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By James J. Lidington

Isle of Wight Academy

The Isle of Wight Academy Chargers cross country teams competed in the Catholic High School Invitational Wednesday, Sept. 8, at Mount Trashmore in Virginia Beach.

The IWA varsity girls squad finished in first place with 25 points. Senior Hannah Edwards finished in second place, individually, with a time of 20:24, junior Alex Wilson was seventh at 22:47, and Hannah McClain finished ninth at 23:47.

The varsity boys team finished in fifth place with 110 points. John Butler finished sixth at 18:22, and Pierce Cutler was 10th at 18:41.

The junior varsity boys and girls teams ran together; the boys squad finished in second place with 57 points, as Brendan Mackie placed sixth, individually, at 22:29, and Robert Sullivan placed seventh at 22:30.

Among JV girls runners, Hannah Whitley won her race at 23:45, Jillian Foster was fourth at 24:21, and Jocelyn Wilson was fifth at 25:48.

The teams each placed in the top five of their races at a meet Wednesday, Aug. 31, at Norfolk Academy.

Fifteen Chargers on the varsity girls, JV girls and varsity boys teams set personal records at the meet.

On Friday, Sept. 7, IWA senior running back Jackson Cofer rushed for 204 yards in a losing effort, as the Chargers varsity football team fell to Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy 10-7 in Wirtz.

Cofer’s third-quarter run from 6 yards out comprised IWA’s lone score of the game. Jude Powell’s extra point then gave IWA a lead, 7-3, but the Ospreys would answer in the final period to secure the win. 

IWA fell to 0-3 on the season. The team has two bye weeks before traveling to Fredericksburg Christian School on Saturday, Oct. 1.

Portsmouth Christian School amassed 369 yards of total offense in defeating Isle of Wight Academy 24-6 on Sept. 2 at William M. Hooper Field. 

Isle of Wight, with its roster laden with underclassmen, managed 115 total yards; its six points came on a 76-yard Cofer interception return that thwarted PCS’ first drive of the game.

PCS was paced by Collins Redd, an Oscar Smith High School transfer who rushed for 152 yards, and quarterback Napoleon Ellison, who passed for 185 yards, including three touchdowns, rushing for another.

The Patriots had a 56-yard drive go for naught in the opening period. The drive appeared stalled in their own territory, but an IWA roughing penalty on the punter gave PCS new life. A resulting short field goal attempt failed, though.

Powell, who is also IWA’s punter, continued a successful senior season with six punts for an average of 32 yards each.

IWA’s cross country and track teams’ fundraiser with Captain Bob’s Seafood will be from 4:30-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, at Isle of Wight Academy.

Dinners are pick-up only. The meal includes a catfish plate with macaroni and cheese, hush puppies and cole slaw. 

For more information, including the cost of the meal, call Shelley Joyner at 757-329-2400. Tickets are available in the IWA front office, which is located at 17111 Courthouse Highway in Isle of Wight.

Coming up in IWA sports:

• Thursday, Sept. 15: Middle school football at Norfolk Christian School, 4 p.m.
• Friday, Sept. 16: Volleyball at Broadwater Academy, 4/5:15/6:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 17: Cross country at Fork Union Invitational, 8:30 a.m.