A touching moment followed the Bay Rivers District game on Friday at Bailey Field between Grafton and Poquoson. Both teams, and all of the fans on hand, stood in silence during a prayer and tribute honoring late Clippers’ linebacker Ulysseus Breece Jr.
Breece, a senior who started at linebacker as a junior for the Clippers in 2024, moved with his family to Chesapeake prior to this football season. He died Sept. 15, but is not forgotten at Grafton and, fittingly, was honored on the birthday of his mom, Tasciana Lundy.
“Ulysseus had an infectious smile,” said Josh Hawkes, a York County firefighter/EMT and Grafton High team chaplain who conducted the tribute. “He made you want to smile, too — the boy could light up a room with his smile.
“The way we honor Ulysseus is by taking all of the pieces that were good about him and bringing joy, healing and even dancing to those who are hurting.”
Ananias Boyd, who served as Grafton’s interim head coach in 2024, said that the “very energetic” Breece led the Clippers onto the field each game carrying the team flag. Once there he started the traditional chant, titled G’s Up: “G’s up, G’s up, it’s for the red, it’s for the blue, we’re gonna win and they’re gonna lose. G’s up, G’s up, breakdown, breakdown, breakdown!”
Boyd says Breece added his own touch to the chant with a beat he pounded on his football pads and that his teammates followed. Breece, whose 45 tackles ranked fourth on the ’24 team, left a mark on and off the field.
“He was a tone-setter, very physical and loved to hit and make an impact,” Boyd said. “The entire school and community, not just the football team, were affected by his loss.
“So many held him in such high regard, it hurts.”
A celebration of Ulysseus Breece’s life will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday at Gethsemane Baptist Church, 5405 Roanoke Ave, Newport News.
Bethel’s Lewis shines
Denbigh High School quarterback Kevin Parker works with his wide receivers during practice Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, evening. (Stephen M. Katz / The Virginian-Pilot)
The Denbigh-Bethel game was noteworthy because it featured a pair of teams hoping to move back into the upper echelons of the Peninsula District, along with two quarterbacks — Denbigh’s Kevin Parker and the Bruins’ Alex Lewis — with legitimate Division I aspirations.
Although the game was one-sided, with the Bruins winning 54-15, it didn’t disappoint on the quarterback front. Parker had touchdown passes of 78 and 71 yards, while Lewis was stellar all-around in completing 12 of 17 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for two TDs.
Bethel coach David Porter is pleased that Lewis, in his first season as a starting quarterback, has grasped and is executing the Bruins’ spread triple-option quickly and well.
“In the past we’ve asked our quarterbacks to be game-managers and ‘don’t hurt us,’” Porter said. “But Alex has taken command of the offense and taken on a leadership role.
“He has to decide between three things on every play (handing off, running and passing) and is making good decisions.”
Extra points
In addition to Lewis, the Bruins (2-2) are getting the production expected from reigning Co-Peninsula District Offensive Player of the Year Amari Pryear. The Hampton University recruit ran for 229 yards and three touchdowns against Denbigh, giving him 704 yards and 10 TDs.
A candidate for Peninsula-area Play of the Week is New Kent linebacker Andrew Fallon’s sack and forced fumble midway through the fourth quarter that Trojans’ end Jaron Collins returned for a 49-yard touchdown. The Trojans (2-2) trailed Tabb 10-6 at the time, but took the lead on the play and won 20-10 as Ben Christian (194 yards rushing) ran 5 yards for a late touchdown. “A fumble six is just such a giant momentum-changer in a game like that,” New Kent coach Scott Girolmo said. “They turned in an incredible opportunity into what maybe is going to be one of the plays of the year for us.”
