Game Blog - Smithfield Topples Warhill 30-22 to Reach Region 4A Semis
Wanner Stadium in Williamsburg played host to the first Virginia High School League football postseason match of 2025 on Thursday night.
The sixth-seeded Smithfield Packers prevailed 30-22 over the third-seeded Warhill Lions, improving their record to 7-4 overall. They now move on to the regional semifinals in Region 4A. Smithfield awaits the winner of No. 2 Lafayette vs. #7 Denbigh in Friday’s regional quarterfinals.
Back in September, Smithfield also beat Warhill at Wanner Stadium, 32-29, as they erased a 15-point second quarter deficit. In that one, the Packers threw for 255 yards with 234 after half-time. This time, the offense leaned on the tough running of junior Zyron Wells.
Filling in for leading rusher James ‘BJ’ Jones (104Att. 985Yds. 12 TD’s), who sat out after sustaining a concussion last week, Wells carried the ball 26 times for 168 yards and two touchdowns, plus had a pair of receptions for 16 yards.
Junior QB Kyle Buggs accounted for the other two scores; a rushing touchdown and a 10-yard scoring strike on fourth down to tight end Jayven Reid.
In the loss, Warhill (8-3) saw junior wideout Micah Mason haul in four passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Braden Terns had their other score on an 87-yard kickoff return. The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for Warhill, which has now dropped three in a row to Smithfield after winning five straight in the head-to-head series from 2019-23.
This marked the first playoff win for the Packers since 2017 when they eliminated Lake Taylor, 15-8. Previously, Smithfield had lost five straight postseason games.
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
Matthew Hatfield has served as Publisher for VirginiaPreps.com since 2016 and been writing for the web site under the Rivals umbrella dating back to 2004. Matthew also has served as the Play-by-Play Voice for Old Dominion Women’s Basketball since 2021. Check out Hatfield’s Twitter page for more sports related updates. To contact Matthew, please e-mail [email protected], and be sure to Subscribe to CoVA Sports TV, where you can watch and hear his Podcasts.