Springers Win Race To Finish 31-28!
Every game is a marathon in some respect. In the moment, every play, every minute, every second feels like an eternity. That is especially the case in a close contest with a lot on the line. That was the case when the Springers rolled into Chester Fritz Stadium Friday night. Not only were these old bitter Colonial District rivals squaring off for the 67th time but they did so with urgency. The Springers at 5-2 and the Panthers 6-1 fighting for seeding, for a home game in just a few short weeks when the playoffs begin.
And like in race there are lead changes, there are stages and sometimes there are obstacles. In the marathon that was this game, those obstacles were penalties. The Panthers, however, nearly overcame those obstacles with one play along the visiting sidelines that if inbounds could have setup a game-tying field goal or perhaps a game-winning touchdown. Instead, just like a race, just a like a marathon, one bad move can you take out of the race.
1st Stage of the Race
By the end of the first stage of this race (first quarter) Highland Springs had the early lead but the Panthers were right there with them. Both teams had the ball twice and a slow start was not what the Panthers had hoped for. Hermitage mustered just 7 yards off 4 plays before punting to the Springers.
When the Panthers got the ball back again, they faired better with 24 yards off 5 plays but a false start and holding penalties slowed the Springers down… your obstacles.
It became clear from the jump that on this night off Hungary Spring Road, that the Springers were going to feed the ball to Eric Byrd. The very first offensive play of the night for the Springers saw Byrd pickup 34 yards with Michael Jackson finally bring him down. In two possessions for the Springers Eric touched the ball 8 times and ripped off 70 yards including the first Springer TD of the night.
All was not lost for Hermitage in the first quarter. They only trailed 7-0 and King Williams made plays to keep the Springers out of the end zone on their first possession of the game. In fact, the defense as a whole forced Highland Springs to a turnover on downs with the ball at the Herm 20.
2nd Stage of the Race
Entering the second stage of this race (game) the Springers had outgained Hermitage 134 to 31 on offense! Whereas the first stage of the race belonged to the Springers, the second quarter belonged to the home team.
Hermitage scored two touchdowns in the second quarter behind the hot hand or should I say legs of Avery Curtis! Those 31 yards in the first quarter were dwarfed by 179 yards of offense as the Panthers, led by Curtis took it to the Springers.
After the Springers first TD of the night Hermitage put together a 14-play, 91-yard drive that saw Ben Yeanay and Andre Clarke, Jr. thread the needle along the sidelines to keep the ball moving forward. A facemask and holding call against the Springers certainly did not hurt on this drive either.
And for the first time all season I saw the chain gang come onto the field for a measurement that proved to be good by mere inches to extend the drive. I had to blink my eyes on the next play when the Panthers played the part of the Eagles with their own push tush (really QB sneak) for the first. With 7:06 to go in the half the Panthers got on the board behind a Curtis 3-yard dash.
The Panthers defense played their part as well. It did not hurt that the Springers were called for holding but the defense did not let the Springers get a first down for the first time on this night. Despite a big return from the Springers to the Hermitage 27, the defense clamped down to hold the Springers to a field goal rather than a TD. That field goal was of the 23-yard variety from Anthony Barrett was Mr. Dependable on this night for the Springers.
Of course by the time that field goal went through the uprights, the Panthers were already ahead for the first time. Avery Curtis had spurred the Panthers to the lead when his escapeability and afterburners sent him 93 yards down the field in just two plays! The Panthers also had to overcome a holding penalty to start the drive.
At the midway point of this race, Hermitage was surprising many in front 14-10.
3rd Stage of the Race
The third quarter saw three more scores but this time they were all touchdowns and the Springers had re-taken the lead approaching the final stretch. The entire third quarter was a battle with one in front and then the other.
The Springers took the lead on a 9-play, 58-yard drive that saw Eric Byrd touch the ball three times but none bigger than the 14-yard run with 7:20 to go in the third to put the Springers on top 17-14.
This possession also saw 4 on 4 crime with DaMari Brooks and Michael Jackson mixing it up twice. You be the judge who won this race within the race… Brooks caught a pass from Antoine Richardson for 9 yards but short of the first as MJ brought him down. Two plays later MJ brokeup a pass intended for Brooks.
The Panthers clawed back (pun intended) with a 10-play, 68-yard drive that ended with Curtis in the end zone again only this time it was on the receiving end of a Ben Yeanay 13-yard pass.
The run game of Curtis has been slowed as the Springer defense halftime adjustments had bottled up the speedster. Unfortunately for the Panthers this would be their only possession of the third quarter. They were in fact a Springer sandwich.
The Springers went back in front with QB Antoine Richardson leading the way on a 3-yard scamper with a minute to go. The Springers covered 50 yards in 5 plays and a Hermitage penalty set the Springers up nicely on the Herm 13.
Heading into the final stage of the race the Springers held a 24-21 lead.
Final Stage of the Race
The final stretch of this outstanding game was filled with suspense.
Hermitage went 3 & out to start thanks to an illegal procedure and loss of 10 yards. The Springers took advantage of this stretching their lead to 31-21 in just 5 plays.
Eric Byrd continued to be the horse of this offense dragging along Panther defenders on a 25-yard muscled run. Both teams sustained penalties that hurt be it a hold against the Springers or a dagger with a pass interference against Hermitage. The Springers covered 60 yards with Byrd accounting for 26 of those yards including his third overall touchdown of the night and second 14-yarder.
Hermitage refused to go down without a fight. It took the Panthers 14 plays and 69 yards to reach the end zone again but they did it. At times it did not feel like it would, however. There was one moment where QB Ben Yeanay ran more laterally than he did vertically for what seemed like eternity. The zigzagging did not hurt the Panthers but the holding call against Herm did making it 1st & 21. Ben and Tison Brooks bailed the Panthers out when they hooked up for a 32-yard reception. 3 plays later Yeanay would be the one tagging the end zone for the Panthers to make it 31-28 Springers with a little over 3 minutes to go!
It felt as if Hermitage might make this a night to remember for Panther nation. While the onside kick did not go their way, the series itself did. The Springers went 3 & out with Alijah Paige pulling down Eric Byrd on 3rd & 5. The Springers faced 4th & 3 and they were clearly going for it but a series of timeouts seem to get the Springers off their game for when it came down to it, they false started. Now the Springers faced 4th & 8 and there was no question to punt.
It came down to Hermitage, one last stand for the Panthers offense. Avery Curtis in two runs chewed up 43 yards. On the next Curtis run, the Panthers were called for a hold. 2 plays later the Panthers were facing 3rd & 4 at the Springers 27 with 55 seconds to go in the game. The move was to Curtis, he had done it all night so why not? Curtis was stuffed, however. Next play the Panthers were called for holding. It was 4th & 14 at the Springer 37… do or die time.
Ben Yeanay buys time with his feet, sees his guy Andre Clarke, Jr. along the visitor sideline near the goal line and lets it go. Clarke snags it, brings it down but… he is out of bounds! Springer nation erupts in relief and Panther fans feel that gut punch feeling.
The race was over, the Springers held on but Hermitage gave them everything they could handle.
| Play | Score | Time |
| 20-yard Eric Byrd run. Anthony Barrett PAT. | Springers 7-0 | (1Q) 4:00 |
| 3-yard Avery Curtis run. Justin Avina-Estrada PAT. | Hermitage 7-7 | (1Q) 7:06 |
| 93-yard Avery Curtis run. Justin Avina-Estrada PAT. | Hermitage 14-7 | (2Q) 3:06 |
| 23-yard Anthony Barrett field goal. | Springers 10-14 | (2Q) :32 |
| 14-yard run from Eric Byrd. Anthony Barrett PAT. | Springers 17-14 | (3Q) 7:20 |
| 13-yard pass from Ben Yeanay to Avery Curtis. Justin Avina-Estrada PAT. | Hermitage 21-17 | (3Q) 3:31 |
| 3-yard Antoine Richardson run. Anthony Barrett PAT. | Springers 24-21 | (3Q) 1:00 |
| 14-yard run from Eric Byrd. Anthony Barrett PAT. | Springers 31-21 | (4Q) 8:46 |
| 4-yard run from Ben Yeanay. Justin Avina-Estrada PAT. | Hermitage 28-31 | (4Q) 3:22 |
Coach Speak
Highland Springs Springer Gamers
Eric Byrd was a force in the run game for the Springers up coming up 9 yards shorts of 200 yards rushing. Byrd touched the ball 23 times and scored 3 times to fuel 18 of the Springers 31 points.
Kickers are often overlooked in games, the only time they really get attention is when something goes wrong. For Anthony Barrett everything went right hitting all 4 PAT’s and a 23-yard field goal. That field goal proved to be a difference maker without question.
QB Antoine Richardson did his thing as usual. He doesn’t blow away folks with stats but he comes through. The senior QB had 9 completions for 92 yards and backed that up with 8 carries for 64 yards plus a TD. Of course when you are the QB you are conductor of the offense and he orchestrated a flawless game with no turnovers.
In a game that saw the Springers defense give up 4 TD’s it sounds silly to talk defense but there were three big studs on that side of the ball that kept the Panthers from getting away. Ladanian Brown who came to the Springers from Matoaca racked up 7 tackles while J’Monte Archer & Devyn Simmons each had 5.
Hermitage Panther Gamers
Avery Curtis was electric when he touched the ball for the Panthers. Curtis had a way of finding holes against a rugged Springer defense and once he had that space, the afterburners came on. Avery touched the ball 23 times, found the end twice on the ground while amassing 214 yards in the process. Curtis also had 6 catches for 66 yards and a TD from his QB.
QB Ben Yeanay played his heart out just as all the Panthers did. The 3-year starter completed 18 of his 25 attempts for 210 yards and a TD. He had a modest night on the ground with 38 yards off 6 carries but his leadership and poise was the really the untold story in this one.
In a game that the Panthers gave up 31 points it is easy to overlook the defense but that would be selling short the game that Michael Jackson had. The senior DB broke up one pass and had seven tackles for the Panthers.
Post-Game Nuggets
Highland Springs has now won 8 of their last 9 meetings with Hermitage.
Coach Loren Johnson improves to 4-0 versus Coach Timothy Jean-Pierre and 8-4 overall versus Hermitage.
This was the 22nd meeting between these two to be decided by less than a touchdown.
This was the closest game since the Springers & Panthers 2015 game decided by a single point.
Just got to point some funny coincidences…
Hermitage has a player named King Williams. King William head coach Scott Moore was once an assistant at Hermitage.
Hermitage sits on Hungary Spring Road and the Springers have the Panthers number at the very place that bares the ‘spring’ name.