Saturday football: Phoebus 20, Lake Taylor 17

NORFOLK

Phoebus’ Dylan Kremps kicked a 25-yard field goal as time expired Saturday, giving the Phantoms a 20-17 victory over Lake Taylor and a spot in next week’s Eastern Region Division 5 championship game.

With 1:53 left, Lake Taylor defensive back Mike Tyson was called for pass interference that gave Phoebus the ball on the Titans 40.

The Phantoms (10-2) then put the ball in running back Anthony Pittman’s hands and he marched the ball down to the 9. Then Phoebus brought out Kremp.

With nearly everyone on their feet – and after two timeouts – Kremp drilled the field goal. The Phantoms ran around, celebrating. Lake Taylor players sank to the ground in disgust and shock.

It’s the second time the Titans have lost a close one to Phoebus.

In 2009, Lake Taylor lost 20-19 in overtime to the Phantoms.

Afterward Sawyer said then, “It hurts for the kids because you wonder when is their day going to come.”

Sawyer declined comment after Saturday’s game.

It was a tough loss for the Titans, who had led 14-0 and 17-7 in the first half.

Lake Taylor didn’t waste any time in grabbing momentum. On its first play from scrimmage, running back Brandon Moore broke through the Phoebus line and outran the Phantoms for a 65-yard touchdown.

Lake Taylor scored again in the second quarter. This time quarterback Donavan Powell ran 34 yards for a score and a 14-0 lead.

But Phoebus rallied in the second half. First, Kemp kicked a 30-yard field goal to cut deficit to 17-10. Then Pittman scored on a 24-yard run to tie the game at 17 with six minutes left.

“The kids are resilient and they’ve been in that situation before,” said Phoebus coach Stan Sexton.

“And have had to come back and been able to do it. We’ve lost two games this year and they didn’t want it to happen again.”

Lake Taylor is now 0-5 against Phoebus.

After the previous four losses, the Phantoms went on to win state titles.

Phoebus, the five-time defending region champion, has lost twice this season, including a 14-9 loss to Woodside that snapped a state-record 52-game winning streak.

The Phantoms have won 17 consecutive playoff games and 24 of the past 25 games. Their last playoff loss was to Stone Bridge in the 2007 state semifinals.

Phoebus 20, Lake Taylor 17

Phoebus 0 7 3 10 — 20

Lake Taylor 7 10 0 0 — 17

LT—Moore 65 run (Jimenez kick)

LT—Powell 34 run (Jimenez kick)

P—Deloatch 70 pass from Enderson (Kremp kick)

LT—FG, Jimenez 28

P—FG, Kremp 30

P—Pittman 25 run (Kremp kick)

P—FG, Kremp 25

Phoebus Lake Taylor

First downs 11 13

Rushes-yards 34-139 29-186

Passing yards 115 80

Passing 5-15-1 9-19-1

Punts-avg. yards 5-46 5-34

Fumbles-lost 1-1 3-0

Penalties-yards 2-43 6-45

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