Phantoms roll despite penalties
NEWPORT NEWS — If all of the yellow flags that fell onto the Todd Stadium turf Saturday penalizing Phoebus were bricks, they could easily have paved the way for Dorothy and Toto to the Emerald City in Oz.
But the Phantoms’ defense is too good to let a few penalties, or even 19 for 212 yards, sidetrack Phoebus’ road to success. The No. 2 Phantoms limited Heritage to a yard or less on 30 of 35 snaps in their Peninsula District game on the way to a 49-0 victory.
Not only has Phoebus’ defense not allowed a point in three games this season — the two-point safety it gave up in the win over Oscar Smith was intentional — it is closing in on a net of zero yards allowed. Phoebus coach Jeremy Blunt estimated the Phantoms (3-0) gave up fewer than 100 yards total in their first two games, and Heritage (1-3) finished at minus-40.
“Sometimes when you’re the more aggressive team or your style of play on that day is more aggressive, flags might fly your way a little more,” Blunt said. “Hopefully, it’s a teachable moment where our guys will learn that sometimes in a game you’ll have to tweak some things and adjust.
“But we’re going to play an aggressive style of defense every game. We have to because that’s who we are.
“(The aggressiveness) kind of hurts the offense at times, but defensively we can make the easier adjustments. Hats off to the guys for continuing to play Phoebus football in all three phases and keeping their composure.”
The special-teams phase struck on the opening kickoff, which Dior Hatchett returned 51 yards. Three plays later, Adonis Stowers (6-of-9 passing, 108 yards, two touchdowns), connected with Keontae Gray, whose moves turned a short reception into a 41-yard touchdown and a 6-0 lead.
Phoebus’ defense needed just three plays to score as well. Defensive end Taysean Stevenson sacked Heritage quarterback Derrick Gurley Jr. in the end zone for a 9-yard loss and safety that made it 8-0.
“That’s one thing we always do is come through and shut stuff down,” said Stevenson, an
Old Dominion University recruit. “I think it’s because all of us play smart and aggressively.”
Saddled by 100 yards in penalties in the first 12 minutes, the Phantoms did not score again until the second quarter. But they finished the half by scoring on their final five possessions as the defense gifted the offense terrific field position.
Davion Roberts (88 yards rushing) scored on touchdown runs of 10, 4 and 12 yards in the second quarter, while Paul Stephen Davis added a 13-yard touchdown run as Blunt lauded the “solid running game.” Stowers passed to Gray for a 22-yard touchdown as the Phantoms led 42-0 at intermission.
The Phantoms’ final four possessions of the first half started inside the Heritage 25, two of them inside the 10, thanks to stellar defensive play from Stevenson, Maryland recruit Anthony Reddick, Kaleb Tillery, Noah Jefferson, DeSean Richardson and the rest.
“We put a lot of emphasis (on shutouts), especially because (Blunt) is a defensive guy,” Stevenson said. “Our main motto is to be the No. 1 defense in the state.”