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Phoebus Phantoms Win Virginia High School Football Class 4 State Championship

Lawrence Andrew Fernandezby: Lawrence Fernandez12/17/24lawandfern
Virginia High School Football
© Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The Virginia high school football Class 4 state championship game featured a showdown between two of the state’s top teams. The Phoebus Phantoms, ranked third in the Virginia On3 Composite Team Rankings, came into the game with a 13-0 record. Their opponents, fourth-ranked Varina Blue Devils, were at 12-1.

However, the highly anticipated matchup became a one-sided affair, as Phoebus won 23-6 to capture their 11th state championship. The Phantoms trailed in the second quarter, 6-3 after Caleb Wyche completed a 32-yard touchdown pass to Trevon Rodgers. However, those were the only points Varina scored, and it has been all Phoebus since.

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The Phantoms took the lead when quarterback Maurikus Banks found Romeir Smith for a 54-yard touchdown. After a scoreless third quarter, Banks had a 13-yard touchdown run that sealed the perfect Virginia high school football season for Phoebus.

Sandwiched between those scores is a fumble recovery touchdown by Markus Hopson. It’s the highlight of a tremendous effort by the Phoebus defense, which limited Varina to 168 yards on offense. What’s more impressive is that Wyche added only 18 passing yards outside his TD throw. This performance proves why the Phantoms are Virginia’s third-best defensive team, based on the On3 Massey Ratings.

Banks finished the game with 113 passing and nine rushing yards, while Davion Roberts added 26 carries for 168 yards. Noah Jefferson contributed 41 receiving yards in the win. Meanwhile, the Phantoms played disciplined football, committing only three penalties compared to Varina’s 13.

In addition to a 14-0 campaign, the victory moved Phoebus to second in the Virginia high school football championship tally. Before the game, they were tied with Riverheads and Salem with ten state titles.

What’s scary for opponents is that the Phantoms could have the roster to win it all again next season. Hopson, Jefferson (Delaware), and wide receiver Trenton Mitchell are the only significant players leaving the squad. Conversely, the Blue Devils finished the season at 12-2.