clock moving and Lee-Davis had one more chance. And on fourth down.....

BIG PLAY #3---Burton's 22nd and final pass was long, down the right side, heading for, once again, T.J. Harvey. The pass held in the air just long enough, flew about two yards shorter than Lee-Davis wanted to, and gave DB B.J. Moss the second he needed to block the ball, and help secure the victory.

If the pass is half a second quicker and three yards further, Harvey catches it in stride and the Confederates celebrate a miracle comeback victory, the storybook ending to a golden anniversary.

Instead, the Patriots run out the clock and they return to Ashland 2-1. Tonight, the exclamation of "whew" heard from the PH faithful was not "Whew, we almost gave the game away", as was the case after last week's Atlee game. Tonight it was, "Whew, what a game!!!!"

Brandon Cash's only completed pass was a shovel pass to Cavanaugh that went for 40 yards, but he did carry the ball 22 times for 105 yards. Cavanaugh added 15 carries, 69 yards, and two touchdown runs to his one reception.

Lee-Davis' running game was held in check tonight. Tucker Walton, who carried for 127 yards against Hermitage two weeks earlier, carried nine times for only 14 yards. Burton carried seven times for 37 yards.

Lee-Davis now enters Capital District play a disappointing 1-2, but knowing full well they can compete with anyone. Meanwhile, the Patriots head home to open the Colonial District campaign against J.R. Tucker, hoping to make it 3-1.

PH NOTES:

--Two possible injury situations. Both lineman Michael Woodburn and two-way starter (and freshman) D'vante Derricott were helped off the field in the fourth quarter, each not putting pressure on an ankle. We'll try to get an update as soon as possible.

--Dwight Sweat was not suited up and did not play tonight.


Talk to you next Friday night from the home field in Ashland, 7:05pm on WHAN!! :)

WHERE TO PARK TONIGHT AT LEE-DAVIS

An overflow crowd is expected for the Tomato Bowl, as Lee-Davis also celebrates their 50th Anniversary. Alternate parking locations and shuttles have been set up; click on the title above to find out more.

Week Three Football Schedule

49TH TOMATO BOWL----PATRICK HENRY AT LEE-DAVIS (L-D's 50th Anniversary Event)

OTHER COUNTY TEAMS (in italics):

Douglas Freeman at Atlee
Deep Run at Hanover

OTHER COLONIAL DISTRICT TEAMS (in bold):

Henrico at J.R. Tucker
Mills Godwin at Highland Springs
Hermitage at Varina
Thomas Jefferson at Caroline
(John Marshall is idle this week....)

OTHER GAMES:

Armstrong at Colonial Heights
Hopewell at Brunswick
GW-Danville at Matoaca
Prince George at Monacan
L.C. Bird at Manchester
Huguenot at Clover Hill
James River at Cosby
George Wythe at Midlothian
Monticello at Powhatan
Prince Edward at Goochland
Windsor at King William, 7
St. Anne's Belfield at Trinity Episcopal, 4:15
Portsmouth Christian at Central Va. Disciples, 7
Greenbrier Christian at Blessed Sacrament Huguenot
St. Christopher's at Norfolk Academy, 4:30

all Friday games at 7:30 unless otherwise noted

SATURDAY GAMES

Benedictine at Christchurch, 1 p.m.
Collegiate at St. Alban's, 2
New Kent at Warhill

Thursday, September 18, 2008

FIRST PODCAST NOW POSTED!!!

Yes!!!

The full audio of the Patrick Henry/Hanover game, from pre-game to post-game, is now available on the blog; just look to your right. Podcast is in five parts.

Enjoy and tell your friends worldwide that PH football is on the Web!

Fox Richmond/DigitalSports.com Top 10, week three

Fox/DigitalSports football top 10 - Sept. 15
Published: 09/16/2008

Records as of Monday, Sept. 15
All games Friday, 7:30 p.m. unless noted)

Team (Record, previous ranking)

1. Meadowbrook (3-0, 1): beat No. 2 Hermitage 20-13.
Next up: vs. Thomas Dale (Sept. 26).

2. Deep Run (2-0, 3): beat Henrico 42-16.
Next up: at No. 5 Hanover.

3. Varina (3-0, 4): beat Thomas Dale 42-21.
Next up: vs. No. 4 Hermitage.

4. Hermitage (1-1, 2): lost to No. 1 MBK 20-13.
Next up: at No. 3 Varina.

5. Hanover (2-0, 5): beat J.R. Tucker 49-7.
Next up: vs. No. 2 Deep Run.

6. Highland Springs (1-1, 6): beat D. Freeman 24-13. Next up: vs. Mills Godwin.

7. L.C. Bird (2-1, 7): beat No. 9 Clover Hill 55-53. Next up: at No. 8 Manchester.

8. Manchester (2-0, 8): beat Huguenot 27-14. Next up: vs. No. 7 L.C. Bird

9. Clover Hill (2-1, 9): lost to No. 7 Bird 55-53. Next up: vs. Huguenot.

10. Patrick Henry (1-1, 10): beat Atlee 21-14. Next up: at Lee-Davis.

Others receiving votes: Dinwiddie (1-1, NR); Cosby (2-0, NR); Monacan (2-0, NR); Petersburg (3-0, NR)


Check out Fox Richmond sports anchor Joe Sullivan on Friday nights at 10:45 p.m. for highlights and scores from football action!

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Monday, September 15, 2008

Game Two: Patrick Henry 21, Atlee 14

Flags, miscues, flags, humidity, flags.

Halftime.

Humidity, snap from center problems, lots of passes, three players cramped up on the same play, long passes, and a furious comeback.

And at the end for Patrick Henry....WHEW!

The Patriots, seemingly on their way to another comfortable win over county rival Atlee, suddenly found themselves fighting to keep their lead late in the final quarter, escaping with a 21-14 victory on a humidity-laden Friday night on Atlee Station Road.

The first half, though owned by the Patriots in the end on the scoreboard, was as filled with yellow as the brightest swath of a rainbow. The teams racked up at least 10 penalties in the first 24 minutes, constantly causing drives to grind into neutral, or, defensively, flags were neatly tied bows, gifts to the opposing team's offense.

The Patriots hit paydirt first with the first play of the second quarter, completing their best executed drive of the year with a perfect 19-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Brandon Cash to receiver Raquis Morris in the back left corner of the end zone (otherwise known to New York Giants fans as "Plaxico Country").

After several stalled drives and punts, the Raiders had the ball, when at the 2:33 mark, quarterback Dylan Garthwright was picked off by Brandon Wong, who returned the ball 34 yards for the score, giving PH a 14-0 halftime lead, and the penalty flags were grateful for the break.

Atlee came out slinging to start, continue, and finish half two as Garthwright ended the night 23 of 41 for 270 yards, the interception, plus one big touchdown pass.

Before that, though, the Patriots struck with a perfectly executed fake handoff up the middle to Dwight Sweat, giving Brandon Cash big room on the left side of the field. He broke a tackle at the 10 and raced into the end zone. Hayden Dyer's third PAT of the night gave PH the 21-0 lead with 4:56 left in the 3rd.

The score remained 21-0 deep into quarter four, as Atlee had yet to strike paydirt even though they had great field position several times throughout the game, twice due to Brandon Cash fumbles on the PH side of the field.

But with 6:06 to go, Garthwright found Jaired Epps for a 37 yard TD reception and the score is cut to 21-7. The next thing Patriot players and fans knew, Atlee had the football back and, after struggling to get their running game going all night, sophomore Trevor Elie broke off two big runs, the second from 8 yards out, and, suddenly, the Raiders were only down seven with still 3:43 remaining.

The Raiders did get the ball back with time to complete the miracle, but a completed Garthwright pass to left side found the receiver hit hard, fumbling the ball, with PH recovering, to finally put the exclamation point on the victory.

NOTES:

Dylan Garthwright will rack up some big numbers this year at quarterback for Atlee. Unfortunately, part of the reason is that the junior may spend several games in the Capital District (Highland Springs, Varina, Hanover, and a rejuvenated Lee-Davis) trying to bring the Raiders back from behind.

Another good county crowd for football, and I credit the Atlee parents and fans! They enjoy some good tailgating before a game! I should've arrived 30 minutes earlier and found a way to make some quick friends!

PH NOTES:

It took just over 6 1/2 quarters for PH to score a running touchdown this season. When is the last time that happened? Another sign of the new offense, because Cash continued to show he's not afraid to go deep, this week with better accuracy, including a 40 yard completion to Raquis Morris.

Jamison Kenny had zero yards of offense Friday night. He must be in the thick of things when PH gets into the thick of its Colonial District schedule.

Adrian Cavanaugh? Mostly on defense against Atlee, bringing big pops at the line of scrimmage, giving the stalled Atlee running game fits for most of the night.

NEXT UP: A HUGE TOMATO BOWL

As big as the Tomato Bowl is each year (the biggest rivalry in high school football in the Central Region, with apologies to L.C. Bird and Thomas Dale), the 2008 edition will be huge.

The 49th Tomato Bowl will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Lee-Davis High School. The game, originally scheduled for Ashland, is in Mechanicsville.

Add the fact that the Confederates are 1-1 and played Hermitage very closely on opening night, and the Lee-Davis Nation will be hungry for their first Tomato Bowl win since 2004.

We'll begin with a special remote broadcast from Lee-Davis on WHAN (1430) with Bill Roberts and myself from 4 to 6pm, followed by the game itself. 7:05 pregame, and a 7:30 kickoff. If you're coming to the game, I've already been told by a Lee-Davis official, come early, parking will be at a premium.

It should be a night Hanover County won't soon forget! See ya there.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Week Two: High School Football Scores

Patrick Henry-21, Atlee-14

Meadowbrook-20, Hermitage-13

Benedictine-7, Armstrong-6

Hanover 49, J.R. Tucker-7

Deep Run-42, Henrico-16

Highland Springs-24, Douglas Freeman-13

Lee-Davis-31, James River-20

Varina-42, Thomas Dale-21

Hopewell-20, John Marshall-13

Prince George-20, Mountain View-11

Collegiate-20, Mills Godwin-0

L.C. Bird-55, Clover Hill-53

Cosby-37, Midlothian-7

Manchester-27, Huguenot-14

Monacan-42, George Wythe-8

Powhatan-27, Caroline-20

Tabb-34, New Kent-14

Goochland-33, Fluvanna-7

Loudoun Valley-6, Central Virginia-36

St. Christopher's-17, Christchurch-0

Middlesex-18, Lancaster-30

Fork Union-37, Hargrave-19

Amelia-49, King & Queen-6

Rappahannock-0, West Point-34

Spotsylvania-0, Louisa-28

Colonial Beach-31, Charles City-0

Friday, September 12, 2008

Friday Weather Update (2pm)

Things look good for tonight's games. I'd bring an umbrella or rain slicker with me, though, just in case, as there continues to be a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms through the evening hours according to the National Weather Service.

New Offense Brings Adjustments For PH

Nice feature in yesterday's Times-Dispatch concerning the huge switch for Patrick Henry, away from the I-formation and to the one-back, spread offense.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Keeping an eye on Friday Weather......

As of 6pm Thursday night, this is the National Weather Service Richmond Forecast:

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind between 3 and 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Southwest wind between 7 and 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.



Right now, chances are good that all high school games will stay as scheduled for tomorrow night. If, for some reason, that changes, we'll have all the details posted here, so check back with us during the day Friday.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Podcast Update II

The podcast isn't on the site yet, but we are still working on it. Unfortunately I'll be having an emergency root canal this afternoon, setting things back a bit.

Soon! Promise! In fact, we may be posting the Hanover and Atlee games around the same time. I'll keep you posted!

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Fox/Digital Sports Top 10, week of September 8

Patrick Henry holds on, plus it'll be #1 versus #2 Friday night at Chester Fritz Stadium on Hungary Springs Road! Click the headline for the Top 10!

Saturday, September 06, 2008

Podcast Update

We're looking to have the game broadcast of Hanover/Patrick Henry online by Monday. Check back here Monday afternoon for updates. :)

Central Region Football Scores: Friday September 5th

Hanover 14, Patrick Henry 6

Hermitage 21, Lee-Davis 13

Douglas Freeman 13, James River 0

Woodbridge 13, Highland Springs 0


NOTE: Colonial District teams went 3-5 this week. Hermitage, Deep Run, and Douglas Freeman were the victors.

2008 Game One: Hanover 14, Patrick Henry 6

,In actuality, the final score was Hanover 2, Patrick Henry 1.

On a tropical Friday in Ashland, the young men of Hanover and Patrick Henry High Schools fought off humidity, rain, including a third quarter monsoon, cramps, and more. And in the end, Patrick Henry committed one too many mistakes, giving the Hawks their third straight win over their county rival and the first-ever win at Patrick Henry.

Mistake #1---Recipient: Hanover---A 4th down punt turns to disaster for Patrick Henry when the snap goes above new kicker/punter Hayden Dyer's head. Hanover recovered the loose ball at the PH 40. The Hawks proceeded to march it down the field, and senior Jayquan Kates punched it in from four yards to give the Hawks a 7-0 lead at the 5:36 mark of the opening quarter.

Next possession for PH?

Mistake #2---Recipient: Hanover---On a third and long, quarterback Brandon Cash calls the spread screen play to the left side used earlier for a gain. Under pressure, his throw is a bit high, but receiver Raquis Morris slipped and fell on the wet turf as the ball sailed over him, leaving only one person wide open. Unfortunately for Patrick Henry, it was Hanover DB Bryson Kemler. He makes the interception and scampers 38 yards untouched for six. Rachel Moore's extra point followed, and suddenly Hanover was up 14-0 on the road with 2:46 left in the opening quarter.

The rest of the first half was essentially tit for tat, with the Hawks still up 14-0 at the half.

Hanover won the opening toss and elected to defer, so the Hawks come out to start the second half up two scores and with the ball. But, instead of cashing in on the opportunity and go up by 17 or 21.......

Mistake #3---Recipient: Patrick Henry---Hanover's big 6' 5" senior quarterback, Josh Wells, a four-year starter, made few mistakes last night. But his big one gave PH new life as Vincent Derricott picked off a Wells throw in the middle of the field to give the Patriots the ball near the 50. After little production during the drive, Brandon Cash tried something he'd tried to no avail several times in the first half, as he went for the deep ball. This time, his receiver, Jamison Kenny, was WIDE open down the left-hand side. Cash's pass was short, so Kenny had to wait for it, giving Hanover's Steven Fogleman time to catch up to Kenny. Kenny fought for the last 15 to 20 yards of real estate, breaking Fogleman's tackle attempt, and runs into the end zone for PH's first points of the game.

The extra point, though, was blocked, so the Pats found themselves down eight.

The rest of the game was a combination of a monsoon, a rain shower, and Groundhog Day. Early in the second half, the Patriots were penalized for illegal procedure and on our radio broadcast I noted that the young Patriots line had gone the entire first half without a flag.

Unfortunately for PH fans, the offense as a whole made up for that and more in half number two. I believe I counted five or six illegal procedure or motion penalties during the second half, constantly causing Brandon Cash and Company to start sets of downs with 15 yards to go, or, marching forward progress back.

The best chance for the Pats to tie the game came late in the 4th quarter, as the Patriots drove the ball all the way to the Hanover 15. But instead of moving forward, a penalty and a sack led PH backward, forcing them to a fourth and long near the 30. Cash went for freshman D'vante Derricott in double coverage near the left end of the end zone and the young man almost made the grab. In fact, two officials had to confer before the final call was made.

When the referee's arms signaled incomplete, the Hawks defense charged back to their sideline, fired up by dodging a huge bullet. Hanover's offense was able to drive into PH territory, eating up clock, but gave it up on downs at the PH 30 with just over a minute to go.

Patrick Henry was out of timeouts and had 70 yards of wet turf between them and a possible overtime. Play #1 is Cash complete to Jamison Kenny near the left sideline for 16 yards and a first down. He couldn't get out of bounds, though, so once the chains were moved, the clock was restarted.

But rather than being at the line ready to start the next play, it took the PH offense about eight seconds to get off the next play. Later, after the relentless Hawks defense stood up Cash in the backfield for a loss, the clock continued to run, and I noted one Patriot receiver actually jogging back to the huddle. And the clock is moving toward 20 seconds left. I was befuddled. It would be another 10 seconds or so before PH finally snapped the ball, Cash was caught again for a sack, and the clock read 0.0.

Patriot fans that had stayed to end (some had left after the Derricott play was ruled incomplete) had to feel disappointed with the lack of clock management, which also happened once late last year.

So the series record for these two teams is Patrick Henry 4-3. But the Hawks, the defending Division 5 Regional Champions, have won the last three, and start their season, as they did a year ago, with an advantage over their county rival if both teams find themselves in playoff contention again this year.

NOTES:

---In seven years of broadcasting, I've never seen a driving rain like the monsoon that opened up for about ten minutes in the third quarter. It took no time for it to change the time as one punter lost a handle on a snap during Hanna's biggest blow of the night. And don't forget fans, those metal bleachers are very tricky when wet!!

---The Hanover defense, especially in the first half, operated 1 to 1 1/2 steps quicker than PH's offense. They swarmed the ball, and caused Brandon Cash to throw into double coverage on several of his long pass attempts. Credit Cash that his throws, though too long, were positioned so his receiver would get them, or no one would. How ironic then to see his one TD pass be short, causing Kenny to wait for it and create the ensuing battle between Kenny and Fogleman discussed earlier.

---Josh Wells, starting his fourth season as Hanover quarterback (an almost unheard of statistic in area high school football), managed the game pretty well. His stats are in no way impressive, but his positive contributions to the game couldn't be tracked in a box score, including his ability, being so tall, to gain another yard by just falling foward, being strong enough to drag a defender with him while doing so.

---Big games on defense for Hanover by Aaron Phillips, Steven Fogleman, Kenny Fryman, and Blake Jones. I don't expect many teams to ring up big numbers on the Hawks this season.

PH NOTES:

---The coaches have to be pleased with the performance of the freshman, D'vante Derricott. Six carries for 38 yards, showed signs of good speed, held onto the ball, and almost came up with the catch that could have led to a tie game. In case you weren't at the game, he wears #15. Get used to seeing it.

---Brandon Cash was beaten up by that relentless Hawk defense. Most blitzes were not picked up and Cash threw most passes with white jerseys flying toward him. He went down behind the line several times, fought cramps and problems with what looked like his left ankle or foot. Credit Cash, though, as he kept coming back for more and more and more.

---And finally, oh to be 16 again! I couldn't see the PH student contingent from the booth, but across the way I got a kick out of watching the Hanover student section yell, scream and cheer, all the while taking a shower provided by the "Water Pik of God". Umbrellas? We don't need no stinkin' umbrellas!!!

NEXT GAME: Patrick Henry at Atlee, airtime 7:05pm on WHAN-AM (1430), kickoff at 730.

Atlee was shut out by Colonial District member Deep Run Thursday night, 35-0.

See you at the field, or on the air, on Friday night!

---Rob Witham :)

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Friday September 5th Schedule....

Note special early start times!

Hanover at Patrick Henry, 630pm (airtime 605pm on WHAN-AM 1430)

James River at Douglas Freeman, 630pm

Hermitage at Lee-Davis, 630pm

Woodbridge at Highland Springs, 6pm

Central Region High School Football Scores for Thursday Sept. 4th

L.C. Bird 7, Thomas Dale 6
Varina 44, Matoaca 24
Monacan 28, Mills Godwin 14
Deep Run 35, Atlee 0
Clover Hill 42, Prince George 28
Armstrong 52, Thomas Jefferson 0
Huguenot 12, John Marshall 7
Meadowbrook 28, Midlothian 7
Benedictine 32, J.R. Tucker 14
Cosby 49, Hopewell 6
Dinwiddie 50, Greensville 0
Petersburg 47, George Wythe 0
Caroline 30, Henrico 28
Louisa 21, Powhatan 0
Colonial Beach 24, Goochland 7
Blessed Sacrament Huguenot 62, Tidewater Academy 6
West Point 52, Northumberland 24
Essex 34, King William 12

COLONIAL DISTRICT OVERALL RECORDS: (No District Games Played)

Deep Run 1-0
Mills Godwin 0-1
J.R. Tucker 0-1
John Marshall 0-1
Thomas Jefferson 0-2

Patrick Henry, Hermitage and Douglas Freeman playing Friday 9/5

OTHER SELECTED TEAM RECORDS:
Clover Hill 2-0
Meadowbrook 2-0
Varina 2-0
Dinwiddie 1-1
Matoaca 1-1
L.C. Bird 1-1
Thomas Dale 0-2

Welcome to Patrick Henry Football!

Patrick Henry's 2008 season begins (weather permitting) Friday night against the Hanover Hawks, a rematch of both the classic 2007 season opener and the Division 5 Regional Championship game, both won by Hanover.

NEW TIME!!!! Air time is 6:05, the game begins at 6:30!!!

Bookmark this site and visit daily for game podcasts, statistics, schedules, AND UPDATED INFORMATION ON CENTRAL REGION HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ACTION!!!

Spread the word now to friends, PH graduates, and football fans around the world; the Patrick Henry Patriots are worldwide!