Football: Norcom had a plan, but not all answers

HAMPTON

Norcom coach Larry Archie knew there were several things that had to happen if the Greyhounds were going to have any chance at beating five-time Eastern Region champion Phoebus.

"We have to be able to stop the run," Archie said minutes before the start of the game. "We have to be smart with the ball and make good decisions with ball. And when we get in the red zone we've got to score."

But the main thing he stressed was how many touchdowns the Greyhounds had to score.

"We've got to score four touchdowns," he said. "If we score four, I think we'll be OK. But if we score three it will be tight."

He was right on all accounts, but in the end it came down to points. Norcom scored three touchdowns but couldn't score twice late in red zone, and the Phantoms escaped with a 24-20 victory for its sixth consecutive title at Darling Stadium. Phoebus (11-2) will play North Stafford next week at Darling Stadium at 2 p.m. in the state semifinals.

Trailing by four with 8:22 left, the Greyhounds (10-3) drove down to the Phoebus 9, but couldn't punch it in. And on fourth-and-4, quarterback Da'Quan Saunders' pass sailed over the head of Jaquan St. Ann.

But the Greyhounds would get another chance with 2:34 left when the Phantoms fumbled. It was recovered by Justin Sullivan at the Phoebus 14.

Norcom moved the ball to the 8, and on fourth down Saunders' pass in the end zone to Joe Powell seemed to be caught but a Phoebus defender dislodged it to help preserve the win.

"Our kids left it on the field," Archie said. "We had our chances but we just didn't get it done."

In all, the Greyhounds had seven opportunities in the red zone but could only capitalize on three.

Phoebus was led by running back Anthony Pittman, who was unstoppable. He rushed 41 times for 253 yards and three touchdowns. The other Phantoms' points came on Dylan Kremp's 23-yard field goal.

Even though it didn't end right for Saunders, he had a good game as he threw for 156 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 39 yards and a touchdown.

The Greyhounds also had a great game from running back Traquan Martin, who rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown.

Phoebus is the five-time Eastern Region Division 5 champions and has won the past three Group AAA state titles.

Larry Rubama, (757) 446-2273, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com