Cavaliers put end to Essex's season
November 25, 2007 12:36 am
BY STEVE FRANZELLO
For a team that lost five of its first six games this season, King William has come a long way.
Yesterday, the Cavaliers continued their improbable comeback with a freshman quarterback and turned back previously undefeated Essex 37-21 in the Region A, Division 2 title game for their sixth straight victory.
The win snapped the Cavaliers' three-game losing streak to Essex and earned them a date in the state semifinals next week. On Saturday, King William (7-5) will host Region B champion Gretna (12-0).
The loss ended another winning season for Essex, which had posted 11 straight victories prior to yesterday and was the defending Region A champion. It was only the second loss in two years for the Trojans.
"We knew [Essex] was going to make some plays and get some yards," veteran King William coach Roger Brookes said. "But in the end, we made the plays we needed to and got the job done. It was unbelievable."
Big plays were the story all afternoon for the Cavaliers. They took control in the fourth quarter with three touchdowns after Essex had battled back twice to take a 21-18 lead with 10 minutes left.
"It seemed like every time we got something going, [King William] got a big play and it threw the momentum right back to them," Essex quarterback Jordan Wind said. "That's the way it happens sometimes."
Wind, the Northern Neck District's offensive player of the year, entered the game with more than 2,400 yards of offense and 40 touchdowns, but King William's fired-up defense limited him to just 39 yards on the ground and one score through the air.
"It was all about heart," said Nick Acree, the Cavaliers' towering 290-pound lineman. "They had a lot of talent, but we wanted to be the team that came from nowhere and then went somewhere."
Led by freshman quarterback Lewis Redman, the Cavaliers made that intention evident in the first half.
Redman, who spent the first four weeks on the junior varsity squad, showed the maturity of a veteran after Essex had rallied from a 12-0 first-quarter deficit and scored twice. A 10-yard touchdown run by Chuck Samuel and a 20-yard scoring pass from Wind to Ryan Lowe had given the Trojans their first lead, 14-12 with 48 seconds left in the half.
But Redman took the Cavaliers on a 65-yard scoring march in the closing seconds to put King William back in front 18-14 at the break.
With one second left, he lofted a pass to Jamar Carter, who wrestled the ball away from Lowe in the corner of the end zone.
"I looked right and came back to my left," Redman said. "I didn't like the matchup, but I knew that sometimes luck is on my side."
After a scoreless third quarter, the Trojans began to show signs of life again. Wind took them on a seven-play drive that ended with a 5-yard plunge by Delvin Hence and a 21-18 lead.
But four plays later, King William answered with lightning-like quickness and set the stage for a furious finish.
Redman connected with a streaking Mike Williams down the left sideline for a 68-yard strike to put the Cavaliers ahead for good. It was Williams' second touchdown of the game.
The Cavaliers weren't finished yet. Five minutes later, Redman hooked up with Dustin Beaher for a 19-yard touchdown and Carter added icing to the cake with a 22-yard scoring scamper.
Lewis finished with 227 yards and four touchdowns for the Cavaliers, while Wind ended his career with 182 yards and one touchdown for the Trojans.
"This was a tough loss," Essex coach Todd Jones said. "But I'm proud of these kids. We lost to a good team that is well coached. We have nothing to be ashamed of."
King William126019--37Essex01407--21First QuarterKW--M. Williams 11-yard pass from L. Redman (kick failed).KW--J. Carter 53-yard run (run failed).Second QuarterE--C. Samuel 10-yard run (M. Ball kick).E--R. Lowe 20-yard pass from J. Wind (M. Ball kick).KW--J. Carter 30-yard pass from L. Redman (pass failed).Fourth QuarterE--D. Hence 5-yard run (M. Ball kick).KW--M. Williams 68-yard pass from L. Redman (pass failed).KW--D. Beahr 19-yard pass from L. Redman (run failed).KW--J. Carter 22-yard run (M. Harris kick).TEAMSTATISTICSKWEFirst downs19 18Rushing yardage40-227 33-154Passing yardage227 182Passes13-21-1 17-29-2Punts-Avg.3-32.6 4-39Fumbles-lost2-0 3-0Penalties-yards 4-30 8-42INDIVIDUALSTATISTICSRushing: Essex--Chuck Samuel 14-101, TD; Jordan Wind 16-39; Mequel Phillips 2-9; Delvin Hence 1-5, TD. King William--Clinton Hill 19-87; Jamar Carter 10-84, 2TDs; Lewis Redman 10-55; Kevin White 1-1.Passing: Essex--Jordan Wind 17-29-2 182, TD. King William--Lewis Redman 13-21-1 227, 4TDs.Receiving: Essex--Ryan Lowe 10-106, TD; Mequel Phillips 5-51; Malcolm Ball 1-15; Chuck Samuel 1-10. King William--Mike Williams 4-115, 2TDs; Jamar Carter 5-63, TD; Dustin Beahr 2-43, TD; Kevin White 2-6. Steve Franzello: 540/374-5440
Email: sports@freelancestar.com King William
12
6
0
19
--
37
Essex
0
14
0
7
--
21
First Quarter
KW--M. Williams 11-yard pass from L. Redman (kick failed).
KW--J. Carter 53-yard run (run failed).
Second Quarter
E--C. Samuel 10-yard run (M. Ball kick).
E--R. Lowe 20-yard pass from J. Wind (M. Ball kick).
KW--J. Carter 30-yard pass from L. Redman (pass failed).
Fourth Quarter
E--D. Hence 5-yard run (M. Ball kick).
KW--M. Williams 68-yard pass from L. Redman (pass failed).
KW--D. Beahr 19-yard pass from L. Redman (run failed).
KW--J. Carter 22-yard run (M. Harris kick).
TEAMSTATISTICS
KW
E
First downs19
18
Rushing yardage40-227
33-154
Passing yardage227
182
Passes13-21-1
17-29-2
Punts-Avg.3-32.6
4-39
Fumbles-lost2-0
3-0
Penalties-yards 4-30
8-42
INDIVIDUALSTATISTICS
Rushing: Essex--Chuck Samuel 14-101, TD; Jordan Wind 16-39; Mequel Phillips 2-9; Delvin Hence 1-5, TD. King William--Clinton Hill 19-87; Jamar Carter 10-84, 2TDs; Lewis Redman 10-55; Kevin White 1-1.
Passing: Essex--Jordan Wind 17-29-2 182, TD. King William--Lewis Redman 13-21-1 227, 4TDs.
Receiving: Essex--Ryan Lowe 10-106, TD; Mequel Phillips 5-51; Malcolm Ball 1-15; Chuck Samuel 1-10. King William--Mike Williams 4-115, 2TDs; Jamar Carter 5-63, TD; Dustin Beahr 2-43, TD; Kevin White 2-6.
Steve Franzello: 540/374-5440
Email: sports@freelancestar.com
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DIVISION 2, REGION A CHAMPIONSHIP KING WILLIAM 37 ESSEX 21
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