(as seen in the Daily Press and Virginian-Pilot - includes box score)
Denbigh 33, #6 Hampton 24
By Jim McGrath
“This was for Kev.”
Denbigh backup quarterback Aedin Worst summed up Friday’s evening’s proceedings at Darling Stadium perfectly just after one of the most improbable occurrences in recent Hampton football history. Within a 22-day period, Denbigh has toppled Hampton’s two storied programs, with both wins coming at the fabled stadium on Victoria Boulevard. To make the feat more unlikely, they scored 21 unanswered points in the second half to topple the Crabbers, who entered the contest undefeated in Peninsula District play, without their standout quarterback and four-star multi-sport athlete, Kevin Parker.
Worst was thrust into play for parts of the first half, and then the entire second, as Parker was sidelined with a serious, but unknown, arm injury that appeared to put the Patriots season in jeopardy as a 12-0 lead dissipated just before the end of the first half.
On the strength of an 89-yard run by Callen Morrison, who also subbed at QB, the Patriots retook the lead at 27-24 and ran away from Hampton for a 33-24 victory
Denbigh (4-2, 3-1 Peninsula) jumped to an early 6-0 lead as Parker, who was putting his mobility to use in spite of several stints on the bench, rambled 23 yards through the middle for a touchdown. The Patriots tacked another six points on the board as Parker lofted a perfect spiral to Jeremiah Jones for a 44-yard score. A second unsuccessful conversion kept the Denbigh lead at 12-0.
The Crabbers stormed back with a 55-yard drive on seven plays, capped by Kendall Whitehead muscling for 24 yards on three carries including a five-yard drive into the end zone. Lineman Gene Jones, Jr., all 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds of him, busted through the line, “Refrigerator” Perry style for the two-point conversion, as the hosts closed the margin to 12-8.
On their next possession, Whitehead snared a 10-yard pass from Marcus Chapman, followed by a six-yard carry to the Denbigh 24. On the next play, Chapman dropped back, and rolled to the right, punctuating his effort with the signal caller pointing receiver Jabari Wood toward the back right corner of the end zone. Chapman’s perfect loft caught Wood wide open and the Crabbers took the lead 14-12, which they extended by two as Jones made another conversion push into the end zone.
The Crabbers carried their momentum into the second half, driving 45 yards on seven carries, with Whitehead grinding out six carries for 44 yards. However, from the Pats 1, Hampton lined up for a “tush push,” but Chapman bounced left and walked untouched into the end zone. Jones added a second conversion, giving Hampton a 12-point edge at 24-12.
However, the visitors refused to fold. Worst found Jeremiah Jones for a 33-yard passing score, and David Garcia Ramos’ extra point narrowed the Hampon lead to 24-19, making a desperate situation suddenly winnable.
“We had our backs to the wall,” Worst said. “But we are not the same Denbigh.”
Morrison’s touchdown was more dramatic. The senior receiver took a direct snap, veered backwards and right, nearly reaching the goal line before stutter stepping and zig-zagging to the 20-yard line before darting 80 more yards for the touchdown.
“The coaches told me that I gotta run,” Morrison said. “I just saw a lot of green (and took off).
With the win, both Denbigh and Hampton are tied for second place at 3-1 in the Peninsula District, while Bethel is undefeated and in first at 5-0 (6-0 overall). Hampton and Bethel will meet in the season’s final game on November 5, meaning that a strong Denbigh run will keep them in title contention.
Whitehead finished with 131 yards on 18 carries for Hampton (3-2).
Denbigh (4-2) 6, 6, 7, 14 – 33
Hampton (3-2) 0, 16, 8, 0 – 24
D - Kevin Parker 23 run (pass failed)
D - Jeremiah Jones 44 pass from Parker (pass failed)
H - Kendall Whitehead 5 run (Gene Jones, Jr. run)
H - Jabari Wood 24 pass from Marcus Chapman (G. Jones run)
H - Chapman 1 run (Chapman run)
D - J. Jones 33 pass from Aedin Worst (David Garcia Ramos kick)
D - Callen Morrison 89 run (J. Jones pass from Morrison)
D - Jamaal Jones 40 pass from Morrison (run failed)
D H
1st Downs 13, 17
Rush-Yards 25-135, 35-144
Pass Yards 235, 167
C-A-Int 11-16-0, 13-22-1
Pen-Yards 10-76, 6-56
Punt-Avg 3-32, 3-27
Fumb-Lost 1-0, 1-0
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