Wk 16 RNK 2024 Phoebus – Varina

4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Phantom’s make it four straight state championships in tough win over Varina

“I tip my hat to a great Varina program. This is how a championship game is supposed to feel. A gut pushing, grind it out kind of game, nothing but respect.” –Phoebus Coach Jeremy Blunt

Williams Stadium Lynchburg, Va – In classic battle of titans, Phoebus made it 4 state titles in a row, which means they haven’t lost in 49 games. Credit to the Varina Blue Devils on a great effort.

Phoebus Coach Jeremy Blunt was glad to get the title against a tough opponent, “I tip my hat to a great Varina program. This is how a championship game is supposed to feel. A gut pushing, grind it out kind of game, nothing but respect.”  This battle was a defensive one for most of the night. Phoebus got on the board first with a K 44 Farris Knight 32-yard field goal in the first quarter.

Varina answered back with a 32-yard touchdown pass from Sophomore QB 3 Kaleb Wyche to WR 4 Trevon Rogers. The PAT was blocked to make it 6-3 Devils. A minute later, QB 2 Banks dropped a dime to WR 8 Romeir Smith for 54 yards down the sideline to make it 9-6 Phantoms. Once again the PAT was blocked.

It would stay that way until the 9:21 mark of the 4th quarter. The workhorse on the night was Phoebus RB 0 Davion Roberts (26/172) who broke off a 24 yard run, only to fumble it forward at the Varina five. They say fortune favors the bold. It also favors the hustler. OL 52 Markus Hopson scooped up the loose ball and dove into the end zone to make it 16-6.

Offense: 

Rushing – 

Phoebus – Davion Roberts 26/172, Trenton Mitchell 2/19, Demonte Williams 1/6, Maurikus Banks 9/24  Varina – Kaleb Wythe 17/72, Devin Henderson 11/36, Myles Anderson 2/26, Joshua Avery 1/6 

Passing- 

Phoebus – Maurikus Banks 4/13,113,TD,INT  Varina – Kaleb Wythe 4/14,50,TD

Receiving- 

Phoebus – Noah Jefferson 2/41, Romeir Smith 1/54, Brandon Diggs 1/18  Varina – DaMari Carter 2/14, Devin Henderson 2/4, Trevon Rogers 1/32,TD

Punting – 

Phoebus – Laban Thomas Taylor 2/24 yd avg  Varina – Allen Green 4/30.5 yd avg, DaMari Carter 4/26 yd avg

Kicking – 

Phoebus – Farriss Knight 2/3 PATs, 32-yd FG  Varina – Kenneth Johnson 0/1 PAT

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Scoring

1st Quarter: 

Phoebus 3-0  Farriss Knight 32-yard field goal (0:20)

2nd Quarter

Varina 6-3 Trevon Henderson 32-yard TD reception from Kaleb Wythe; Kenneth Johnson PAT no good

Phoebus 9-6  Romeir Smith 54-yard pass from Maurikus Banks; Farriss Knight PAT no good

3rd Quarter:

Phoebus 16-6  Markus Hopson 5-yard fumble recovery; Farriss Knight PAT (9:21)

4th Quarter

Phoebus 23-6  Maurikus Banks 13-yard TD run; Farriss Knight PAT (1:57)

QB 2 Banks (4/13,113, TD, INT) finished the night’s scoring with a 13-yard run with 1:57 left in the contest. On defense Phoebus was led by LB 5 Brenden Thompson with 9Tkls, DL 54 Nathaniel Anthony and Troy Solmona both had 7, and DL 52 Markus Hopson had 6 stops. Varina’s defense was led by LB 11 Jayden Walker with 9Tkls. LB 8 Tyion Crump carded 5 stops for the Devils.

Blunt was proud of this group, “This class of ’25 Seniors … they came out and finished it today. We had nothing but faith in them.” – Cap’n Crunch