Samuel Denmon kicked a late 29-yard field goal Friday night in Portsmouth to boost Norcom past crosstown rival Churchland 11-10 in a game that was stopped with 39.8 seconds remaining after gunfire erupted across the street behind the Norcom scoreboard.
Multiple gunshots were heard as Churchland — in the middle of a potential game-winning drive — was lining up for a play. Both teams scurried off the field, and fans rushed out of the bleachers.
After the gunfire, nearly all of the fans left the stadium, and the game was declared finished about 10 minutes later.
Portsmouth Police said there were reports of shots fired nearby, but there were no reports of injuries, according to WAVY TV.
Churchland principal Brandi Smedley and Norcom principal Teesha Sanders released a statement on the incident.
“This evening, during the final seconds of the Churchland/I.C. Norcom High School football game, gunshots were fired in the streets near the I.C. Norcom campus. In partnership with the Portsmouth Sheriff’s Office, we were able to safely and efficiently clear the stadium,” the principals wrote according to WAVY and WVEC TV. “We will now continue to work with law enforcement as they investigate and search for those responsible. We are sorry to see this end to an otherwise peaceful night of sportsmanship, but we thank you for your continued support of both our schools.”
The gunfire marred a competitive game between Portsmouth rivals.
Denmon’s game-winner was set up after Jahrel Sims caught a tipped pass from Norcom. After a Churchland sack, Greyhounds quarterback Emory Hurt found Marquell Johnson in the open field, and Johnson rambled 81 yards to the Truckers’ 15.
Both teams had difficulty moving the ball in the opening quarter, with the only score coming on Makai Williams’ 24-yard field goal.
The Truckers, led by the area’s passing leader Logan Wynne, opted to rely on the run in the second quarter and found success as Aqui Hayes and Keith Williams Jr. combined for 106 yards on the ground. Williams scored the only touchdown of the first half on a 3-yard burst through the middle.
Churchland drove to the 1-yard line after a 40-yard pass from Wynne to Floyd Logan V. But on the next play, Norcom linebacker Jahri Whitfield, celebrating his 18th birthday, jarred the ball loose from Wynne and the Greyhounds recovered.
In the fourth quarter, Norcom resorted to trickery as Hurt passed to running back DeMarcus Edwards, who tossed a 41-yard scoring pass to Johnson. The two-point conversion run pulled the hosts within 10-8.
After a crazy series of timeouts, a delay-of-game penalty and general chaos, Denmon drilled the winner to give the Greyhounds (2-4) their first lead of the game with 1:33 remaining.
— Reported by Jim McGrath
