Division 1 State Championship
Seven in a row for Riverheads with 49-27 win over George Wythe in Finals
Salem Stadium, Willis White Field, Salem, VA – “Today hurts,” Coach Harner said after accepting the state runner-up trophy, “but they [Maroons] got here, nobody else did. We played an outstanding football team and we stayed toe-to-toe with them.” While the 49-27 final score seems like a large margin, anyone who saw the game knows Coach Harner and GW were in it until late in the fourth quarter. After the half, George Wythe was down 21-7 and quickly fought back to get it to a one possession ball game. QB 15 Tandem Smith led the drive, capping it off with a 31-yard TD toss to RB 10 Leyton Fowler. Wythe’s QB showed unprecedented grit in the second half after a first half injury that required the Junior to be helped off the field. “My hats off to that young man,” Riverheads Coach Norcross said, “I told my kids at half time he probably won’t be back, but they’re a good football team with a lot of weapons.” GW’s arsenal showed out in the second half. RB 1 Laden Houston weaved his way upfield for a 91-yard kick-off return for a TD. The next play, the Maroons defense and the Jollay brothers forced a Riverheads RB 20 Cody Cash fumble. The turnover afforded the Maroons a chance to get it back to a one possession game midway through the fourth but it wasn’t to be. Wythe had a delay of game penalty. Facing fourth down, RB 6 Ben Jollay’s heave to WR 11 Austin Repass fell short. “Our kids never quit,” Coach Harner said, “I couldn’t be more proud of this group, what they’ve done, the adversity and injuries we’ve overcome to get where we are today… I hope this is something they’ll never forget, it’s something I never will.” – Graham Whitaker
