POQUOSON — It was déjà vu for Poquoson High on Saturday at Poquoson Middle School and, like Bill Murray in “Groundhog Day,” the Islanders relived a day they’d prefer to forget.
Plagued by mistakes for a second consecutive season against Strasburg in the Class 2 state semifinals, the Islanders’ season came to an end with a 31-10 defeat. The Rams capitalized on two turnovers and a punt block to build a 21-point halftime lead on their way to a second straight state championship game.
Truth be told, the gap was larger than a year ago, when Strasburg took advantage of three Poquoson turnovers and a missed point-after kick to win 14-13. The Rams bettered Poquoson’s huge lines on both sides of the ball like no one else has this season.
“That’s the first time anyone’s been able to push us around,” Poquoson coach Elliott Duty said. “We had a few too many mistakes early in the game, but Strasburg is a good football team.”
Jacob Britton provided the first display of Strasburg’s interior dominance with a strip-sack of Islanders quarterback Keegan Webb that the Rams recovered at the Poquoson 31. Six plays later, Linkyn Bosworth ran to the end zone from 6 yards to give Strasburg an early 7-0 lead.
Trickery on another ill-advised foray to the air backfired for the Islanders on their next possession as the Rams’ Brady Knight intercepted Austin Conley’s halfback option pass at the Strasburg 5. A 62-yard burst up the middle by Quincy Williams (19 carries, 157 yards) increased the Strasburg lead to 14-0 late in the first quarter.
The Islanders’ offense got untracked on their next possession, as they marched 68 yards in 10 running plays to the Rams’ 11. But the Rams stiffened and the Islanders were forced to settle for Daniel Simmons’ 23-yard field goal that made it 14-3 with 10:14 left in the first half.
Led by their line, the Rams (12-1) added two more scores before the half. After blocking a punt, mistake No. 3 by the Islanders (12-2) in the first two quarters, the Rams needed just four plays to score again in stretching the lead to 21-3 on Bosworth’s 16-yard touchdown run.
Cam Stowers of Poquoson is tackled by Quincy Williams and Jacob Stickley of Strasburg during the first half in the class 2 state semifinals at Poquoson Middle School in Poquoson, Va., on Dec. 6, 2025. Strasburg won 31-10. (Peter Casey / For The Virginian-Pilot)
The Rams completed only one pass in two attempts, quarterback Brayden Hough connecting with tight end Harper Sherman for 24 yards over the middle on their next possession. That set up a 23-yard field goal by Pablo Hernandez on the stroke of halftime to give Strasburg a 24-3 lead.
Poquoson fought back, scoring on Cody Little’s 1-yard touchdown run five plays after blocking a punt to close the deficit to 24-10 midway through the third quarter. The Rams’ line responded with more push on a six-play, 64-yard touchdown drive capped by Williams’ 23-yard run that made it 31-10 late in the third quarter.
The Islanders appeared less devastated than a year ago, ending a season highlighted by a first Bay Rivers District title (shared with Lafayette) in 15 years, and a fourth consecutive Class 2 Region A title via a thrilling win at Armstrong.
“We had a great year,” Duty said. “The kids battled all year, but today we came up a little short.”
Brayden Agnese, the Bay Rivers District Defensive Player of the Year, said, “We had a good run, one of the best seasons we’ve had in a long time.
“I’m proud of all my brothers, staying with me to the end. That means the most to me.”
