ISLE OF WIGHT
Three big turnovers cost Isle of Wight Academy a big home win against upper division team North Cross Friday night, as the Raiders beat the Chargers 27-20 in this VISAA contest. IWA quarterback Bryce Casey threw two interceptions in the first half, one was returned for a touchdown and the Raiders were able to go into halftime with the momentum on a score on the other interception that put them up 21-7.

After trading punts to start the third quarter, the Chargers took over at their 28-yard line and worked the Alec Edwards and Carson Robertson one-two punch down to the 2-yard line over 13 plays. Once there, Edwards was able to punch it in with 38 seconds left in the quarter, having drained almost a full 7 minutes of clock on the drive.

With the Dylan Poe kick good, the Chargers were back in business at 21-14.

The Raiders would not waste a lot of time as Isiah Harris got the carry on three straight runs, the third one going 58 yards for the score, as he cut through several would be tacklers. After a Raider false start penalty pushed the kick back 5 yards, the Chargers were able to get in and block the kick, making it 27-14 with 11:46 to go in the game.

On the next drive, the Raiders were able to force a 3-and-out. However, the Chargers returned the favor and Max Revercomb’s punt went straight up in the air and landed out of bounds 2 yards behind him, giving the Chargers the ball on NC’s 47-yard-line.

A quick penalty put them back on their side of the field, but then Will Morningstar was brought in as a change of pace back and he pushed it back to the Raider 41, and then on the next run he made it to the 15-yard line. After gaining two yards, the Chargers fumbled the snap and that put them back at the 17 facing third and long. Two straight passes were dropped and the Raiders had the ball back.

However, the Raiders would then send the snap over Revercomb’s head and he chased it all the way back to the 1-yard line where he fell on it.

On the next play, Jacob Wait was able to penetrate the line and almost get the safety, but Revercomb slid out of the tackle and threw it downfield and incomplete. It had been lightly raining the entire game, making the quarterback more elusive.

The Chargers forced a 3-and-out and got it back at the Raider 32-yard line with 4:38 left.

On the third play of the series, the Chargers mishandled the slippery ball on the snap, but Edwards was able to fall on it.

Facing 3-and-8, the Raiders got through the line and sacked Casey. However, they also got hit with a personal foul flag after the play was over, and the Chargers got a first down at the 21-yard line.

On the second play, Edwards scored from a Casey pass, but a block in the back brought it back to the 21.

Trying the same screen pass this time with Robertson, he was able to leap and hit the pylon. However, that one was called back to the 8-yard line with the referee saying he went out of bounds.

However, the Chargers would capitalize on a fourth and goal run by Edwards from 1 yard out with 1:27 left to go in the game. The Poe kick was blocked.

Poe would have a chance for redemption, however, with the onside kick, which he was able to recover and put IWA on NC’s 49-yard line.

On the second play of the drive, Edwards took the ball and ran down the sidelines, getting out of bounds at the 19-yard line with 58 seconds to go.

A penalty put them back 10 yards, but Casey found Edwards on a screen and he gained 11 yards before going out of bounds.

Following an incomplete end zone attempt, Casey hit Morningstar on a screen, and he took it to the 9-yard line for a first and goal with 34 seconds left.

After an incomplete pass, an illegal procedure penalty was called on IWA, and that put them back to the 14-yard line.

Staring down second and goal, the ball slipped away on the snap and the Raiders recovered. With no time outs remaining for IWA, Revercomb took a knee and the clock expired.

In the loss, IWA outgained North Cross 362 to 210 and had 16 first downs compared to eight for the Raiders.

Edwards rushed 36 times for 219 yards and had all three touchdowns. Robertson was the leading receiver with 2 catches for 28 yards, and he also had 14 carries for 53 yards. On the first series of the game, Robertson got an interception that set up Edwards’ first score.