Friday's football highlights

Cox 25, Kellam 10

Wide receiver Randy Stafford’s 55-yard completion to Robert Thrasher – on a double-reverse – set up the clinching touchdown in the Falcons’ season-opening victory Friday night.

The trick pass play with 6:35 left gave Cox, which led 15-10, a first down at the Kellam 2. Severin Rucker scored on the ensuing running play.

Chris Waddell set the tone for the Falcons, taking the opening kickoff for a 92-yard touchdown – the second season-opening kickoff return for a TD in as many years.

The Falcons, coming off the program’s first playoff appearance, won their fifth consecutive regular-season game.

Thrasher finished with two receptions for 100 yards, while the Falcons rolled up 307 total yards.

Key stats: C–Severin Rucker 12-104, 1 TD rushing; Robert Thrasher 2-100 receiving. K–Evan Lowe 19-71 rushing; K.J. Florence 12-65, 1 TD rushing.

He said it: “The pass off the double reverse was a play we’ve used in practice and it came at a good time because Kellam was wearing us down.” – Cox coach Bill Stachelski.

— Reported by Scott Baxter

First Colonial 6, Landstown 3

Willie Byrn’s 10-yard touchdown on the Patriots’ opening play of the third overtime lifted the hosts in a Beach District season opener for both teams.

Clayton Newton had given Landstown a 3-0 lead with a 23-yard field goal after four scoreless quarters. The Eagles mustered just 4 yards on three plays and finished with 111 offensive yards.

Both teams combined for seven first downs and 101 total yards in a lackluster first half.

The Patriots had opportunities to clinch a victory before overtime, but kicker Mike Mugler misfired on field-goal attempts of 36, 40 and 26 yards.

Byrn and teammate A.J. Bordley paced a Patriots rushing attack that finished with 125 yards.

Key stats: FC–Byrn 12-49, TD rushing, 2-38 receiving; Bordley 6-54 rushing. L–Jordan Broadnax 13-42 rushing.

He said it: “I just wanted to get out of here. I was ready to get home.” — Byrn

– Reported by Charlie Baumgartner

Maury 37, Norview 0

Quarterback Keenan Lambert had an impressive debut for the Commodores, throwing three of his four completions for touchdowns.

Lambert also ran for a score in the season opener for both Eastern District teams.

Lambert threw two 36-yard touchdown passes and ran for a 1-yard score to give Maury a 20-0 lead after the first quarter. The Commodores led 27-0 at halftime.

Lambert’s other TD pass covered 51 yards.

Darryl Waters, who moved from quarterback to running back/wide receiver, finished with two receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown.

Norview running back Stephen Sims, an 1,100-yard rusher last season, finished with 113 yard Friday – 63 on a fourth-quarter carry.

Key stats: N—Sims 19-113 rushing. M—Knight 13-61 rushing, 1 TD; Lambert 4-6, 139 yards passing, 3 TDs; Peterson 1-36 receiving, 1 TD.

— Reported by Dan Cooley

Kempsville 20, Salem 7

The Chiefs capitalized on three turnovers en route to a season-opening victory.

Running back Travis Hughes rushed for 60 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries for Kempsville, which scored 13 fourth-quarter points.

Salem was led by wide receiver Darrel Jackson who had three catches for 100 yards.

Joey Droll scored the decisive touchdown with a 32-yard fumble return in the final minutes – after a Salem touchdown was negated when the receiver was ruled out of bounds.

Ocean Lakes 42, Princess Anne 0

Ocean Lakes started with a touchdown on its opening drive and never looked back in a Beach District season opener for both teams.

The Dolphins, 12-1 last season, have won 13 consecutive regular-season games.

Ocean Lakes star receiver Justin Hunter electrified the Virginia Beach Sportsplex crowd with a 75-yard punt return, giving Ocean Lakes a 14-0 lead. Hunter also added two receptions for 34 yards.

The Ocean Lakes rushing attack was led by quarterback Lafonte Thourogood, who gained 95 yards on five attempts and scored two TDs.

Princess Anne running back Xavier Morgan finished with 42 yards on 12 carries.

“I’m pleased with the team effort,” Ocean Lakes coach Chris Scott said, “but we still have work to do.”

– Reported by Dan Moore

Portsmouth Christian 47, Tidewater Academy 0

The visiting Patriots recorded the first shutout in the program’s three years and amassed 338 yards rushing in the lopsided season opener for both teams.

Ryan Ellenberger ran for 83 yards and two touchdowns, while Evan Cousins added 79 yards and one score.

Portsmouth Christian, which finished 4-6 last season, held Tidewater Academy to 50 total yards.

Covenant 40, Norfolk Christian 28

Kwontie Moore and Breon Bailey combined for more than 200 yards rushing as the visiting Ambassadors (0-1) dropped their first game under new head coach Heath Gibbs.

Moore scored on a 7-yard rush and an 85-yard kickoff return. He finished with 148 rushing yards on 19 carries.

Bailey added a 2-yard TD and totaled 113 rushing yards.

Isle of Wight 10, Bishop Sullivan Catholic 6

Heath Price ran for a 6-yard touchdown as the Chargers upended host Bishop Sullivan Catholic in a non-conference season opener for both teams.

The Chargers won despite totaling just 74 offensive yards.

Andrew McCrite gave the Crusaders a 6-3 halftime lead with an 8-yard scoring run. Teammate Jeffrey Swoope led all rushers with 62 yards on 10 carries and Pat Butler hauled in two passes for 77 yards.

Saturday’s game

Broadwater Academy at Atlantic Shores

Time 2 p.m.

Watch for ... high expectations at Atlantic Shores. The Seahawks are the defending VIS Division II state championship and welcome some key starters and a handful of talented transfers.