Coach Hank Sawyer has guided Lake Taylor to nearly 250 victories, three state championships and three other state title game appearances.
So Sawyer’s first losing record in 27 seasons as the Titans’ coach was tough.
“Not making the playoffs last year left the entire team with very bad empty feelings,” Sawyer said about the 3-7 season. “We all questioned what was happening and what was the reason.”
The Titans fixed it and went 8-2 this season to earn the No. 1 seed in Class 3 Region A. Their only two losses came against Eastern District champion Maury and Peninsula District champion Hampton.
On Friday, Lake Taylor hosts No. 8 seed Colonial Heights (1-9) in a region quarterfinal at 7 p.m.
“I’m extremely honored to be the coach of a group of young men that accepted the challenge last December and dedicated themselves to get better, listen, and learn what they needed to do to get better,” said Sawyer, who has won 247 games in his coaching career.
The Titans hope to keep it going as they try to bring home a state title for the first time since 2019.
“Playing at home is an awesome feeling and hard work in regular season gave us that,” Sawyer said. “Now it’s time to focus on second season, which is a one game season. Our goal is to try and be 1-0 this Friday night.”
Larry Rubama: Lake Taylor 41-0. Marty O’Brien: Lake Taylor 50-6.
Class 5 Region A quarterfinal
No. 6 Kempsville (7-3) at No. 3 Indian River (8-2), 7 p.m. Friday
Lord Malik Heru of Indian River throws a pass during the first half against Nansemond River at Indian River High School in Chesapeake, Va., on Oct. 10, 2025. (Peter Casey / For The Virginian-Pilot)
The Braves have been led by freshman sensation quarterback Lord Malik Heru, who has thrown for 2,065 yards and 23 touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 252 yards with four touchdowns.
He spreads the ball around to wide receivers Valentino Shaw (46 receptions, 445 yards, one TD), Donovan Brown (40 receptions, 516 yards, seven TDs), Jason Preston (27 receptions, 391yards, six TDs) and Elijah Boggs (14 receptions, 295 yards, six TDs). Arnell “Tre” Pugh has rushed for 717 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Defensively, the Braves are led by Malik Avery (77 tackles), Travis Wiggins (76 tackles) and Kayce Jordan (67 tackles and 12 sacks).
Kempsville had won five games in a row before losing to Cox in the regular-season finale last week. The Chiefs hope to avenge playoff losses to Indian River over each of the past two seasons.
Running back Robert Hughes Jr. has rushed for 1,417 yards and 14 touchdowns for Kempsville, and quarterback Josh Hawley has thrown for 1,039 yards with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Camir Croom has 50 receptions for 757 yards and six touchdowns.
Defensively, the Chiefs are led by linebackers Jason Galloway (90 tackles, 24 sacks), Tayshaun Johnson (68 tackles), Elijah McDaniel (65 tackles, 8 sacks) and defensive end Lahai Massaquoi (60 Tackles, 12 sacks).
Larry: Indian River 27-21. Marty: Indian River 21-16.
Class 5 Region B
No. 5 Bethel (6-4) at No. 4 Nansemond River (7-3), 7 p.m.
Nansemond River receiver Deontae Bumpers (6), left, is greeted by teammates Quincy Gilmer (7), and Jaemarree Parker (3) after Bumps recorded a touchdown. Nansemond River defeated Western Branch 40-6 at Western Branch High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, on Sept. 19, 2025. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot)
This is a rematch of last year’s quarterfinal, a hard-fought battle won 14-6 by Nansemond River. Nansemond River coach Alonzo Ricks said he’s unsure whether quarterback Tyrell Grant Jr. — a Syracuse commit who has 1,638 yards and 24 TDs passing and 490 yards and 10 TDs rushing — will return after missing last week’s loss to King’s Fork with an ankle injury
If he can’t go, Ethan Welton, a 5-11, 172-pound junior, will throw to the Warriors’ deep receiver corps of Tavion Douglas (48 receptions, 656 yds, eight TDs), Kionte Bumpers (33 receptions, 377 yds, five TDs) and Quincy Gilmer (34 receptions, 575 yds, nine TDs).
“Bethel is well-coached and we’ll have to be on our A-game to succeed,” Ricks said.
Bethel counters with a bevy of standouts led by RB Amari Pryear (1,842 yards rushing, 32 TDs), QB Alex Lewis (1,894 yards passing), WR Kasyn Campbell (922 yards receiving), DL O’Dell Pinkney (25 tackles for loss) and UVA recruit FS Derek Fisher (63 tackles).
“We are very familiar with each other (having) played four times in the previous three years,” Bethel coach David Porter said. “Last year we were able to get key stops, but had too many turnovers and penalties to overcome.”
Larry: Nansemond River 27-26. Marty: Nansemond River 14-10.
Class 4 Region A
No. 7 Denbigh (5-5) vs. No. 2 Lafayette (9-1) at Wanner Stadium, 7 p.m.
Denbigh quarterback Kevin Parker (1) hands the ball off to running back JaShon McIntyre (7). Hampton faced Denbigh at Todd Stadium in Newport News, Virginia, on Oct. 2, 2025. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot)
While Lafayette, a Class 3 state champion in Spring 2021, is expected to contend in its first Class 4 region playoffs in years, Rams’ coach Andy Linn cautions his quarterfinal opponent possesses lots of talent. That includes Division I QB prospect Kevin Parker (1,605 yards passing, 561 rushing), athletic receiver Callen Morrison (50 receptions, 804 yards) and two-way standout Jyran Evans (139 tackles, 652 yards receiving).
“We respect Lafayette’s talent, but we’re confident in the work we’ve put in and are ready to compete,” Denbigh coach Ray Malone said.
Lafayette survived a rash of injuries that thinned the offensive line and sidelined one starting running back (Tyree Wilson) almost the entire regular season, while limiting another, Josh Simpson, to a little more than six games in which he nonetheless ran for 916 yards and 12 touchdowns. Both are healthy, which means Breon Stokes (1,036 yards rushing, 15 TDs) can shoulder less of the load offensively and focus on defense — where he was an all-state first team lineman two years ago.
“We’ll always have a chance because of the way we run the ball,” Linn said.
Larry: Lafayette 35-13. Marty: Lafayette 42-14.
Friday’s games
Class 6 Region A
No. 1 Oscar Smith (9-1) and No. 2 Thomas Dale have first-round byes
No. 6 Landstown (5-5) at No. 3 Manchester (9-1), 7 p.m.
Larry: Manchester 35-14. Marty: Manchester 21-14.
No. 5 Western Branch (6-4) at No. 4 L.C. Bird (6-4), 7 p.m.
Larry: L.C. Bird 33-20. Marty: L.C. Bird 28-27.
Class 5 Region A
No. 8 Deep Creek (4-6) at No. 1 Green Run (10-0), 7 p.m.
Larry: Green Run 33-14. Marty: Green Run 40-12.
No. 5 Salem (7-3) at No. 4 Bayside (7-3), 7 p.m.
Larry: Bayside 27-26. Marty: Salem 17-14.
No. 7 Kellam (5-5) at No. 2 Cox (8-2), 7 p.m.
Larry: Cox 28-14. Marty: Cox 35-20.
Class 5 Region B
No. 8 Granby (2-8) at No. 1 King’s Fork (9-1), 7 p.m.
Larry: King’s Fork 34-6. Marty: King’s Fork 47-7.
No. 6 Norview (5-5) vs. No. 3 Warwick (7-3) at Todd Stadium, 7 p.m.
Larry: Warwick 26-20. Marty: Warwick 41-7.
No. 7 Woodside (4-6) vs. No. 2 Maury (9-1) at Powhatan Field, 7 p.m.
Larry: Maury 49-0. Marty: Maury 56-0.
Class 4 Region A
No. 8 Manor (3-7) vs. No. 1 Hampton (9-1) at Darling Stadium, 7 p.m.
Larry: Hampton 33-13. Marty: Hampton 45-10.
Class 3 Region A
No. 5 Tabb (6-4) at No. 4 Norcom (5-5), 7 p.m.
Larry: Norcom 27-26. Marty: Norcom 24-21.
No. 7 York (3-7) at No. 2 Petersburg (7-3), 7 p.m.
Larry: Petersburg 33-13. Marty: Petersburg 35-14.
Class 2 Region A
No. 7 Greensville County (6-4) vs. No. 2 Poquoson (9-1) at Poquoson Middle
Larry: Poquoson 35-14. Marty: Poquoson 42-6.
Saturday’s game
No. 5 Churchland (7-3) vs. No. 4 Phoebus (6-3) at Darling Stadium, noon
Larry: Churchland 27-26. Marty: Phoebus 28-21.
How they fared
Larry Rubama: 20-3 last week, 204-47 overall (81.3%)
Marty O’Brien: 21-2 last week, 217-34 overall (86.5%)
