Tigers Tame Islanders
Corey Patrick walks the sidelines late in the fourth quarter as his services were not needed anymore because Tabb was ahead by four touchdowns. Patrick fininshed with 305 yards and two touchdowns, giving him 1265 yards and 13 touchdowns on the year.
Photo by Nick Plasmati
By: Nick Plasmati
The Tabb Tigers employed dominating performances on both sides of the ball to emerge victorious from a visit to Bay Rivers District rival Poquoson High School's home turf on Friday night. The 35-7 victory, the Tiger's fourth win in a row, was highlighted by an adept offense that amassed over 400 yards of total offense and a smothering defense that held Poquoson in check for the majority of the game.
"It's a great job to come out and play as well as we did, (the) kids really played well, and offensively and defensively, we just did a real nice job" Tigers' coach Matt Lawson explained after the game.
Lawson's offense was fueled by a bruising running game that featured the standout services of senior tailback Corey Patrick. Patrick ran rampant through an overmatched Poquoson defense, chalking up a staggering 305 rushing yards on 24 carries in a performance that will only add to the senior's stellar season of highlights.
"(Corey) did a wonderful job," beamed Coach Lawson. "He didn't have it for him right away, and for a couple games now it hasn't happened for him right away. He's had to keep pounding, keep pounding, and it'll come, and he's doing a real good job being patient with it."
Yet despite Tabb's ability to run at will over opponents this season, it was their stingy defense that opened the scoring in this contest. Following a Poquoson interception deep in their own zone, Tabb's defensive unit took matters into their own hands with a forced fumble off of a resounding hit by linebacker Ian Haislip. The loose football did not remain loose for very long, as senior defensive back Dillon Biagas scooped the ball up and scampered 35 yards for the game's first tally.
The Tigers' defensive prowess continued throughout the night, frustrating Poquoson and limiting the Islanders to 28 hard-earned rushing yards. While Poquoson quarterback Luke Hill did manage 169 yards through the air against Tabb's secondary, the Tigers' front seven had Hill on his heels throughout the evening, and the Islanders were never able to find any offensive groove. Meanwhile, the Tabb offense caught fire in the second half, as Biagas pounded home his second 3-yard score of the night early in the third quarter. By the time Patrick had rumbled off an exhilarating 64 yard TD run with 3:59 in the third, the contest was all but decided.
Patrick would add another electrifying 86 yard dash in the fourth quarter to put the tailback over 300 yards for the game. Following Patrick's final surge, Poquoson finally managed a successful drive of their own, as Hill found junior Jay Diggs in the right corner of the end zone to put Poquoson's first points on the board.
This day, however, belonged to Tabb's Tigers from the start, as their dominating, two-way performance was quantified by a 449 to 197 advantage in total offense.
The victory keeps the Tigers' playoff hopes alive, but Coach Lawson seems to be taking things one win at a time.
"We've got to keep playing one game at a time. We've got Warhill next and we've got to keep working hard."
Final Stats for the Game: Tabb quarterback William Harrison finished 4 for 13 for 71 yards and an interception. The backfield tandem of Corey Patrick and Dillon Biagas provided most of the offense for the Tigers, as Patrick finished with 305 yards on 24 carries for 2 scores, while Biagas added a healthy 70 yards on 12 carries of his own, good for 2 more touchdowns. As for the Poquoson Islanders, quarterback Luke Hill tallied a respectable 12 for 15 evening for 169 yards and 1 touchdown to leading receiver Jay Diggs, while the Islanders were only able to manage 28 total yards on the ground.
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
Tabb - 4:20 Dillon Biagas 35-yard Fumble Return (Kick Good)
Second Quarter
Tabb - 8:54 Dillon Biagas 3-yard Run (Kick Good)
Third Quarter
Tabb - 8:00 Dillon Biagas 3-yard Run (Kick Good)
Tabb - 3:59 Corey Patrick 64-yard Run (Kick Good)
Fourth Quarter
Tabb - 8:41 Corey Patrick 86-yard Run (Kick Good)
Poquoson - 3:31 Luke Hill to Jay Diggs 20-yard Pass (Kick Good)
Player of the Game
Presented by Advanced Restorations
Tabb running back Corey Patrick who had 305 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns
Coach Niemans Analysis
Presented by Virginia Center for Athletic Medicine
The Tabb Tigers and Poquoson Islanders came into tonight's game with the same record at 4-3 and both had 2 losses in the district, so many were thinking it was going to be a great game including yours truly. Well they were wrong as the Tigers complete out played Poquoson in every aspect of the game going on to win 35-7. Tabb was led by star senior running back Corey Patrick who finished with 305 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns. The defensive line for the Tigers held the Islanders to just 28 yards rushing as well, which is not like a Poquoson team. Tabb has won four in a row now is could arguably be playing the best football right now in the Bay Rivers.
