Blog LIVE Game Blog - Kempsville (6-2) at Kellam (5-3)

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Greetings from Floyd E. Kellam High School in Virginia Beach, where tonight the Knights at 5-3 overall play host to the visiting Kempsville Chiefs (6-2), winners of four in a row, in a key matchup of two Region 5A playoff hopefuls.

The weather is absolutely gorgeous, after two days of heavy rain, across the Hampton Roads area. It is literally 70 degrees and sunny a little more than an hour before kick-off.

This one will start at 6:30 PM ET tonight and we'll have updates here and via X or Twitter as some of you still call it @hatfieldsports

 

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Before we kick off, here's our mini preview of the game...



Kempsville (6-2) at Kellam (5-3) . . . Daryl Cherry’s Chiefs have won three of the past meetings with the Knights, including by a count of 31-12 last year. However, the Knights under Brian Neas are coming off a thrilling 24-21 upset of Bayside, where they scored a couple of touchdowns in the game’s final three minutes to complete the comeback. Kellam junior wideout Aaron Smith leads the area in receiving with 51 catches for 1001 yards and eight touchdowns, plus had the game-clinching interception on the final play last week. Kempsville’s ground attack with Robert Hughes Jr. (144Att. 1027Yds. 11 TD’s) has been really consistent all year long.

Which other dimension for Kempsville and Kellam offensively will make the key play when needed? The Chiefs also can throw it with Hampton University commit Joshua Hawley, aiming for Camir Croom (41Rec. 618Yds. 5 TD’s), Jorden Mitnaul, Aushawn Miles and James Releford V. Through seven games, the Knights were averaging just 96.7 yards rushing per game and 4.4 per attempt with junior Gael Cuellar the main piece to that effort. Defensively, sophomore Cade Horner has been a firm tackler from his linebacker spot.

The Kempsville defense is yielding just 12.4 points per game, a better number than the 22.1 PPG allowed by the Knights. At the linebacker spot, Elijah McDaniel (65 tackles, 23 for loss) and Jason Galloway (16 sacks) have lived in opposing backfields along with DE Lahai Massaquoi (8 sacks). While the Chiefs will be concerned about covering Smith, the Knights have to account for these disruptive pass rushers, particularly on third downs.

Matt Hatfield Says – Kempsville 34-17
Coach Ed Young Says – Kempsville 24-20
Massey Says – Kempsville 42-12

 

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Kempsville's opening possession ends in a turnover. The Chiefs start freshman Taejon Cason, who has a wonderful 7-0 TD/Int. ratio entering the night, at quarterback. His first two psases are complete for a total of 17 yards, one on a 12-yard connection to James Releford V. However, a 10-yard penalty on the Chiefs hurts them and created a 3rd & 12 instead of them moving the sticks on that opening drive.

Making them pay on that play was junior DB Brody McLennon with an interception. Believe that is his 3rd INT of the year. He returns it 21 yards into Kempsville territory, but a penalty pushes Kellam back to their own 43 with 11:21 to go in the opening period.

Aaron Smith - the only receiver with over 1000 yards through eight games in Hampton Roads - gets an opportunity on a deep shot down the field, but it is incomplete. Mason Roach is sacked by Kempsville's Jason Galloway on second down. Roach then finds Connor Tarrant for 8 yards on 3rd & 15, but it's 3 & out for the Knights to start.

 

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Second possession goes 3 & out for the Chiefs with Josh Hawley - the Hampton U commit and senior - back in at QB. His first two passes are incomplete with one coming on a play where the Chiefs had a penalty that Kellam declined. Sandwiched in between was a run with Robert Hughes Jr. that got stopped for a short gain by junior d-lineman Carstyn Gibson (6-2, 281) and junior LB Landon Farmer. A 23-yard punt by the Chiefs after a false start gives Kellam excellent field position at the Kempsville 35 with 8:32 left in the opening period.

Kellam gets the gift of a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty on 3rd & 11 to extend the drive after two plays that did little to nothing. However, the Kempsville defense is able to stiffen and force a Kellam field goal try from about the 25 just a few plays later.

The Knights are missing two of their main running backdue to injury tonight. So they will depend heavily on their passing game.

 

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Brandon Prater actually is now tied for second most field goals in the Beach District with Kempsville's Max Clatterbuck. Each has made six, trailing Army commit and Cox place-kicker Brycen Widhalm, who has drilled seven of them, including a 51-yarder.

A 69-yard kickoff return to the house by Michael Pembleton is wiped off the board due to a holding penalty on Kempsville, which is backed up to its own 16 with 4:54 left in the opening period.

 

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Kempsville receiver Camir Croom gets a 28-yard reception on 3rd & 7 to move the chains for the Chiefs when the offense was about to be headed for a 3 & out. Then it's Croom on a little slip screen / crossing pattern over the middle finding pay-dirt with his speed.



That capped a 5-play, 84-yard drive in 2:39 for the Chiefs.

Kellam will have it at their own 31 with 2:24 left in the first period.

 

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A screen pass loses a couple of yards for Kellam. Two plays later, it's 3rd & 26 for the Knights and they only gain one yard before bringing out the punting unit.

Jason Puckett recovers the muffed Kempsville punt at the Chiefs 44 with 56 seconds left in the opening period. Aaron Smith is able to haul in a 16-yard pass for his first reception of the night from QB Mason Roach to get them closer to scoring range as the first quarter concludes.



Jason Galloway absolutely drills Roach on a sack on the first play of the second quarter. Roach's night might be done as the 5-foot-10, 172-pound senior might be getting checked for a concussion. In comes Drew McEntarfer (6-2, 174), junior backup, and his first pass is intercepted by Kempsville's Casei Dargan. The Chiefs now have it at their own 20 with 11:43 to go in the first half, feeling a bit better.

 

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It's now a 192-6 advantage in total yards, or there about, in favor of Kempsville.

Not good for the host Knights, now facing a 3rd & 10 after a gain of no run and an incomplete with backup QB Drew McEntarfer in for the injured Mason Roach.

Little surprised Kellam Coach Brian Neas hasn't gone to Aaron Smith - their stud receiver - and put him in at Wildcat just in an effort to jumo-start the stagnant offense.

The third down pass with McEntarfer is batted down by Jason Galloway, who has had a heck of a first half with three stops behind the line of scrimmage.

 

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Kellam didn't pursue Jacob Carty as fierce as they could've on that return in my opinion, in part because I think they were expecting a holding penalty to be called. It wasn't and now the Chiefs have total command of this one, which they trailed early by a 3-0 count. When Kellam failed to capitalize with the field position after the muffed punt, Kempsville has seized control ever since that point in a huge way.

 

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Roughing the punter on Kempsville gives Kellam a fresh set of downs

With 3:13 to go, the Knights with McEntarfer throw a jump-ball down the field to Aaron Smith, who is unable to haul it in against double coverage on the 4th & 8 play.

Kempsville takes over at their own 27 with 3:13 till half-time, comfortably ahead 21-3.

 

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Aaron Smith showed why he's so explosive and one of the very best playmakers not just in Hampton Roads, but the entire state and drawing D-1 offers. Chiefs QB Josh Hawley shouldn't have thrown the pass as he rolled to his left with not much of an opportunity to move the chains on 3rd & 5.

On the very next series with freshman Taejon Cason back in, the Chiefs go 3 & out. That gives Kellam the ball at their own 34 with 1:10 left in the first half and two time-outs. That's plenty of time to get in field goal range.

 

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Some half-time stats to come soon... stay tuned!

 

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Here's a good nugget from Eddy Hendricks of 94.1 Priority Sports Radio tonight -- Kellam has a 15:15 edge in Time of Possession to 8:45 for Kempsville. Yet, the Chiefs hold an 11-point lead.

Some more half-time stats to come soon... stay tuned!

 

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Stats at the Half:

Kempsville 21:
Taejon Cason - 4-7 for 108Yds. 1-1 TD/Int. ratio
Josh Hawley - 1-6 for 10Yds. 0-1 TD/Int. ratio
Robert Hughes Jr. - 8Car. 70Yds. TD; 1Rec. 5Yds.
Camir Croom - 2Rec. 91Yds. TD; 1Car. 5Yds.
Tayshaun Johnson - 1Car. 5Yds; 4 Tackles, TFL
James Releford V - 1Rec. 12Yds.
Jorden Mitnaul - 1Rec. 10Yds.
Jason Galloway Jr. - 5 Tackles, 4 TFL, Sack, PBU

Chiefs - 24 plays for 198 total yards (5-13 for 118 yards passing, 2 intercepts; 11 rushes for 80 yards, 1 fumble); 8 penalties for 100 yards; 3 turnovers


Kellam 10:
Drew McEntarfer - 9-16 for 43Yds. 0-1 TD/Int. ratio
Mason Roach - 6-10 for 19Yds.
Brody McLennon - 4Rec. 26Yds; 2 Solo Tackles, INT
Aaron Smith - 2Rec. 20Yds; 60-yard INT TD return
McCoy Williams - 4Rec. 12Yds.
Connor Tarrant - 5Rec. 4Yds.
Brodie Dore - 3 Tackles

Knights - 35 plays (15-26 for 62 yards passing, 1 intercept; 9 rushes for minus 21 yards); 4 penalties for 40 yards; 1 turnover; 4 penalties for 40 yards

 

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Kellam begins at their own 46 after a 30-yard kickoff return from Brody McLennon. The Knights get a 2-yard reception with McCoy Williams, followed by a 4-yard catch from Cam Midkiff after an incomplete on 2nd & 8.

Kempsville is on the move on its opening possession of the 2nd half that starts at thier own 49. They move the chains twice via the ground game with 1000-yard rusher Robert Hughes Jr. before the Chiefs turn it over for the fourth time tonight.

Aaron Smith makes a tremendous leaping interception at the 3-yard line and returns it 22 yards to the Knights' 25, where Kellam will have it with 8:26 left in the third period. However, the Knights go 3 & out as it ends with Drew McEntarfer being sacked by Tayshaun Johnson of the Knights for a loss of 7 on 3rd & 10. Out comes the punting unit again for Kellam.

 

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Kempsville rode the legs of Robert Hughes Jr. for a touchdown on the series before, and then Kellam ends up coughing it up deep in its own territory. The Chief go to their complement running back, Tayshaun Johnson, for all six carries on the latest series.

 

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A 52-yard punt by Max Clutterbuck has Kellam starting at their own 4 with 11:43 to play.

 

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Even though his team trails this one by multiple scores, relly impressed with Kellam 2027 ATH Aaron Smith tonight on both sides of the ball.

4 receptions for 91 yards + 2 INT's on defense and 10 total tackles (8 assisted).

Smith had a dazzling 38-yard reception earlier in the half. Just checked out moments ago with what looked like a shoulder or neck injury. Does not appear to be too serious though.

Kempsville's defense has made the Knights completey one-dimensional and had to throw about 40 times with still eight minutes to go in regulation. This is after Kellam had to drop back and pass at least 53 times last week at Bayside. Lacking a running game and the ability to protect the QB from the interior - with the Chiefs bringing more A-gap pressure - has kept Kellam from finishing off some of these drives.

 

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Opportunistic is the best way to sum up the defense on this evening for Kempsville.

 

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Kempsville is enjoying its fifth straight winning season, something that hasn't happened since 1992-96 during the John Bowles era. Of course, in the 1980's, the Chiefs were a perennial contender under the late great Ralph Gahagan.

Daryl Cherry has done a superb job restoring the pride of this program.

 

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More to come later... stay tuned!