SA ends on down note
Published 12:00 am Saturday, November 3, 2007
POWHATAN—It appears that Blessed Sacrament Huguenot has Southampton Academy’s number. For the second straight year, the Knights knocked the Raiders out of the playoffs. Friday, BSH jumped out to a 28-0 lead and dumped SA 42-14 in the Virginia Commonwealth Conference season-finale for both teams.
BSH (6-4, 4-2) opened the scoring with 8:01 left in the first quarter on a 20-yard touchdown run by Chris Howard. Thomas Young’s extra point kick made it 7-0.
On Southampton Academy’s next series, Paul Edwards attempted a halfback option pass and fumbled. Blessed Sacrament recovered on the SA 8. Two plays later, Matt Smith scored on a 1-yard run with 7:02 to play in the quarter. Young’s kick made it 14-0.
The Knights struck again with 4:45 left in the first quarter on a 35-yard touchdown run by Jared Sebia. The lead jumped to 21-0 on Young’s kick.
Not finished yet, BSH’s quarterback Austin Wingfield tossed a 46-yard touchdown pass to Russ Leboff with 1:56 left in the period. Young’s kick gave BSH an insurmountable 28-0 lead.
Southampton Academy added one last score with 7:02 left in the game when William Doyle ran 15 yards for a touchdown.
SA senior running back Robert Marks rushed for 89 yards on 18 carries, and in the process broke the 1,000-yard rushing barrier.
“The blockers were young, but they did good, which allowed me to get my 1,000 yards for the season,” Marks said. “They really stepped it up.”
SA head coach Robert Marks was worried that a more physical BSH team would run the ball up the gut against the Raiders. The Knights outgained SA 338-210 in total yards.
“It was a tough game against a tough team, and they were really physical for us up front,” he said. “Huguenot just got their starting tailback (Matt Smith) back from injury and he was really a threat to us.”
Marks reflected on the season, as his young Raiders played beyond expectations.
“It was a good overall season and we are losing a lot of key seniors next year, but we also have a lot of good players coming back,” he said. “I’m looking forward to next year.”