Standing within the half-light behind James W. Woodson Stadium Friday night time as a gradual stream of L.C. Bird soccer gamers trudged to their buses for the journey home to Chester, David Neel spoke earnestly and excitedly of this system tradition that had simply propelled the Skyhawks to a hard-fought, come-from-behind 17-10 victory over Powhatan.
“Bird football is blue collar, hard work, (fulfill) your responsibility,” mentioned the affiliate head coach and offensive coordinator whose play calling, particularly in essential conditions, was a difference-maker.
“We like to run the football. We hang our hats on that. Just long slow drives and scoring. That’s Bird football.”
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Add to that impressed protection and a make-your-breaks mindset.
With quarterback Matthew Layman working the present, the Indians (2-3) took a 10-3 lead into the break.
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After Christopher Showalter put Bird up 3-0 with a 33-yard area purpose three minutes into the sport, Layman linked with Matt Henderson for a 7-yard landing that ended a 15-play, 69-yard first-quarter drive. Connor Bates added the point-after in addition to a 35-yard area purpose 5:56 earlier than halftime.
The Skyhawks, 5-1 and No. 10 within the Times-Dispatch Top 10, returned from the locker room with renewed vigor and spirit.
“We have a lot of young guys,” Neel mentioned. “They stepped in and played well. I have a lot of respect for Coach (Matthew) Bland. He’s been here a long time (as defensive coordinator). He’s the best. Matt Bland is Bird football.”
A short, whatever-can-go-wrong-will-go-wrong 16 seconds within the third quarter proved Powhatan’s undoing and enabled the Skyhawks to wrest the momentum, albeit barely and definitely not for the length.
Sha’Heym Duggar intercepted a go to thwart the Indians’ first offensive collection of the half and returned it 51 yards to the Powhatan 13.
After three classic L.C. Bird speeding performs up the center, quarterback Ok.J. Carter linked with Rashad Lewis on a fourth-and-3 for a 6-yard catch-and-run to paydirt at 5:42, and Showalter added the additional level to create a 10-all tie.
“They were keying on me running,” mentioned Lewis, a 5-8, 150-pound senior. “We knew me going out in the flat would work. It was a miracle.”
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The Skyhawks’s Deandre Newton picked a fumble out of the air on the following kickoff, and on the primary play, Zihyon Tucker scored on a run off the left facet from 15 yards out.
Showalter’s point-after gave Bird its margin of victory at 5:26 of the third quarter.
“We were lucky to be able to get that interception,” Neel mentioned. “That turnover on the kickoff really turned the tide of the game. Yeah, we were blessed.”
Lewis rushed 24 instances for 113 yards, none of which got here simply in opposition to the always-tough, play-to-the-whistle Indians.
“I love my O-line,” he mentioned. “Without them, I couldn’t accomplish anything. Big shout-out to them.
They were filling in on the D-line and linebackers. They were doing a great job.”
Though Bird was nursing its tenuous lead and doing its finest to grind on the bottom and eat away on the clock, the Indians weren’t fazed and positively weren’t able to capitulate.
Their ultimate drive started at their 25 when Ben Whitver truthful caught a Jaqui Vaughan punt.
On second-and-11, Layman linked with Jayshaun Morris for 14 yards to the 38.
Later, on a fourth-and-11 from the Bird 47, Layman hit Whitver throughout the center to the 24.
Alas, the Bird protection held quick, and on fourth-and-10, the Skyhawks’ Jessiah Parker made a diving interception on the 5 with 22 seconds remaining to finish the Indians’ ultimate foray into the crimson zone.
“At halftime, we decided that we’d run with the motion (on possible pass plays),” mentioned Emery Pope, a 5-7, 160-pound center linebacker. “The motion was killing us in the first half.
“We had to stop the run with five in the box. Everybody else, you’ve got to sell out for the pass. That’s what everybody did.”
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L.C. Bird………………3 0 14 0 – 17
Powhatan……………7 3 0 0 – 10
Pow – Henderson 7 go from Layman (Bates kick)
LCB – Lewis 6 go from Carter (Showalter kick)
LCB – Tucker 15 run (Showalter kick)
LCB – Lewis 24 carries, 113 yards, Tucker 9-46, Barlow 1-4, Carter 1-minus 6, Team 1-minus 10, Hendrickson 1-minus 14.
Pow – Palmore 9-33, Stotler 1-2, Jackson Morris 4-minus 1, Layman 4-minus 18.
LCB – Hendrickson 2 completions, 2 makes an attempt, 0 interceptions, 13 yards, Carter 1-2,0-6Pa receptions, yards
Pow – Layman 15-40-3-155.
LCB – Parker 1 reception, 8 yards, Lewis 1-6, Williams 1-5.
Pow – Henderson 5-69, Whitver 6-63, Jayshaun Morris 2-19, Palmore 1-4, Stotler 1-0.
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Gallery: High college soccer images from the Richmond Times-Dispatch
Midlothian’s crew captains are mirrored in Manchester working again Devin Bryant’s helmet through the coin toss on September 15, 2023, at Poates Stadium in Midlothian, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Manchester defensive again Jeremiah Blakney tackles Midlothian working again Bryce Sowers on September 15, 2023, at Poates Stadium in Midlothian, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Manchester linebacker James Howard fails to sort out Midlothian working again Bryce Sowers on September 15, 2023, at Poates Stadium in Midlothian, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Manchester working again Devin Bryant is tackled by Midlothian tight finish Brandon Ross on September 15, 2023, at Poates Stadium in Midlothian, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Midlothian quarterback Chase Chambers runs into the tip zone to make a landing on September 15, 2023, at Poates Stadium in Midlothian, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Manchester working again Malik Holiday-Marceus rans previous Midlothian defensive finish Phoenix Andes on September 15, 2023, at Poates Stadium in Midlothian, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Manchester quarterback Landen Abernethy throws the ball on September 15, 2023, at Poates Stadium in Midlothian, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Midlothian linebacker Bennett McCandless tackles Manchester quarterback Landen Abernethy on September 15, 2023, at Poates Stadium in Midlothian, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Manchester tight finish Brandon Phillips runs with the ball on September 15, 2023, at Poates Stadium in Midlothian, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Midlothian working again DK Chapman Jr. receives the ball from quarterback Chase Chambers on September 15, 2023, at Poates Stadium in Midlothian, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Douglas Freeman’s Lawrence Jefferson (22) intercepts a go meant for Collegiate’s LJ Booker throughout a victory for the Mavericks, ranked eighth in The Times-Dispatch Top 10, on Thursday night time.
Douglas Freeman’s Kevin China fights by way of a sort out try by Collegiate’s LJ Booker within the Mavericks’ home victory Thursday. China scored two touchdowns and gained 54 of Freeman’s 259 speeding yards.
Collegiate’s quarterback Jack Callaghan (15) carries the ball whereas Douglas Freeman’s defensive finish Cross Kingsbury (50) offers chase throughout the highschool soccer sport at William E. Long Stadium in Glen Allen, Va. Sept 14, 2023.
Collegiate’s quarterback Jack Callaghan (15) arms the ball off to working again Xay Davis (5) throughout the highschool soccer sport in opposition to Douglas Freeman at William E. Long Stadium in Glen Allen, Va. Sept 14, 2023.
Douglas Freeman’s working again Kevin China (21) powers by way of an tried sort out by Collegiate’s defensive again LJ Booker (3) throughout the highschool soccer sport at William E. Long Stadium in Glen Allen, Va. Sept 14, 2023.
Collegiate’s extensive receiver Ben Street (2) carries the ball after a catch throughout the highschool soccer sport in opposition to Douglas Freeman at William E. Long Stadium in Glen Allen, Va. Sept 14, 2023.
Douglas Freeman’s quarterback Jadyn Reece (7) seems for a go throughout the highschool soccer sport in opposition to Collegiate at William E. Long Stadium in Glen Allen, Va. Sept 14, 2023.
Douglas Freeman’s defensive again Lawrence Jefferson (22) intercepts the ball from Collegiate’s extensive receiver LJ Booker (3) throughout the highschool soccer sport at William E. Long Stadium in Glen Allen, Va. Sept 14, 2023.
