JAMES CITY — In front of a raucous homecoming crowd, the Warhill football team provided its fans with an early Halloween gift as the Lions knocked Poquoson from the ranks of the undefeated with a 35-28 win Friday night at Wanner Stadium.

Kaden Scales scored three touchdowns for Warhill, including a 14-yard reception from Carson Strickland in the fourth quarter to break a 28-28 tie against the Islanders, who are ranked ninth in the 757Teamz Top 15.

Neither team enjoyed more than a touchdown lead, with ties of 7 and 14 at the end of the first quarter and first half, respectively. The hosts scored the game’s final 14 points to transform a seven-point deficit into a one-score win.

The game was not decided until the final minute. Needing a touchdown, the Islanders, who ran the ball well all evening, relied on a rare 18-yard pass from Keegan Webb to James Miller to set up first-and-10 at their 46. A pass-interference call on the next play pushed the ball to the Lions’ 39 with 50 ticks remaining on the clock.

But the Warhill defense saved its best for last, forcing Webb backwards and into a fumble. Linebacker Larry Edwards fell on the loose ball to seal the win.

“They have fumbled the past few games,” said Edwards, showing the importance of watching film. “I was waiting for it to happen, even though I wanted to scoop-and-score.”

Warhill wide receiver Kaden Scales (6) celebrates with fans after scoring a touchdown during a game against Poquoson at Wanner Stadium in Williamsburg on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)

Warhill was the beneficiary of a Herculean effort from Braden Terns, a wide receiver turned running back. On the Lions’ next-to-last scoring drive, the senior ran on seven consecutive plays. His fourth run provided a crucial first down, and the seventh set up a fourth down from the Islanders’ 1, where Strickland showed off the Warhill “tush push” for a score.

“I’m kind of tired,” said Terns, who played both ways, also servicing the Lions at linebacker. “But I love running the ball, it’s what I do.”

Although he gained just 19 yards on the series of carries, Terns scored on a 64-yard scamper two plays after Poquoson’s Parker Welsh had returned a Strickland pass 71 yards for a pick-six.

Asked whether he had help from his linemen, Strickland said, “All of my runs are by design, where I can pull back and go.” As far as his scoring play, he added, “We practiced that.”

Poquoson (7-1) was unable to clinch the Bay Rivers District title Friday and mathematically left Lafayette (7-1) in position to stake a claim, although Poquoson won their head-to-head battle 10-7 on Sept. 26. Meanwhile, Warhill (5-2) pulled into a three-way tie for third with New Kent and Tabb, who happen to be the Lions’ final two regular-season opponents.

Scales’ first touchdown put Warhill on the board as the senior receiver snared a 39-yard pass from Strickland. On the next possession, Scales found daylight for a 21-yard scoring run, and his night finished with the winning catch.

https://www.dailypress.com/2025/10/17/warhill-rallies-deals-no-9-poquoson-its-first-defeat/