STRASBURG 31, POQUOSON 10
POQUOSON – Linkyn Bosworth and Quincy Williams rushed for two touchdowns each, and the Strasburg Rams earned a spot in next week’s VHSL Class 2 football championship, rolling over Poquoson 31-10. They will face undefeated Glenvar (14-0), of Salem, next Saturday in Salem. The Highlanders snuck past Union 21-20 in their semifinal clash.
Facing their state championship opponent from last season, The Strasburg Rams may have admitted to a tinge of self-doubt as they prepared to face the Poquoson Islanders once again on Saturday. This year, the game would once again be held be in Poquoson High’s backyard, which is actually just off Little Florida Road and behind the city’s middle school.
However, they would face a scorned Islander squad. In 2024, the Rams walked out of the VHSL Class 2 bracket with a Class 2 championship, but only after escaping the Bull Island with a 14-13 victory, which was decided when Hunter Williams came down with a tipped interception on Poquoson’s final drive to guarantee the win and punch their ticket to Salem, and their eventual States win.
But any nervousness on the Strasburg sideline dissipated quickly. After winning the toss, the Rams elected to defer to the hosts, and the strategy worked. On the game’s third play, Islander QB Keegan Webb fumbled, with the visitors recovering the ball on the Poquoson 31. Si smash-mouth runs resulted in a six-yard scoring run by Linkyn Bosworth, and with Pablo Hernandez’s extra point, the score was 7-0 in favor of Strasburg with just 4:24 elapsed.
Poquoson did not throw a pass in last week’s surprising 19-14 win over Armstrong, so after gaining two first downs on the ground, they opted for the element of surprise on play #7, with a pitch to Austin Conley turning into a flea flicker attempt. It was unsuccessful as Brady Knight gathered the first of his two interceptions.
Buoyed from the turnover, Knight ran for 15, and then nine yards, before passing the rushing baton to Williams who added nine before breaking off for a 62-yard scamper, which would give the Rams a 14-0 edge.
Williams who rushed for 144 yards on 18 carries, was excited about his team’s prospects against the tough Highlanders, who have outscored their opponents 585-70 through 14 games.
“We have been working for this all year,” said the junior, who was recently named the Region 2B Offensive Player of the Year. “It started in the weight room.” Asked to compare this year’s team, which is 12-1, to last season’s, he added, “We’re even better.”
The Rams rushed for 266 yards on 38 carries, and has been their want, completed only one pass, a 24-yarder from Brayden Hough to Harper Sherman just before halftime, as Strasburg aimed for a quick score before the intermission. Hernandez would drill a 23-yard field goal with :02 remaining to boost the lead to 24-3.
“ I like the way we handled business today,” said Ram coach Tripp Lamb. “Poquoson is really strong, but our O-line and D-line stepped up. I like it when we win in the trenches.”
Bosworth finished with 73 yards on 12 carries, while the defense held Poquoson (12-2) to 182 yards.
Kickoff for the championship game at Salem City Stadium is slated for 11:30.
STRASBURG (12-1) 14, 10, 7, 0 -- 31
POQUOSON (12-2) 0, 3, 7, 0 -- 10
S – Linkyn Bosworth 6 run (Pablo Hernandez kick)
S – Quincy Williams 62 run (Hernandez kick)
P – Danny Simmons 29 FG
S – Bosworth 16 run (Hernandez kick)
S – Hernandez 23 FG
P – Cody Little 1 run (Simmons kick)
S - Q. Williams 23 run (Hernandez kick)
S P
1st Downs 12, 11
Rush – Yds 39-266, 38-150
Pass Yds. 24, 32
C- A–I 1-3-0, 4-12-2
Pen. Yds. 8-70, 3-25
Punts – Avg. 2-42, 3-16
Fumb. – Lost 0-0, 1-1
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