HAMPTON — It was as improbable a victory as Phoebus has achieved in years.
And because the Phantoms achieved it against heavily favored archrival Hampton, and because it was one of the most exciting of 61 games in the series and because it keeps alive their hopes of a state championship five-peat, it is one of the biggest.
The No. 4-seeded Phantoms rallied from a 14-point first-half deficit on Saturday to beat the No. 1-seeded Crabbers 47-35 in a Class 4 Region A semifinal in the rain at Darling Stadium. The victory moved the Phantoms (8-3) into the region championship game at 7 p.m. Friday against No. 2 Lafayette (11-1) at Wanner Stadium.
The win seemed improbable because Crabbers (10-2) shellacked the Phantoms 43-7 five weeks ago. It seemed less likely when the Crabbers jumped to a 14-point lead.
But it was no fluke as the improved Phantoms outgained the Crabbers 495 yards to 310, led by running back Tyree Diggs’ 253 yards rushing and four touchdowns. Maurikus Banks completed 7 of 11 passes for 228 yards and two long touchdowns, and ran for a decisive 15-yard touchdown with 4 minutes, 25 seconds remaining.
Those numbers were possible because the Phantoms’ line, dominated by the Crabbers’ front in the regular-season meeting, has improved immensely. The Phantoms have improved defensively too, and they pressured Hampton standout quarterback Marcus Chapman far more than in the regular-season game.
Phoebus’ Jayden Javier wrestles a contested ball from a Hampton defender and goes on to score a touchdown during Saturday’s Class 4 Region A semifinal at Darling Stadium. (Ted Calise/For The Virginian-Pilot)
Chapman rushed for 136 yards and two TDs, but ran 22 times — far more than designed because the Phoebus pass rush was so much more effective. He threw for 137 yards, but was hurried into two interceptions made by Jayden Javier.
“That was the key today because he had a heck of a game the first time we played them,” Phoebus coach Jeremy Blunt said. “Defensively, we knew we would be more keyed up against them.
“We had time to work it, and there’s something to be said when you get these young guys some reps. The confidence was there with the game plan.”
That showed after the Crabbers drove 77 yards for a touchdown after receiving the opening kickoff. Four plays after Casey Lassiter ran 8 yards for a touchdown to cap that drive, he returned a Banks fumble 70 yards to give the Crabbers a 14-point lead.
Diggs did most of the damage as the Phantoms retaliated with an 11-play drive, finishing it with a 1-yard touchdown run. Hampton responded with a 10-play drive capped by Chapman’s 12-yard run to make it 21-7 midway through the second quarter.
But, two plays after Diggs’ 10-yard touchdown run at the end of a seven-play drive that pulled Phoebus to within 21-13 with 2:06 remaining in the first half, the momentum changed when Javier intercepted a Chapman pass at the Phoebus 44. Banks threw 44 yards to Jayden Marbury on the next play, and Phoebus trailed only 21-19 at halftime.
Diggs’ 62-yard touchdown run five plays into the third quarter gave Phoebus the lead, 26-21, for the first time. Chapman’s 4-yard touchdown on the next possession gave Hampton back the lead, but Banks struck just two plays later, passing 87 yards to Javier for a touchdown to put Phoebus on top 34-28.
Javier’s second interception and a Jordyn Hill sack of Chapman slowed the Crabbers. And when Diggs netted 5, 19 and 40 yards on consecutive carries — the latter for a touchdown to make it 41-28 with 10:03 left — the Phantoms were in control.
Hampton pulled to within 41-35 on Chapman’s 15-yard TD run midway through the fourth quarter. Diggs responded with runs of 37 and 19 yards to set up Banks’ game-clinching 15-yard score.
“That’s you young men growing up in front of our eyes,” Blunt told his players. “It’s not about shocking the world because you know how to win.
“It’s about reminding everybody who you are, and who you’re going to be.”
