Blog LIVE Game Blog - Highland Springs (2-2) at Phoebus (2-1)

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Greetings from Darling Stadium in Hampton on this beautiful 65-degree night. It's the first Thursday of October 2025 and we have a much-anticipated clash for all of you.

It's the reigning four-time State Champion Phobus Phantoms (2-1) playing host to the visiting Highland Springs Springers (2-2), who have captured five state titles under Coach Loren Johnson.

Even though Phoebus saw its 51-game winning streak, one shy of matching the state record the school shares with Riverheads, snapped in last weekend's 34-20 loss to Warwick, this is a very big matchup. Jeremy Blunt's Phantoms don't want to start a different kind of losing streak.

See our Predictions on the VIP Board Here

You can watch the game on the Hampton Media Network via YouTube at the link below:

 

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As Highland Springs kicker Anthony Barrett gets ready to boot this one off, let's pass along a note we learned in pre-game.

That note is junior Phoebus QB and ODU commit Maurikus Banks is out with a shoulder injury sustained in the loss to Warwick. Banks is expected to be back later this month, though.

The Phantoms - wearing their blue unis with the gold numbers - will get the ball first as they operate from right to left from our view here in the pressbox. Nice autmun like night for football.

 

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A touchback has Phoebus starting off at their own 20. Mikhail Georges breaks off a run of six yards to the right side. Junior QB Matteo Radcliff (5-8, 161) - playing in place of the injured ODU commit Maurikus Banks - moves the sticks with a nice gain of +5. However, Radcliff bobbles the snap and fumbles, but fortunately for the Phantoms they recover that without giving the Springers the ball on the other side of the 50.

Hezekiah Fox with a good stuff after Tyree Diggs runs for five yarsd on 2nd & 13.

J'Monte Archer and Patrick Cheatham stop Diggs for no gain on 3rd & 8. The Phantoms are punting it away with 8:44 to go in the opening period.

 

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Highland Springs starts at their own 30 with 8:36 showing in the first period. After an incomplete pass where Antoine 'Buddy' Richardson just overthrows his intended target in the flat area, the Springers waste no time attacking a Phoebus defense that is still getting a bunch of new faces acclimated (10 starters are new on defense, 9 on offense).

Eric Byrd rumbles 55 yards down the near sideline, finally getting stopped at the PHS 15 by Kameron Tillery. A quick screen to Devlin Davis is wiped away due to a Highland Springs penalty (illegal block). Eric Byrd is limited to a gain of just 3, and then a false start brings up 2nd & 28 from the PHS 33. Richardson's keeper gains five to set up 3rd & 23 from the Phantoms 28.

With Trips right, the Springers run up the middle and Byrd gain just two with a trio of Phantoms defenders - including two-way All-Area lineman Troy Solomona - preventing a long gainer.

Coach Loren Johnson will burn a time-out before 4th & 21 from the PHS 26 with 4:59 to go in the first period.

 

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Highland Springs dials up a perfect pass play with Antoine 'Buddy' Richardson putting the ball on the money to a wide open receiver in the back of the end zone. However, Devyn Simmons drops it and that gives the ball back to Phoebus at their own 26 with the turnover on downs.

The Phantoms, with 4:53 to go in the first period, complete their first pass attempt of the night. It's a nice slant pattern with Matteo Radcliff connecting with Josh Blackwell for 11 yards. That is followed by a 2-yard run from Tyree Diggs, then a run worth a yard by Radcliff. Instead of 3rd & 7, it's a fresh set of downs at the Springers 40 because of a face-mask penalty on Highland Springs.

Excellent run of 36 yards on the left side by Diggs, getting some help with a block from Solomona, pulling out from his right tackle position to get down-field.

 

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Devyn Simmons and J'Monte Archer do a really good job on 2nd & Goal from the 8 to drop Phoebus ball carrier Mikhail Georges for a loss of a yard. On 3rd & Goal, Tyree Diggs gets 5 yards on an interior run, where LB Ladanian Brown stops him at about the 4 of HSHS.

Before the Phantoms can get a snap off on 4th & Goal from the 4, time will run out to end this opening period.

 

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Who am I to question one of the best coaches in all of Virginia in Jeremy Blunt, but if it was me, I'm probably taking the chip-shot field goal here to take the lead with a backup QB.

 

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BIG stop by the Highland Springs defense with Devyn Simmons bringing Tyree Diggs down for a gain of only a couple on 4th & Goal from the 4.

After no gain for Eric Byrd on 1st & 10, the Springers decide to go to the air and QB Antoine 'Buddy' Richardson makes a good decision. An equally good job from the receiver that hauls it in - Malik Bullock - who gets plenty of YAC, being yards after the catch, following the reception. His 35-yard gainer gets them out from their own end.

Runs of +7 and +3 by Eric Byrd gt the Springers closer to midfield.

Junior DE/LB Kamren Beckner has to walk off the field with an injury with 9:43 to go in the first half and the Springers positioned at midfield.

Marquise Bullock runs for six yards, followed by runs of +3 and +2 by Byrd, his last one moving the chains on 3rd & 1.

Highland Springs goes to the air with Richardson finding Jalen Padmore on a safe undernearth pattern for six yards, then Byrd breaks off a run of nine.

A time-out will be called by the Phoebus defense with 6:19 to go in the second quarter before the Springers snap it on 1st & 10 from the PHS 24.

 

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A holding penalty on Highland Springs - their third flag of at least 10 yards here in the first half - pushes them back to the Phoebus 34.



Richardson was late on the throw to Padmore - who it looked like might have actually been out of the back end zone when he caught that TD pass. He actually had Devlin Davis on the post corner route well before that and it would've been a likely TD had he recognized him and converted.

Nonetheless, the Springers will take it and be thrilled they went nearly the length of the entire field on the Phoebus defense -- something that seldom ever happens.

 

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Phoebus goes 3 & outs on its third offensive series of the game, using just 1:20 of clock time with a run that gets no yardage, an incomplete pass and a short completion for three yards to Jayden Javier. Jaedon Parker had Javier blanketed on that pass along the sideline.

An enormous break for Phoebus, though. Highland Springs muffs the punt return and the loose football is recovered by Troy Solomona. This puts them on the other side of the 50 right when the Springers were about to seize control.

 

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After Tyree Diggs runs for eight yards to bring up 2nd & @ from the Springers 37, an end around / sweep with Jayden Javier is fumbled and alert to recover it is Highland Springs recovering. Credit sophomore defensive lineman Patrick Cheatham Jr.



Coach Jeremy Blunt of Phoebus will burn his final time-out of the half, needing his defense to rise to the occasion here and keep this a one-scoe ballgame.

 

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A holding penalty on Highland Springs brings up 2nd & 14 from the 50 with 1:42 to go in the first half. With trips left, the Springers decide to run up the middle and Eric Byrd breaks away from about three or four tackles for a monster gain of 34.

Byrd is eating in a big way this half, now up to 127 yards rushing on 12 attempts.

Can't recall the last time I've seen Phoebus fail to wrap up, from a tackling perspective, this much in a half. Although, just last Saturday, Warwick had its way running the ball with junior Terius 'Downtown' Brown for over 200 yards and 3 TD's on the ground.

 

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On 16 attempts, that type of production - with 160 yards rushing to go with the 75 through the air on three completions - is what Head Coach Loren Johnson hoped to see tonight.

 

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Phoebus beings this latest series at their own 20 with 1:21 to go in the first half after Anthony Barrett once again boots it in the end zone for a touchback.

Quick completion to Joshua Blackwell for a gain of about four yards. The backup QB for Phoebus - Matteo Radcliff - doesn't see the receiver running free on the crossing pattern. That's something Maurikus Banks would probably see. However, he launches it deep and the Highland Springs defensive back commits a silly pass interference penalty. That puts them at the 39-yard line.

Radcliff sees the pocket around him collapse and senior DE Tre Worthington sacks him for a loss of six yards.

Springers Coach Loren Johnson uses one of his two remaining time-outs with 35 seconds to preserve time for his offense in case of a big shot when / if they get the ball back. Antoine 'Buddy' Richardson breaks up the pass over the middle. That stops the clock with 31 seconds to go until intermission.

Phoebus has to be careful for a big return. Malik Bullock returns its 12 yards to the PHS 45 with 19 seconds to go in the half.

 

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Springers QB Antoine 'Buddy' Richardson complets a 26-yard pass to Malik Bullock down to the Phoebus 15, but the clock ran out and they didn't have any time-outs remaining.

A workmanlike half for the Springers in building a 14-point lead as they try to get revenge for last year's 23-7 loss at home to the Phantoms.

Stats forthcoming...

 

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Stats at the Half:

Highland Springs 14:
Antoine 'Buddy' Richardson - 5-7 for 110Yds. 1-0 TD/Int. ratio; 3Car. 27Yds.
Eric Byrd - 12Car. 127Yds.
Marquise Bullock - 1Car. 6Yds.
Malik Bullock - 2Rec. 61Yds.
Jalen Padmore - 3Rec. 49Yds. TD
Devyn Simmons - 6 Tackles, 0.5 TFL
J'Monte Archer - 4 Tackles, 0.5 TFL

Springers - 23 plays for 270 total yards (5-7 for 110 yards passing; 16 rushes for 160 yards, 1 lost fumble); 6 penalties for 70 yards; 1 turnover


Phoebus 0:
Matteo Radcliff - 3-6 for 18Yds.
Tyree Diggs - 9Car. 65Yds; 4 Solo Tackles
Josh Blackwell - 2Rec. 15Yds.
Jayden Javier - 1Rec. 3Yds.
Troy Solomona - 4 Tackles, Fumble Recovery

Phantoms - 23 plays for 82 total yards (3-6 for 18 yards passing; 17 rushes for 64 yards, 1 lost fumble) 0 penalties; 1 turnover

 

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Highland Springs begins the third quarter with possession at their own 36. However, three penalties on the Springers result in them throwing an incomplete on 3rd & 34 from their own 12. They end up punting it away.

Phoebus begins its first series on offense after half-time at their own 40 with 10:06 on the clock. Tyree Diggs gets stopped for no gain on first down on a run play. LaDanian Brown and J'Monte Archer stop Mikhail Georges for a loss of two on 2nd & 10. However, a 15-yard helmet-to-helmet penalty puts the Phantoms in HSHS territory at the 47.

Backup QB Matteo Radcliff throws a pass up for grabs and it's intercepted by Springers DB Antoine 'Buddy' Richardson.

Highland Springs now has it at their own 20 with 8:52 to go in the third period, likely looking to bleed some clock and change up field position.

 

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Highland Springs is in the midst of an 11-play drive, facing 3rd & 6 from the Phoebus 32. They've kept it on the ground exclusively with the likes of Eric Byrd for many of the rushes and a couple from Marquise Bullock, who was able to break off a 10-yard run on 2nd & 6 to move the chains.

The officials have called a time-out with 4:58 to go. The drive ends up bogging down for Highland Springs, not wanting to put it in the air here and have a game-altering play made by the Phoebus defense.

The Springers end up getting stopped on 4th & 7 from the Phoebus 33 as they fumble the ball and scoop it up, but multiple Phantoms defenders are there. That gives the ball to the Phantoms with 4:35 to go in the half at their own 37.

 

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Phoebus is unable to get much working on this latest possession, losing two yards on 2nd & 7 after a three-yard pickup from Tyree Diggs. On 3rd & 9, it's Mikhail Georges gaining six. They leave the offense on the field on 4th & 3 from their own 44, but defensive lineman Jaylen Johnson with basically one arm is able to bring the ball carrier down for a loss of a yard. What a heck of a play.

Highland Springs takes over at the Phantoms 43, gaining three with Eric Byrd and then 12 more to close out in the third quarter, ahead 14-0.

 

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Just a couple plays prior, Antoine 'Buddy' Richardson had a highlight-reel 28-yard TD run wiped away because of a penalty where he hurdled a defender on his way to the end zone.

On both sides of the ball, he's been mighty impressive tonight. He's also got a tackle, a pass breakup and an interception to go with his 47 yards rushing and 2 TD's on five attempts, plus has completed 6 of 10 passes for 112 yards and another score.

Phoebus gets the ball at their own 17 with 9:46 to go and they use up only 1:20, punting it away with another 3 & out. The Springers have them completely bottled up with Phoebus very one-dimensional, minus their All-State QB Maurikus Banks.

 

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Jalen Padmore has a 47-yard punt return for a touchdown where he changes directions about three or four different times it looked like.

Coach Loren Johnson of Highland Springs will probably be shaking his head when informed of the penalty totals tonight with 7:53 to go o in regulation.

Highland Springs - 13 penalties for 145 yards
Phoebus - 0 penalties

Anyways, the Springers lead it 21-0 and have the ball at their own 43.

 

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The Springers mixed in a couple of different backs to give Eric Byrd a rest, one of which was Jonathan Carter (3 rushes for 39 yards) on that possession before the triggerman - once a wide receiver for this Springers team - finished the job.

Phoebus is in jeopardy of being shut out for the first time since Oscar Smith did so to them in Chesapeake, 42-0, in the 2021 regular season finale.

Last time Phoebus got blanked on this field? It was by Hampton on Oct. 15, 2016 by a count of 44-0.

 

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Phoebus gets a 25-yard run by Tyree Diggs, but a bad snap - along with sacks by Highland Springs defendrs Javion Craft and Dorrell Cheatham-Green - will allow th Springers to run the clock out for a shutout win.

 

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Stay tuned for more later...

 

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Postgame Video Interview with Highland Springs ATH Antoine 'Buddy' Richardson:

 

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Postgame Video Interview with Highland Springs Coach Loren Johnson: