Wk 16 NRV 2024 Essex – Grayson County

1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Essex blanks Grayson County 22-0 in 1A State Final at Salem Stadium

“It’s a big day. My daughter is graduating from JMU today, and I’m missing that. I lost my uncle here last year, who had a massive heart attack right before Galax kicked the field goal (walk off winning FG in last year’s state finals to beat Essex 7-6)…it’s good to come back and finish it. This means a lot,”

–Essex Coach Todd Jones

Salem Stadium Salem, Va – It makes perfect sense that when Essex won the opening coin toss Saturday in the Class 1A State Championship game they elected to receive the ball. Having had a year to stew over their heart breaking 7-6 loss to Galax in last year’s championship game, it seemed they were chomping at the bit to get off to a fast start.  And that they did.

It took only 55 seconds for the Trojans to strike on RB 2 Keione Hence’s 51-yard TD run on their second play from scrimmage.  Their work horse on the day, 6’3”, 225-lb freshman sensation RB/DE 6 Demetrius Stewart tacked on the 2pt conversion run and Essex was up 8-0.  Stewart would finish the day with 16 carries for 134 punishing yards.  After Grayson County’s opening possession ended in a three and out, you got the feeling that this game might be a one sided contest.  But from that point on in the half, it was easy to see that the Blue Devils were not going away. The defense settled in and forced Essex to punt on their remaining 3 possessions before halftime.

On the offensive side of the ball, Grayson County controlled the time of possession, picked up 7 first downs, but they just could not punch the ball in the end zone.  The Blue Devils came up short on a 4th down play on their deepest threat when the Trojans’ defense held on their own 7-yard line.  Essex led 8-0 at the half. The turnover bug hit the Blue Devils in the 3rd quarter where their two possessions ended in a fumble and an interception.  Meanwhile, the Trojans looked rejuvenated after the break and used their trio of backs – RB 3 Hence, RB 6 Stewart and QB 1 Zay Bundy to pound the ball on the ground and eat up the clock.  The Trojans ran the ball 49 times for a total of 353 yards and RB 1 Bundy scored in both the 3rd and 4th quarters on runs of 1 and 2 yards, while the defense held Grayson County scoreless.

Offense: 

Rushing – 

Grayson Co – Aaron Peterson  5-16,  Dazion Thompson  1-3,  Maverik Goad  6-(-19), Fum,  Makray Goad  2-16,  Preston Jones  1-3, Benton Wagoner  12-31, Essex – Jaden Homes  15-104,  Keione Hence 7-59, TD, Demetrius Stewart  16-134, Xzayviia Bundy  11-56, 2 TD  

Passing- 

Altavista – Grayson Co – Maverik Goad 10/23 – 66, INT, Essex – Keione Hence 0/1 – 0

Receiving- 

Grayson Co – Mac Goad  3-28, Makray Goad  3-16, Dane Phipps  2-8, Benton Wagoner  1-5, Aaron Peterson  1-9, Essex – 0

Punting – 

Grayson co –  David Mitchell 1-35 yds, Essex– Kyran Howard 3 – 31.3 yd avg

Kicking – 

Grayson co – N/A, Essex– Kyran Howard 0/1 FG Blocked

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Scoring

1st Quarter: 

Essex 8-0 Keione Hence 51-yard run; 2pt Conv. D.Stewart run (11:05)

2nd Quarter

3rd Quarter:

Essex 14-0 Xzayviia Bundy 1-yard run;  2pt Conversion Failed (2:26)

4th Quarter

Essex 22-0 Xzayviia Bundy 1-yard run;  2pt Conversion J.Holmes run (5:08)

The yearlong wait proved to have a sweet ending for Essex as the Trojans were crowned State Champions with the 22-0 victory. “It’s a big day. My daughter is graduating from JMU today, and I’m missing that. I lost my uncle here last year, who had a massive heart attack right before Galax kicked the field goal (walk off winning FG in last year’s state finals to beat Essex 7-6)…it’s good to come back and finish it. This means a lot,” said Essex Coach Todd Jones after the win. Grayson County had a great season and battled all afternoon. Blue Devil Coach Stephen James summed it up, “I’ve said it all along, the kids are great… hard working young men. They are disappointed. I am disappointed. If you don’t win that last one you are always disappointed. But the kids did a great job, fought to the end and did what we expected of them. You can’t ask for anything else.”

The Grayson County community and the town of Independence have been battling back themselves after Hurricane Helene devastated roads, farms and peoples’ lives in that area. In many ways the high school football season was emblematic of the fight and resolve of the people in that region. “It brought everyone together. We can’t thank the fans for the great support today. Hopefully we’ll be back here next year and get another shot.”   – The Machine