Dinwiddie Generals' Run Comes To An End
BLACKSBURG, VA- The Division 5 state championship game between the Generals of Dinwiddie and the Phoebus phantoms proved to be a tough loss for the Generals as they had a great run, but Phoebus proved to be just too tough as they took home the title with a final score of 37-13.
The big story coming into this one for Dinwiddie was their senior quarterback Adam Morgan who had 46 touchdowns on the year. He needed one more touchdown pass to be the all-time high school leader in single season touchdowns.
The Generals came out on their first drive in the no-huddle offense and ran 4 plays in 33 seconds catching Phoebus somewhat off guard. They were forced to punt however and Phoebus capitalized coming out strong running the ball up the gut for 11of the 13 plays on their opening drive. Shawne Alston proved to be their workhorse tearing off yards on play after play setting up a goal line situation. The Generals looked like they were going to force a field goal but a play action pass on 3rd down led to a Daquan Romero Touchdown from 3 yards out.
Dinwiddie tried to answer after the score but had a long pass play for 30 yards over the middle that was fumbled and returned to their own 8 by Phoebus. The Phantoms would capitalize on the mistake with an 8 yard TD run by Alston. Alston would cap off the first half with 125 yards on 19 carries.
Dinwiddie would answer by driving down the field for a Darrell White TD from 21 yards out making the score 14-6 after a missed PAT. This touchdown was Morgan's 47th on the year putting him all alone at the top in VHSL history.
The two teams would square off in the middle of the field for most of the second quarter like two heavy weights going toe-to-toe. The first real momentum shift didn't come until a timely interception by freshman Drakar Harvell produced the first Phoebus turnover of the day.
Morgan would not let the generals sputter without a little drama as he bought himself loads of time on a third and long to keep the drive alive. The generals would eventually be stuffed on a fourth down run to end the possible game-changing drive. However, Dinwiddie was not to be deflated as they had another interception by Harvell the next time he was on the field while Phoebus threatened inside the red zone. The Generals would run out the clock and go into the half down 14-6.
Phoebus came out of the half with a mission. They drove the ball on the ground the length of the field to within the five yard line but sputtered out due to a good goal line stand by Dinwiddie and were held to three points on an Eric Crocker field goal making the score 17-6.
Phoebus produced another score as Tajh Boyd found Omyn Newkirk to make the score 24-6.
The Phantoms would pull away as the second half went on with the help of stellar play by Alston, who finished with 2 touchdowns and 237 yards on 30 carries, but credit Dinwiddie for forcing Phoebus to play their best football and earn a state championship with a 15-0 season.
Adam Morgan, who has yet to find a home to play college football, gave Dinwiddie fans something to be proud of as he added the single season TD record (48) to his resumé. His near 3,500 passing yards on the season is no small feat either. In his last game at the helm of Dinwiddie Morgan threw for 252 yards with two touchdowns.
"I don't have any big offers yet, but I'm talking to Georgia Southern and Grand Valley State," Morgan said of his post Dinwiddie High football career.
As for his career he has accumulated the all-time passing yards, touchdowns, and completions records in VHSL history during his tenure at Dinwiddie High School. These records give him a total of four VHSL high school records.
"Four state records is a big accomplishment for me and for my career, but I wanted that championship ring," said Morgan.
Another senior who had nothing to hang his head about was wide receiver Jerrell White who had 127 yards receiving on nine catches and both Dinwiddie touchdowns.
The generals also have some young talent to look forward to in the coming years as their sophomore Drakar Harvell had two interceptions on the "big stage" known as the state title game. They also have wide receiver Quintaze Jackson and running back Mark Beville, who both had good numbers in the championship game, coming back next year in search of a return trip to the state championship game.
Coach Billy Mays led his team to a 12-2 season and came one win short of being the state champions.
"We played tremendously in the playoffs this year, we were down in a couple games but we came back and won," -- Mays said - "These kids played their hearts out"
