Region football highlights: Warwick slows Churchland to grind out victory. Phoebus, Kempsville Maury and King’s Fork dominate, and Nansemond River rallies

Class 4 Region A

Warwick 21, Churchland 7

The Raiders turned in a stout defensive performance, slowing the Truckers’ star quarterback and handing their own former star a loss in a return to his old stomping grounds Friday night at Todd Stadium in Newport News.

Churchland coach Dontrell Leonard starred at quarterback for the Raiders, throwing for 3,189 yards in his final two seasons, before going on to play for Norfolk State.

Warwick, though, kept the Truckers’ versatile star QB, Brandyn Hillman, in check most of the night as it earned a spot in next week’s region championship game against King’s Fork. Hillman accounted for more than 2,000 yards and 33 touchdowns before Friday, but was limited to 56 yards rushing and 164 through the air.

Hillman threw a 34-yard TD pass to Cam Flood for Churchland’s only score.

“We knew we had to contain their QB and control the ball with our running game,” Warwick coach Corey Hairston said.

Messiah Delhomme ran 7 yards for a touchdown and Isaiah Wallace caught a 24-yard TD pass from Eduardo Rios Jr. in the first half for the Raiders (11-1).

Ian Bacon added a 54-yard score in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

“Once I got outside,” Bacon said, “I trusted my speed and outran everybody.”

— Reported by Gary Lassiter

King’s Fork 43, Warhill 8

The Bulldogs (10-2) cruised into their second consecutive region championship game by turning back the Lions in Suffolk.

King’s Fork jumped to a 28-0 lead, including a 30-yard touchdown run by quarterback Cameron Butler, and was ahead 35-8 at the half.

Class 5 Region A

Kempsville 39, Cox 12

Noah Lee tossed two touchdown passes and NaiQuan Washington-Pearce rushed for two TDs in a 32-point first half for the host Chiefs.

Kempsville (11-1) has won 11 consecutive games since a season-opening loss to Green Run and gets a rematch with the Stallions in next week’s region championship game.

Lee threw a 26-yard TD pass to Quran Boyd and a 50-yarder to Ryley McIntosh, and Washington-Pearce added scoring plunges of 1 and 3 yards.

Darius Johnson had a 32-yard TD run and Justin Joyner a 75-yarder for the Chiefs, who finished with 201 rushing yards.

The Falcons (9-3) were plagued by bad snaps that resulted in five fumbles and minus-105 yards rushing. Cox also lost another fumble and threw two interceptions — picked off by McIntosh and Mayoy McGodfred.

Kempsville freshman DeZhawn Smith recorded 11 tackles and two sacks, while seniors J-Shon Miller-Arrington (one sack) and Isaiah Ceus (four sacks) had 10 tackles each.

Cox’s Gage Trefry threw TD passes of 8 and 10 yards to Jordin Cooper.

Class 5 Region B

Maury 37, Menchville 0

Mario Miller threw four touchdown passes among his 13 consecutive completions as the Commodores cruised to a semifinal win at Powhatan Field in Norfolk.

The Commodores (8-1) advanced to the Class 5 Region B championship game next week against Nansemond River at Powhatan Field. Menchville (6-6) finished its season with its most victories since 1992.

Miller’s first pass was incomplete, and his last was intercepted. In between, he didn’t miss, throwing for 228 yards. LeBron Bond caught touchdown passes covering 15 and 89 yards.

“We just keep moving forward,” Maury coach Dyrri McCain said. “We came out fast. The defense played well; they pitched a shutout. Good team effort, good performance, good win.

“I think we were able to do a lot in the passing game. We’ve got guys and it’s just about executing.”

Eastern District Offensive Player of the Year Peyton Jones scored on a 1-yard run to cap a 61-yard, 12-play opening drive by Maury. He capped the scoring on a 17-yard reception and finished with 108 yards from scrimmage — 65 on 17 rushes and 43 on four catches.

Andrew McClung, who kicked four PATs, booted a 25-yard field goal to close the first half with a 17-0 score.

In the third quarter, Bond caught a pass in the middle of the field around the Maury 30, used a block, went to the sideline and raced into the end zone. Kelvin Seay caught Miller’s other touchdown pass, a 20-yarder in the third quarter.

Menchville’s K’Saan Farrar completed 13 of 27 passes for 126 yards but was intercepted three times, including once by Syncere Hawkins. The Monarchs’ Jasiah Hales made six catches for 48 yards.

— Reported by Charlie Baumgardner

Nansemond River 21, Kecoughtan 14

Second-seeded Nansemond River, coming off a bye, scored twice in the waning minutes and held on for a victory on Lakeland’s field to earn a spot in the region semifinals.

Nansemond River (8-3), which trailed 7-0 in the first quarter and 14-7 for much of the game, scored 14 unanswered points in the final six minutes of the clash of Warriors. Nansemond River hasn’t played a true home game all season because its stadium has been under renovation.

Class 3 Region A

Phoebus 42, Norcom 0

Nolan James threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score as the unbeaten and top-seeded Phantoms (12-0) rolled into the championship game.

James ran 12 yards for a score and tossed TD passes to Keyonte Gray to give Phoebus a 28-0 halftime lead. James hit Anthony Reddick for a 45-yard score in the second half.

Ty’Reon Taylor, Jordan Bass and Davion Roberts also had rushing TDs.

The Phantoms, defending state champions, host Lake Taylor at Darling Stadium for the region title next week. Lake Taylor defeated Lafayette 27-20.

Class 2 Region A

Poquoson 21, Thomas Jefferson 17

Khaleo Smith’s 70 yard strip-and-score fumble return for a touchdown with 3:34 left in the fourth quarter lifted the Islanders to a semifinal victory on Huguenot High’s field in Richmond.

Poquoson (8-4) will play at King William next week for the region title. The Islanders led 9-0 early on a safety and Julius Pendergrass’ 35-yard touchdown run.

Thomas Jefferson’s Vikings (8-4) rallied to cut the lead to 9-7 at halftime and led 14-9 on a third-quarter touchdown run. Adonis Stowers followed with a 90-yard touchdown run to give the Islanders a 15-14 lead, but Thomas Jefferson took the lead back at 17-15 on a short field goal early in the fourth quarter.

That set the stage for Smith’s late-game heroics that sent the Islanders into the region final for the second time in three seasons.