Blog LIVE Game Blog - Region 4A Quarterfinals: #6 Smithfield (6-4) at #3 Warhill (8-2)

[matthew328826]

We're watching LIVE on the NFHS Network tonight at Wanner Stadium in Williamsburg, where the No. 3 seed Warhill Lions (8-2) play host to the No. 6 seed Smithfield Packers (6-4). It's a re-match from a September regular season game that Smithfield rallied to win 32-29.

We'll have updates here and via 'X' or Twitter @hatfieldsports



Watch on NFHS Network Here

 

[matthew328826]

Smithfield starts at their own 25 and after an incomplete pass, it's sophomore defensive lineman Jackson Hays (6-2, 320) for Warhill making a tackle for loss. Before 3rd & 12, the Packers decide to burn a time-out with 10:53 to go in the opening period.

Ja'Ki Parker finds Alex Rawlings for a 12-yard completion to move the sticks on a nice pass over the middle on 3rd & 12.

 

[matthew328826]

After moving the chains once, the Smithfield offense stalls with a pair of runs that picked up just two yards. On 3rd & 8, the Packers go back to their other QB - junior Kyle Buggs - and his pass along the far Smithfield sideline is incomplete.

Warhill begins their first possession at their own 34 with 8:38 to go in the opening period. It's a QB keeper with junior Carson Strickland (6-2, 225) before junior DB Kamri Mavin stops him. A couple plays later, it's junior lineman Ramone Pierce limiting Warhill 1000-yard rusher Braden Terns to a pickup of six on 3rd & 9. The Lions are forced to punt it away.

Smithfield's second series begins at their own 49 with 6:21 to go in the opening period. They ended up moving forward 15 yards due to a Warhill personal foul penalty on the punt return.

 

[matthew328826]

Faced with 3rd & 11 after Packers ball carrier Zyron Wells, junior triggerman Kyle Buggs finds senior Zavion Knight for a 12-yard completion over the middle to the Warhill 40. Then it's another senior, Alex Rawlings, getting out on the edge and gaining 28 yards on a pass completion from Buggs to the Lions 12.

Wells then catches in the flat on the right side of the field from Buggs and is knocked out the 2 of Warhill. The Packers try to muscle it in from the 1 and come up short by a yard. But on 2nd & Goal, the Packers complete the drive with the game's first score on a QB keeper, beautifully executed as Buggs fakes the hand-off and walks into the end zone.

 

[matthew328826]

Warhill returns the ensuing kickoff about 17 yards to their own 24, where they begin their second possession with 3:07 left in the opening quarter. Braden Terns knifes his way up the middle for about seven yards to make it 2nd & 3. Another solid run from Terns moves the chains for the first time on the night for Warhill up to the 35. When they go to more of the Full House package or Jumbo look formation wise, it really bodes well for the Lions offense.

Noah Arokium gains four yards to make it 2nd & 6 before the Lions execute a wonderful fake hand-off and pass over the middle that turns into 69-yard TD pass.



Micah Mason has stepped his play and made some big catches in recent weks for a Warhill passing game that is starting to evolve as of late.

 

[matthew328826]

A 98-yard kickoff return to the house by junior Kamri Mavin is wiped off the board due a penalty on Smithfield with 33 seconds left in the opening period. That was set to be a big momentum shift back for Tracey Parker's Packers on the road, but instead they'll be back inside their own 20 now with the first quarter ticking down. They mark it officially at their own 19.

After an incomplete pas, the Smithfield offense goes back to the running game. Junior DB Jamonte Jones makes a shoe-string tackle to keep Zyron Wells from getting an 81-yard TD run. Nonetheless, Wells breaks off an 80-yad gain to the Warhill 1 as the first period comes to a close.

 

[matthew328826]

Smithfield's coaching staff has to be encouraged so far that their offense has been able to generate the long gainer and put together a lengthy drive to find the end zone twice in the first 13 minutes of the game.

Now can the Packers make handle Warhill's running game? Remember, in the previous encouner that they won during the regular season, Smithfield allowed in excess of 300 yards rushing to the Lions.

Warhill's third possession will commence at thir own 28 with 11:46 to go until half-time. The Lions insert sophomore WR Devon Price in at QB and he keeps it for a 1-yard gain. Smithfield's defense holds up strong on 2nd & 9 to keep Braden Terns to a gain of about four, setting up 3rd & 5 from the 33.

Senior linebacker John Wagoner is among multiple Packers to stop Price short of the first down marker on 3rd & 5, where the Lions gained about three. Coach Jerome Rhodes decides to bring out the punting unit, rather than go for it from his own 36, trailing 14-8 with 9:15 left in the second quarter.

 

[matthew328826]

Smithfield starts their fourth series at their own 32. Zavion Knight run for four yards and adds a few more on second down, where a penalty flag is thrown for just the third time on the night. It's an illegal procedure against the Packers that will push them back closer to their own 30.

Zyron Wells makes another excellent run, this time putting his foot in the turf and cutting back to the left and deep into Warhill territory. However, another penalty on the Packers will negate his huge gain that would've easily put him over 100 yards on the night and for the half. A screen pass is incomplete and brings up 3rd & 10 with 7:47 until the half.

A defensive holding penalty on Warhill wipes away a sack, where two of the Lions' good-sized linemen dropped Kyle Buggs for a big loss. That now gives Smithfield a fresh set of downs at their own 42. Killer penalty for Warhill.

 

[matthew328826]

After a 15-yard penalty on Smithfield is called, the Packers get six of those yards back on a run from RB Zyron Wells, closing in on 100 yards on the ground in the first half. Of course, most of those came on an 80-yard sprint to end the opening stanza.

Jayden Cypress hauls in a Kyle Buggs for six yards on second down to bring up 3rd & 13 from their own 39. Warhill brings pressure off the edge with a blitzing linebacker and Buggs wisely lets them over pursue and scrambles initially up the middle, then scooting out of the bounds at the Lions 43 for a nifty gain of 18. A delayed run play to the left with Zavion Knight gains 20 yards to the Lions 23.

This Smithfield ground game is really breaking off some effective runs with consistency in the first half.

 

[matthew328826]

Zyron Wells has now gone over 100 yards rushing in the first half with Smithfield facing 2nd & 9 from the Warhill 12 with a 14-8 lead and the time ticking down under three minutes remaining in the first half.

Faced with 3rd & 8 from the Lions 11 after the Warhill defense limits Wells to a gain of just one, the Packers try to string it outside along the near sideline, but junior DB ZCarion Turner and company are ready for him.

Smithfield will burn a time-out with 1:28 left in the first half before a crcuial 4th & 7 from the Warhill 10.

Will they try the field goal to make it a two-possession lead here or go for the first down / TD? Big decision for Tracey Parker and his Packers.

 

[matthew328826]

Outstanding execution as QB Kyle Buggs has run the Smithfield offense with precision, poise and patience on this night. He sold the run well to where the defense bit down and his tight end was wide open over the middle for him to drop it in the bucket for the score.

Warhill needs an explosive play to gain some momentum back before the break because right now their defense is searching for answers.

 

[matthew328826]

What much-needed response from Warhill courtesy one of their main playmakers - Braden Terns - not wanting this to be his final game as a senior in a Lions uniform.

Smithfield stopped the 2-point try, clamping down on the run well and play has briefly been stopped for an injury time-out to check on a Packers player, who appears to be okay as he walks off the field under his own power.

Nice little ballgame on a Thursday night to get me set for my Law & Order triple-header on NBC that I will be checking out later - the original, SVU and Organized Crime - when this one is done. No, won't be tuning in to Amazon Prime for the Pats / Jets game that my gut tells me will be a blowout in favor of resurgent New England.

 

[matthew328826]

With under a minute to go in the first half, Smithfield looks content to run the clock out as they get it at their own 30. Zyron Wells runs for a couple yards and then looks to get a few more, but a holding penalty will wipe that out and likely mean the Packers take a knee to end this half with a 21-14 advantage.

 

[matthew328826]

Some Quick Half Stats:

Smithfield 21:
Kyle Buggs - 5-10 for 67Yds. 1-0 TD/Int. ratio; 2Car. 19Yds. TD
Zyron Wells - 13Car. 112Yds. TD; 1Rec. 11Yds.
Zavion Knight - 3Car. 25Yds; 1Rec. 12Yds.
Alex Rawlings - 2Rec. 28Yds.
Jayven Reid - 1Rec. 10Yds. TD

Packers - 32 plays for 230 total yards (6-11 for 74 yards passing; 21 rushes for 156 yards); 0 turnovers; 5 penalties for 45 yards


Warhill 14:
Carson Strickland - 1-1 for 61Yds. 1-0 TD/Int. ratio
Braden Terns - 4Car. 22Yds; 87-yard KR TD return
Micah Mason - 1Rec. 69Yds. TD
Devon Price - 2Car. 4Yds.

Lions - 10 plays for 90 total yards (1-1 for 61 yards passing; 9 rushes for 29 yards); 0 turnovers; 2 penalties for 25 yards

 

[matthew328826]

Smithfield is kicking off to Warhill to begin the second half. This game has resembled some of the parts from their 32-29 nail-biter played back on September 19th, where Smithfield rallied to win.

Does Warhill have the comeback tonight to advance to the regional semis? The winner of this one gets the winner of the other quarterfinal happening at Wanner Stadium - #7 Denbigh taking on #2 Lafayette - on Friday night.

A touchback on the kickoff and Warhill's first play from scrimmage to start the second half is a run with Devon Price, navigating for about five or six yards on the QB keeper. Talented freshman Elijah White gets the sweep off the right side for a couple of yards to bring up 3rd & 2 from their own 28. White has a bright future ahead of him and should be incorporated more in the offense moving forward in the years to come.

False start on Warhill means they might have to think about throwing it to keep the drive alive on 3rd & 7 at their own 23. Carson Strickland's second pass of the night is incomplete as he rolled to his right and could not connect with White. Out comes the punting unit for Warhill and Smithfield is looking to play its ball-control style the rest of the night.

Amazingly, Smithfield ran 32 plays to Warhill's 10 in the first half.

 

[matthew328826]

Kamri Mavin fields and bobbles the Warhill punt that he fortunately does not fumble at the Lions 49, advancing a couple yards before stopped. Excellent field position at the Warhill 47 with 9:51 left in the third quarter for the Packers to start this drive, leading 21-14.

Senior linebacker Kaden Scales drops Zyron Wells for a loss of a six yards. Junior QB Kyle Buggs takes off and runs for about five yards on second down, where a Warhill defender is injured and being checked on with play stopped with 8:45 left in the third period.

Senior WR Jayden Cypress comes up with a clutch reception for the Packers of 13 yards on 3rd & 11 from Buggs to extend the drive. Then it's Wells rushing for 15 yards to get them near the red zone.

 

[matthew328826]

Zyron Wells was untouched up the middle on that scoring run. Unless the Packers have a major breakdown on special teams, they have to love their chances to beat Warhill for a second time this year and notch the program's first playoff win since 2017. That year, the Packers knocked out Lake Taylor, 15-8.

Warhill starts their second drive of the half at their own 31 with 7:11 to play, trailing it by 14.

 

[matthew328826]

Not a good start to the second series of the night for Warhill with a backwards pass that Braden Terns is not ready for, resulting in an enormous loss of 14. They get some of that back - about half we'll say - on a run from Elijah White. But now it's 3rd & 16. Micah Mason hauls in the pass from Carson Strickland, though he's stopped by Kamri Mavin at their own 36, about five yards short of the first down.

While Coach Jerome Rhodes is tempted to go for it, he insteads brings out the punting unit.

 

[matthew328826]

Junior LB Terrance Dove comes flying through the A-gap - right between the snapper and the left guard - to block the Warhill punt that rolls all the way out of the back of the end zone for a safety.

Another special teams spark play in this matchup.

 

[matthew328826]

Kamri Mavin has a kickoff return for a touchdown wiped off the board for the second time on the night due to a penalty on the Packers.

Nonetheless, Smithfield is in control of this one, leading by 16 at the 41 of Warhill with 5:28 remaining in the third quarter. Expect lots of running the rest of the way. Zavion Knight gains a yard. They then lose a couple on 2nd & 9 as Warhill's four-man front quickly sniffed out the QB keeper up the middle.

A pass from Kyle Buggs to Zyron Wells in the flat gains five. On 4th & 6 from the Warhill 37, the Packers will let the play clock tick down before burning a time-out with 2:55 left in the third quarter. Not a bad move at all. Probably thinking about punting it and playing the field position game here.

 

[matthew328826]

Superb punt by Smithfield has Warhill pinned inside its own 5 with 2:47 to play, trailing the Packers 30-14. Braden Terns gains two up the middle, but the Lions might have to soon abandon the run a bit and try to get something going with their passing attack, given that they trail by a couple of touchdowns. Surprisingly, they try to run outside off right tackle on 2nd & 8 with Terns and fail to gain anything. Now they are pretty much forced to pass.

QB Devon Price escapes pressure and a potential sack on 3rd & 8 before throwing it away, but the Packers get hit with a roughing the passer penalty. That might breathe some life into this sputtering Warhill offense with a fresh set of downs at their own 21 with 57 seconds left in the third quarter.

 

[matthew328826]

Braden Terns breaks off a long run, but unfortunately, his leg gave out on the play, otherwise it would've been a TD. Hate seeing the young man who has had such a terrific season go down. His final run - probably of the night - was for 14 yards up to the 35.

Diminuitive junior Noah Arokium comes in to give them some speed and shiftiness. His run of 7 creates 2nd & 3, where Devon Price is able to sky high and haul in the high snap, then show some electric running with a dash into Smithfield teritory to close out the third quarter. It was about 20 yards it looks like to the Smithfield 38.

 

[matthew328826]

Smithfield erased a double-digit deficit in the regular season meeting. Is it now Warhill's turn?

 

[matthew328826]

Smithfield better shade someone else over to Micah Mason's side because he's a game-changer at this point. Couldn't tell for sure who had the 2-point conversion run, but believe it was Noah Arokium.

Warhill is definitely back in this one, trying to feed off their home crowd.

 

[matthew328826]

Looked like Chris Pina forced the Smithfield fumble on the ensuing kickoff and couldn't tell which one of his Warhill teammates recovered it, but the Lions are as joyous as can be with great field position at the Packers 40 now.

The Packers need their defense to step up to keep Warhill at bay.

 

[matthew328826]

Gains of +8 by QB Devon Price and +7 by RB Noah Arokium suddenly has Warhill knocking on the door again, at the Smithfield 25 after the Packers fumble.

Another lift is the return from injury of Braden Terns, who looked seriously hurt not too long ago. Terns gains eight yards to bring up 2nd & 2.

Junior LB/DL Ramone Pierce is ready for the speed option play, dropping Price for a loss of three. Price gains one and now the Lions are primed to go for it on 4th & 4 from the Packers 19-yard line.

 

[matthew328826]

Boy, did Smithfield ever need that takeaway or what?

Amare Boone returns it to the 35-yard line along the far sideline.

 

[matthew328826]

Zyron Wells rushes for +3 and +5 for Smithfield to set up 3rd & 2 at their own 43. They then run up the gut with Wells to move th chains close to midfield. Making matters worse for Warhill was a 15-yard personal foul penalty at the conclusion of the play. That puts the Packers at the WHS 37.

Wells then shows the power, trucking a defender on a run to the Lions 27. Unofficially, he's at 157 yards rushing on 20 attempts. Not a bad night considering they are without tailback James 'BJ' Jones, who is out because of a concussion sustained in the last game against Poquoson. Jones finished the regular season with 104 rushes for 985 yards and 12 TD's

 

[matthew328826]

Add another five yards for Zyron Wells on 3rd & 1 to the Warhill 14. He's taking charge in the closing moments of the fourth quarter to try to give Smithfield its first playoff win since 2017. Smithfield will burn a time-out with 4:02 left in the contest.

Warhill stops Wells on the next couple of runs and Jerome Rhodes ends up using two time-outs before 4th & 8 from the 12 with 3:03 left to play.

If the Packers can convert here or even make a field goal to make this a two-possession game, it's night-night for the host Lions.

 

[matthew328826]

Warhill needs some magic, but they have a chance, which is all they could ask for at this point.

Devon Price is sacked for a loss of one. On 2nd & 11, the Lions get a diving catch by Micah Mason, but it's not enough to move the sticks and the clock keeps ticking, under two minutes to go. An incomplete means it's all or nothing with 1:24 to go, facing a 4th & 7 from their own for Warhill's offense. Make it 4th & 12 after a penalty for too many men on the field.

 

[matthew328826]

Devon Price moved the chains with a 14-yard pass on 4th & 12 the play prior - either to Elijah White or Micah Mason, not totally sure - but then the Smithfield defense came up with its second interception of the night.

Now the Packers can run the clock out and move on to the second round.

 

[matthew328826]

More to come later, including Photos from our correspondent Will Garlick on the scene at Wanner Stadium.

Stay tuned!

 

[matthew328826]

Unofficial Final Stats:

Smithfield 30: (Packers 6-4 Overall)
Kyle Buggs - 7-12 for 85Yds. 1-0 TD/Int. ratio; 3Car. 24Yds. TD
Zyron Wells - 26Car. 168Yds. 2 TD's; 2Rec. 16Yds.
Zavion Knight - 4Car. 26Yds; 1Rec. 12Yds.
Alex Rawlings - 2Rec. 28Yds.
Jayden Cypress - 2Rec. 19Yds.
Jayven Reid - 1Rec. 10Yds. TD

Packers - 51 plays for 312 total yards (8-13 for 97 yards passing; 38 rushes for 215 yards, 1 lost fumble); 1 turnover; 7 penalties for 70 yards


Warhill 22: (Lions 8-3 Overall)
Devon Price - 3-6 for 56Yds. 1-2 TD/Int. ratio; 8Car. 35Yds.
Carson Strickland - 2-3 for 72Yds. 1-0 TD/Int. ratio
Braden Terns - 9Car. 32Yds; 87-yard KR TD
Elijah White - 2Car. 10Yds; 1Rec. 14Yds.
Noah Arokium - 3Car. 18Yds.
Micah Mason - 4Rec. 122Yds. 2 TD's

Lions - 33 plays for 222 total yards (5-9 for 128 yards passing, 2 intercepts; 24 rushes for 94 yards); 2 turnovers; 5 penalties for 50 yards