Wilson, Judges Take Care of Millbrook 24-13
The Handley faithful were loud and proud despite the rain that stayed over the field all game long.
Photo By: Jeff Schryver / Gameday | VIEW GALLERY
Jeremiah Wilson showed again why he is one of the best running backs in the area, carrying the ball 21 times for 126 yards. He also recorded his 19th touchdown of the season.
Photo By: Jeff Schryver / Gameday | VIEW GALLERY
Millbrook's Neil Bishop made the plays he could in the loss. Bishop tallied 5 catches for 99 yards.
Photo By: Jeff Schryver / Gameday | VIEW GALLERY
WINCHESTER, VA - The Handley Judges faced off against the Millbrook Pioneers in the Region II Division 3 playoffs Saturday afternoon at the Handley Bowl. It was the second time during the 2008 the teams faced off, with Handley winning the initial contest 28-26 during the regular season. It was also the second consecutive season that both squads made the playoffs for Division 3. In the end it was the Handley Judges pulling out the win 24-13 and advancing to the Region II finals next week against Monticello.
Millbrook entered the game with a 6-4 record, with 3 losses coming to playoff teams. Handley came in as the Northwestern District champions and an impressive 9-1 mark, with their only loss to Park View in week 3 of the regular season.
Millbrook started the game on offense, but on the opening kickoff Clayton Rodney slipped trying to field the kick and was ruled down on his own 1 yard line. Millbrook was able to get out of the shadow of their end zone, but were only able to gain 22 yards on the drive and were forced to punt the ball. Cody Fazenbaker lined up for the punt, but the kick went off the side of his foot and out of bounds at the Millbrook 20 yard line, a 3 yard loss on the punt. It only took Handley 2 plays to find the end zone, as Jeremiah Wilson took the handoff and ran past the Millbrook defense to give the Judges an early 7-0 lead.
After the Pioneers were forced to punt on their next possession of the game, Handley struck again. Brian Tavenner found an open Vance Washington over the middle and Washington did the rest, carrying 3 Pioneer defenders into the end zone for the 14-0 lead with 2:30 left in the opening quarter. The game looked like it could get out of hand, but Millbrook would fight back and make it a game.
Finding themselves down by 14, the Pioneers could have mailed it in and rode out the final 3 quarters, but they fought back and scored their first touchdown to close the gap. Calvin Rodney capped an 8 play drive with a 1 yard touchdown plunge to make the score 14-6. The extra point was blocked by the Judges and would stay 14-6 with 11:15 to play in the first half. Handley made the plays on their next drive, scoring yet another touchdown when Timar McFarland rumbled through Millbrook defenders for a 9 yard touchdown run and a 21-6 lead. Handley scored on all their possessions in the first half, and looked well on their way to the regional title game next week.
The Pioneers took over with 5:07 to play in the half and proceeded to march down the field on a 14 play 72 yard drive that was finished off when Andrew Oates found Clayton Rodney from 4 yards out on 4th down to pull back within 8 points at 21-13. Oates got his work in the game, completing 17 of 29 passes for 244 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Head coach Reed Prosser pulled out the onside kick with just :20 left in the half after the touchdown, and the Pioneers recovered. On what was the last play of the half Andrew Oates threw downfield to an open Bryon Tavers at the Handley 5 yard line, but before Tavers could reach across the goal line he was ruled out of bounds at the 3 yard line and the half ended. There was much discussion on the sidelines as to whether or not the right call had been made, but in high school football there are no "instant replays" and the Pioneers had to live with the result of the play, going into the locker room down 21-13 with 24 minutes left to play.
The second half would move rather quickly with neither team being able to find the end zone. A fumble by the Judges on their second possession of the half gave the Pioneers life, but they were unable to convert and gave the ball back to Handley with 3:35 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Handley then drove down the field and took more than 4 minutes off the game clock. The drive stalled at the Millbrook 10 yard line and Handley was forced to settle for a Graham Sharples field goal from 26 yards out to increase the lead to 24-13. Millbrook was playing from behind, but they were able to get inside Handley territory at the 34 yard line when disaster struck again. A bad exchange between Calvin Rodney and Andrew Oates put the ball on the ground and it was Patrick Shand coming away with the ball for the Judges. Millbrook had one more opportunity to make a comeback with just 2:49 on the game clock and it was Timar McFarland coming up with an interception and returning it back to the Millbrook 19 where it just took 3 kneel downs by Brian Tavenner to grab the win.
Handley moves on in the Region II playoffs and will host Monticello next Saturday at the Handley Bowl for a chance to get into the state semi-finals. Millbrook finishes the 2008 season with a 6-5 record and their 2nd consecutive playoff appearance.
Velocity Sports Performance Players of the Game
Handley: Jeremiah Wilson, RB/DB
Wilson played tough all afternoon long and was the leading rusher in the game for either team. Wilson finished with 21 carries for 126 yards and 1 touchdown. The touchdown gives Wilson 19 on the season and his defensive pressure against the Pioneers made a big impact on the outcome of this game.
Millbrook: Neil Bishop, WR
Bishop helped the Pioneers move the football through the vertical passing game. He ended the game recording 5 catches for 99 yards. He was forced to make grabs in double coverage for most of the game, and each of his catches went for 10 yards plus. Bishop's ability to haul in the tough catches helped keep the game close.
