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By James J. Lidington

Isle of Wight Academy

J.T. Taylor rushed for 229 yards and scored three touchdowns as the visiting Isle of Wight Academy varsity football team tamed Hargrave Military Academy 42-0 on Friday night, Sept. 24.

Junior Jackson Cofer intercepted three Hargrave passes and scored twice from scrimmage; senior Jacob Chapman had two pickoffs for the 1-3 Chargers. 

A stout IWA defense, which had surrendered many yards in previous contests against Atlantic Shores Christian School, Portsmouth Christian School and King and Queen Central High School, locked down Hargrave, limiting the home team to 21 yards rushing and 112 yards passing to go with the season-high in interceptions.

Dorien Batten led the team in tackles with seven; Kody Kosiorek had six.

After winning the coin toss and deferring until the third quarter, IWA limited Hargrave to one first down and got the ball at midfield after the Tigers’ fourth-down conversion attempt went for naught. Five plays later, Taylor’s 34-yard run and Kosiorek’s PAT opened the scoring. 

On the Chargers’ next possession, three plays and a 55-yard pass from Trent Holland to Jacob Chapman made the score 13-0. 

The defense again held Hargrave to three downs and a punt, but Taylor fumbled the ensuing kick, giving the hosts the ball on the verge of Isle of Wight territory. Two plays later, Hargrave coughed up the football to end that scoring threat.

As play opened in the second quarter, Taylor again galloped 47 yards and Kosiorek’s PAT made it 20-0 with 6:39 left before halftime.

On the third play of the Tigers’ next possession, Holland hit the Hargrave quarterback, whose pass was intercepted by Chapman. On the next play, from IWA’s own 33, Cofer took a reverse handoff and jetted 67 yards for the score. The PAT made it 27-0. 

Chapman intercepted the Hargrave signal caller again before halftime to snuff out yet another short drive.

Beginning the second half with the ball, IWA sought to preserve its lead, and it did so, holding the ball for all but 4:46 in the quarter. The Chargers ran nine plays, and Taylor’s 12-yard scamper set the stage for Chapman’s 2-point conversion reception from Holland to make the score 35-0.

Cofer’s 10-yard run in the fourth quarter with the running clock about to expire, plus the game-ending PAT, closed the scoring.

IWA hosts yet another undefeated team — this time 4-0 Fredericksburg Christian School — in a game at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1, at William M. Hooper Field.

The Lady Chargers volleyball team recently suffered its first two defeats of the season, dropping matches to Kenston Forest School and Brunswick Academy.

IWA dropped the first game Tuesday, Sept. 21, 25-29 to the Kavaliers but came back to even the match 1-1 on a 25-17 second game. But Kenston took the next two games in a row — 25-13 and 25-17 — to settle the match.

Thursday, Sept. 23, the Chargers were dominated against the Vikings via scores of 25-13, 25-21 and 25-16.

The Lady Chargers (6-2) return to the court this week with matches at Richmond Christian School on Tuesday, Sept. 28, and in Jester Gym at 5 and 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30, versus local rival Tidewater Academy.

The IWA cross country squads had the week off but host a meet at Windsor Castle Park in Smithfield on Thursday at 4 p.m.