Charles Harris and the Maroon Tide crashes plans for Essex title hopes.
KING GEORGE- The Essex Trojans were making their 4th consecutive appearance in the state playoffs and was one step away from making it to the state championship for an equal number of consecutive appearances. Standing in their way of going to Salem were the Maroon Tide of Galax looking to play spoiler. The Trojans offense filled with a lot of razzle-dazzle and the Maroon Tide’s pure and simple offensive approach. Which would be the most effective on this perfect afternoon?
Essex had been great stopping the run all season and they looked excellent shutting down Galax’s Charles Harris on the first drive the Maroon Tide made. Essex themselves has a few miscues and couldn’t get anywhere either. With each stop of Essex however Galax was gaining confidence that what was planned could work. The biggest play came late in the first quarter when Harris would break loose for a huge gain down the home sideline going for 54 yards until the speed of Essex walked in him down.
Galax was ready to make the run count as the scrappy offense took whatever the Trojans gave them bit-by-bit. Caleb Spurlin made one of his several huge blocks to get Harris and company down inside the 5-yard line. From there a score was bound to happen as Harris powered his way in to give Galax a 7-0 advantage at the 11 minute mark of the 1st.
Feeling the pressure early, Essex cranked up the offense as Coach John Fulks would go with Rasaun Monroe behind center for several snaps. Monroe would run the read option and would be a blur down the sideline getting to the 5-yard line. Kevin Dameron bulldozed his way into the endzone from 3 yards out to make it 7-6 as Leo Ayala’s extra point was blocked.
Essex defense made enough stops but the mistakes out weighed them.
After the Trojans successfully stopped a Galax drive. They would begin to drive down the field but on a hitch pass, Monroe’s pass would be intercepted at returned to the Trojan 30. This would give Galax the opportunity again to get on the board and they took full advantage.
Facing a 4th and goal from the 8-yard line the Maroon Tide set up what was looking to be a field goal attempt. Yells of “Watch the fake!” came from the sidelines of the Trojans but it wouldn’t matter. Despite Essex playing for the fake that eventually came. Joshua Spurlin came around to receive the ball from the holder and threw a sideline pass to Noah Hutchens who made the grab with one foot down. After a quick talk the refs agreed he had control with the foot down before the second foot went out of bounds with 30 seconds before the half. 14-6 Maroon Tide at the break.
Shock and surprised filled the air as fans wondered when the Trojans would begin to show up. The opening kick-off in the 2nd half would provide the answer. Malik Martin would take the kick-off from his own 12 and made a cut then weave into open plains as he raced for the touchdown. Monroe would get the vital conversion and the game was tied 14-14 at the 11:45 mark. The crowd was pumped and everyone seemed anxious for more as the Trojans looked ready.
The celebration would be short lived but for the moment it had looked as Essex was on their way!
The passion carried over onto defense as the Trojans successfully made a big stop to get the ball back. Essex wasted no time. After a great punt by the Maroon Tide’s Caleb Spurlin, Essex from their own 18 would turn to Martin again. With superb vision he spotted a seam off tackle and beat the defenders to the edge and that was all she wrote. Martin would cruised for an 82 yard touchdown run and the Trojans led for the first time. The two-point conversion had first been signaled good but the refs then said no good as the runner came up short. 20-14 Trojans with 7:11 to play in the 3rd as the miss conversion would be big.
Little did fans know that Essex only had 13 seconds to enjoy the lead as the Tide would roll in. Dougie Peoples took the short pop up kick-off, broke a tackle, and then showcased his speed as he dashed down the home sideline for a 61-yard touchdown. The extra point would give Galax back the lead they would never lose again.
Dougie Peoples dagger would cut a wound too deep to heal for the Trojans.
Essex defense made a few crucial drive stops but the offense loss the momentum after the Peoples return and just couldn’t get in rhythm. Essex used 2 time outs prior to 4 minutes remaining in the 4th and Galax was threatening at the Trojan 34 yard line. The Trojans needed the ball back and the clock was continuing to tick away. Being down and needing time on the clock, Essex didn’t resist Carson Orton’s attempt to score from the 1-yard line with 1:58 left to play.
It came down to one last drive. Tasahn Nelson out of the spread going down the field unfortunately caught a severe cramp and had to leave after a quarterback draw. This put the weight on Monroe to drive his team down the field for the game knotting score. Galax played containment making sure Monroe would not break off the big run. He would be getting 8-10 yards on each draw. For the Galax 30 with 42 seconds on the clock, Monroe’s pass was a pick too high for Dameron who saw the ball tip off his fingers and into the hands of Isaiah Brown who raced the other way 70 yards for the game sealing score.
The nervousness was justified as the run came to an end for the Trojans.
Harris finished the game with 25 carries for 137 yards and a touchdown. He will need 263 yards versus Riverheads to break Thomas Joneses VHSL single season rushing record.
Galax will face Riverheads Saturday at 12 noon in Salem for the 1A title. Coach Mark Dixon bunch will look to force their strength and scrappy defense on the Gladiators who have been a favorite to make the contest since dropping down to 1A for this season.
“Mistakes like that you can’t make in a tight game.” stated Fulks. “We tried a bit of everything and they had a good defensive scheme and that took some things away we like to do.”
Despite the loss, Essex has had one of the most impressive runs for a 1A school where it is hard for many schools to field a juggernaut squad each year. Their community should be proud of their efforts and look to improve upon the lessons of this season.
GALAX 0 14 7 14 - 35
ESSEX 0 6 14 0 - 20
G- Harris 3 yard run (Elijah Harrison kick)
E- Dameron 3 yard run (kick blocked)
G- Hutchens 8 yard pass from J. Spurlin (Harrison kick)
E- Martin 88 yard kick-off return (Monroe run)
E- Martin 82 yard run (run failed)
G- Peoples 61 yard run (Harrison kick)
G- Orton 1 yard run (Harrison kick)
G- Brown 70 yard int return (Harrison kick)
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