Lafayette 23, Phoebus 17
PHOEBUS (8-4) 7, 3, 7, 0 -- 17
LAFAYETTE (12-1) 0, 7, 10, 6 -- 23
JAMES CITY – Lafayette’s Naye’Ron Wilson returned a Phoebus punt 77 yards for the game-winning touchdown as the Rams claimed the Region 4A championship, outlasting the explosive offense of Phoebus to win 23-17 on Friday at Wanner Stadium.
Lafayette (12-1) advance to the VHSL Class 4 semifinals, while Phoebus (8-4) saw their streak of four consecutive state championships come to an end.
The Ram defense held Phoebus to just 28 rushing yards. However, Tyree Diggs (11 carries, 26 yards) found the end zone from 10 yards away on the Phantoms first drive. Diggs scored again from two yards in the third quarter.
The Phantom passing game was on fire through the game’s first 45 minutes as Maurikus Banks completed 25 of 36 passes for 322 yards. However, two costly interceptions on their final two drives, both by Lafayette’s Logan Oleksy, shut down Phoebus’ last hopes of pulling out a win.
Phoebus receiver Myakhi Hill caught 10 of Banks’ passes for 189 yards.
Meanwhile, the Rams took advantage of every opportunity. Breon Stokes forced two key sacks on Banks, while offensively rushing for 100 yards and a score on 14 carries.
Phoebus led 7-0 after the first quarter, but Tyree Wilson put the hosts on the board in the second with a seven-yard run. The Phantoms led 10-7 at the half with Jayden Williams tacking on a 29-yard field goal.
After Diggs’ second TD, a 42-yard pass from Baum Hogge to Jael Love keyed a seven-play, 75-yard drive that ended with an Aidan Gerda 24-yard field goal to tie the game at 17. Starting from their 36, Banks reeled off four short completions before Oleksy jumped in front of a Phoebus receiver for the first interception. On the next drive, Phoebus had driven the ball to the Lafayette 31 with just under two minutes to go. But Oleksy got between the Phoebus receiver and ball for the game-sealing pick.
The four Class 4 regional champions will be ranked and the semifinal matchups will be set for next weekend with the higher seed hosting.
P – Tyree Diggs 10 run (Jayden Lamar Williams kick)
P – Williams 29 FG
L – Tyree Wilson 7 run (Aidan Gerda kick)
L – Breon Stokes 2 run (Gerda kick)
P – Diggs 2 run (Williams kick)
L – Gerda 24 FG
L – Naye’Ron Hudson 77 punt return (kick failed)
P L
1st Downs 16, 9
Rush – Yds 22-28, 30-165
Pass Yds. 322, 70
C- A–I 25-36-2, 2-6-0
Punts – Avg. 2-32, 3-34
Pen. Yds. 10-88, 5-40
Fumb. – Lost 0-0, 0-0
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