by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
(804) 240-2191
Post Flag 8 Dig.
It’s the play that completed Thomas Dale’s improbable comeback victory over previously unbeaten and top-ranked Meadowbrook, a 35-34 tear-jurking triumph Friday night to get a leg up in a taut Central District race.
“We knew if we got the ball back at the end of the game that we were going to win,” Dale quarterback Demitrius Campbell said.
With 10:14 left in the contest, the Knights trailed 34-21 after Andre Coble‘s 17-yard scamper, a 13-point margin because of a missed extra-point.
Campbell led an eight-play, 74-yard drive, capped by a 30-yard strike to Ariek Green (three catches, 102 yards, 2 TDs) on a fourth-and-5 play. 34-28 Meadowbrook with 5:51 to go.
As explosive as the Monarchs had been all game, it seemed they would have no problem running out the clock or perhaps scoring again as Coble and Domico Phillips (20 carries, 186 yards two TDs) were ripping up the turf.
But Dale’s defense rose to the occasion, handing the ball back to Campbell, who was on his way to a school legend-making 14-of-20 for 215 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and a two-minute drive to live for.
At 3:17, he got a 8-yard bolt from Demetrick Jackson (64 rushing yards, TD). From there, Campbell handled the ball each play.
He hit Brandon Burton (eight catches, 101 yards) for nine yards. Campbell, also a basketball player, took off among Meadowbrook pressure on third down for a crucial new set of downs.
With his favorite receiver seeing plenty of coverage, TE Mike Dudley, he went back to Burton twice, for six yards and then a 15-yarder that got Dale down to the 15-yard line.
Time out, Vic Williams, Thomas Dale coach.
Post Flag 8 Dig. It was time for Dudley to get open.
The tight end came underneath the coverage smack dab in the middle of the field. Campbell stuck the pigskin on him like a bug to a windshield for the 15-yard TD.
Anthony Prevost completed a 5-for-5 effort on extra points as Dale, ranked sixth in the DigitalSports Top 10, moved to 6-0 in the Central District with a visit to Matoaca on tap for the season finale.
A win would clinch a Division 6 playoff berth. A loss would make things murky.
“We haven’t got it yet. We have to beat Matoaca,” said an emotional Williams. “There’s no words to describe [this feeling].”
Meadowbrook faces Petersburg (5-4), a team looking to sneak in the Division 5 playoffs and is coming off a 49-0 romp over Colonial Heights behind playmaker Kevin Green.
Let the playoff controversy begin again in D-6, as a one-loss Meadowbrook team could be left out behind a two-loss Dale squad that learned from its previous losses to L.C. Bird and Varina, who could both be Division 6 playoff bound.
“My team worked hard since week three when we lost to Bird,” Campbell said. “I couldn’t have done it by myself. If I’m going to be the leader of the team I can’t doubt my teammates.”
Or his coaches. Or his plays.
Like Post Flag 8 Dig.
Meadowbrook 7 21 0 6 – 34
Thomas Dale 7 7 0 21 – 35
TD – Jackson 1 run (Prevost kick)
M – Phillips 53 run (Jones kick)
M – Phillips 50 run (kick failed)
TD – Green 49 pass from Campbell (Prevost kick)
M – Lloyd 4 pass from Coble (Dorsey pass from Coble)
M – Thomas 31 pass from Coble (Jones kick)
TD – Edmunds 6 run (Prevost kick)
M – Coble 17 run (kick failed)
TD – Green 30 pass from Campbell (Prevost kick)
TD – Dudley 15 pass from Campbell (Prevost kick)
RUSHING
Meadowbrook – Phillips 20 carries, 186 yards, Coble 12-65, Dorsey 2-(minus 5); Thomas Dale – Jackson 14-64, Mike Edmunds 5-17, Campbell 10-9, Green 2-8, Fields 4-6
PASSING
Meadowbrook – Coble 11 completions, 20 attempts, 154 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions; Thomas Dale – Campbell 14-20-215-3-0
RECEIVING
Meadowbrook – Dorsey 5 receptions, 52 yards, Jacaurey Thomas 2-48, KeVon Wright 1-34, LeTrey Wingate 1-12, John Lewis 1-4, Devon Lloyd 1-4; Thomas Dale – Green 3-102, Burton 8-101, Dudley 2-17, Fields 1-(minus 5)
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