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By James J. Lidington

Isle of Wight Academy

Charles Hatcher III’s touchdown with 2:49 remaining put the visiting team from Christchurch School ahead for good as the Seahorses defeated Isle of Wight 20-17 here Friday.

Christchurch quarterback Gavin Lindner rushed for 102 yards and passed for 42 for Christchurch, which earned its first win in six contests this year. Isle of Wight (5-4) was led by JT Taylor’s 63 yards.

IWA’s Kody Kosiorek led all defenders with 11-1/2 tackles, followed closely by Dorien Batten’s 8-1/2.

The teams traded first downs in the first quarter, and Christchurch got the ball in good field position after it blocked IWA’s first punt of the game. Fourteen plays and a mere 46 yards later, the Seahorse’s Jack Bamford ran it in for a touchdown. After the PAT, the visitors led 7-0.

Aided by a 15-yard roughing penalty on first down, the Chargers got on the board with Kosiorek’s field goal with 7:12 left before halftime. The Chargers would strike again in the third quarter when Kosiorek capped a 49-yard drive with a 1-yard run. The PAT made it 10-7 IWA with 8:48 left in the frame.

The Seahorse ground game led to the visitors’ next touchdown. Ten plays, including nine runs, ended when Evan Randall scored from four yards away to give Christchurch a 13-10 lead with 2:04 left in the third. That lead was short-lived, however, when the Seahorse quarterback coughed up the football when he was sacked by a swarm of IWA defenders. Six plays and a defensive pass interference later, IWA scored and Kosiorek kicked the extra point to make it 17-13 with 8:24 left.

Christchurch, however, got the ball back at their own 35 and, 10 plays later, scored on Hatcher’s touchdown. The PAT made the score 20-17, and IWA got the ball back with 2:46 left.

Jackson Cofer ran for 10 yards and quarterback Trent Holland found Kosiorek for a 12-yard pass play that gave IWA the ball on first down at the Christchurch 37 with 1:03 to go.

After an incomplete pass on first down, Holland dropped back with 49 seconds left and lofted a pass into the end zone, which fell harmlessly through a receiver’s hands. A third-down play with 40 seconds left ended with an IWA fumble to set the final score.

Isle of Wight was fifth in the most recent Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Div. II football poll; Christchurch, now 1-5, was unranked. 

The Chargers’ only remaining opponent, Fuqua, is 2-5 and ranked third in VISAA Div. III. The Falcons dominated Massanutten Military Academy 49-20 Friday night. Their five losses have come against Hargrave Military, Randolph-Henry, St. Michael the Archangel, Portsmouth Christian and Fredericksburg Christian. IWA has lost only to PCS among those teams.

Only the top four slots in the VISAA polls qualify for state playoffs.

The IWA cross country team dominated competition Thursday. Female Charger runners claimed the top five spots and seven of the top 10 placed in the varsity girls race.

IWA’s Hannah Edwards was the top female finisher at 19:12 among girls varsity racers. Lorraine Upton (19:53), Lauren Maust (19:53), Haley Whitley (20:26) and Alex Wilson (22:03) rounded out the top five finishers for IWA and the race at large.

IWA’s Jack Lineberry was the Chargers’ top male finisher at 19:01, in sixth place. Jayce Joyner finished eighth at 19:19. Brett Landen, eighth-grader Brendan Mackie and Gage Huber founded out IWA’s finishers in the top 20 varsity boys. IWA’s top two boys runners did not participate in the race, coach Margarita Castillo said.

IWA’s Zachary Jackson won the junior varsity boys race; teammates Hailey Gray and Hannah Whitley, in fourth and sixth places, respectively, were the IWA finishers in the junior varsity girls race.

The teams are scheduled to run in the Virginia Colonial Conference Meet Thursday at Kenston Forest School.

The IWA volleyball team defeated Fuqua Tuesday in straight sets, 3-0.

They lost to Kenston Forest 3-0 Thursday.

The Lady Chargers round out their regular season with matches Tuesday versus Brunswick Academy and Thursday at Richmond Christian. Both games are at 6 p.m.

The Lady Chargers remain fifth in the VISAA Div. II volleyball poll.