Southampton falls in Region 2A quarterfinal
Published 6:01 pm Wednesday, November 27, 2024
The No. 2-seeded Southampton High School varsity football team faces off against visiting No. 7 King William High School on a cold Friday night, Nov. 15, in the Region 2A quarterfinals. It was Big Red’s first home playoff game in 18 years. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Southampton High School junior Miguel Bradshaw, No. 10, looks to bring down the King William High School ball carrier. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Southampton High School junior quarterback Zayden Pope runs for a 74-yard touchdown to help give the Indians a 21-17 lead in the third quarter Friday, Nov. 15. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Southampton High School senior Steven McClenny returns the kickoff 55 yards with less than a minute left in the game to give Big Red a chance to win. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Southampton High School senior Javonte Lynch rolls right on a run against visiting King William High School on Friday, Nov. 15. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Southampton High School juniors Jaquar White and Miguel Bradshaw, No. 10, wrap up the King William High School ball carrier high and low to end the play. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Junior Kelin Benjamin, of Southampton High School, secures the right leg of the diving King William High School ball carrier. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Southampton High School senior Laurence Wallace executes a kickoff Friday, Nov. 15, as visiting King William High School players stand ready in the foreground. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Senior Zykiem Murrell, of Southampton High School, advances with the ball while looking to keep a King William High School defender at bay. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Southampton High School junior quarterback Zayden Pope finds an open receiver. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Senior Laurence Wallace, No. 16 of Southampton High School, helps bring down the King William High School ball carrier. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Junior Miguel Bradshaw, of Southampton High School, hurriedly gains yardage during Big Red’s final drive in the waning moments of the playoff game Friday, Nov. 15. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
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Southampton High School’s varsity football team showed resilience Friday night, Nov. 15, during its Region 2A quarterfinal showdown with visiting King William High School, but the Indians ultimately fell 24-21.
“The players and coaching staff left it all on the field,” Southampton Head Coach Travis Parker said Monday, Nov. 18. “We came up short, but it wasn’t because of lack of effort. Many things happened in the game that sometimes swung the game our way and sometimes their way, but it was a true ‘playoff’ game. I am proud of the way we (players and coaching staff) prepared that week and performed in the game.”
Big Red, which was playing in its first home playoff game in 18 years and which held the No. 2 seed in Region 2A, took an early 7-0 lead Friday after junior quarterback Zayden Pope connected with senior wide receiver Steven McClenny on a 34-yard touchdown pass.
No. 7 King William, which had notable success on the ground, evened the score following a 40-yard touchdown run with 4:37 left in the first quarter, and then the Cavaliers went ahead 14-7 following a three-yard scoring run with 9:19 to go in the second quarter.
Southampton responded with a strong drive that featured passes helping set up the run. The drive ended with a five-yard touchdown run from senior running back Javonte Lynch that helped create a 14-14 tie with 5:49 left in the half.
As time expired in the quarter, King William scored on a 17-yard field goal to take a 17-14 lead into the break.
Both teams turned the ball over in the third quarter, with the Indians turning it over on downs and the Cavaliers fumbling it away.
Big Red’s offense turned King William’s turnover into points when Pope ran for a 74-yard touchdown, helping give Southampton a 21-17 advantage with 4:40 to go in the third.
Later, the Cavs had to punt, as did the Indians, and then King William turned the ball over on downs.
However, Southampton was not able to capitalize on that turnover and punted the ball back to the Cavaliers with four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
King William was able to put together a drive that ended with a 10-yard touchdown run with 46 seconds left in the game. With the extra point, the Cavaliers led 24-21.
McClenny returned the ensuing kickoff 55 yards to give Big Red outstanding field position and a real chance at coming away with a victory.
McClenny and junior wide receiver Miguel Bradshaw recorded catches that helped advance the ball, along with Pope’s running, but without timeouts, Southampton ultimately ran out of time.
“I am ‘let down’ for not winning, but that is competitive sports,” Parker said. “You will not win them all, and that’s the courage you have to have to play and coach sports, knowing that losing is a part of it all.”
Big Red finished the season with an overall record of 9-2, including a 6-0 mark in the Tri-Rivers District.
Reflecting on Southampton’s season as a whole, Parker said, “I am super proud of us! Many accomplishments; Tri-Rivers District champions, District Player of the Year on both defense and offense, District Coaching Staff of the Year, 16 first team all-district selections and four second team selections, many players’ stats putting them at the top in the state during the season, and ending the regular season 9-1.
“But even more than that, this group of young men are super special,” Parker continued. “They trusted the process ever since March 2024. They realize that hard work pays off, and to ‘control what you can control.’ They have been respectful and accountable. We have had some great times together, meaning the fellowship has been awesome. Also the parent support has been extraordinary! This team, I believe, has brought the ‘Big Red Machine’ spirit back to the community.”
There were 13 seniors on the roster for Southampton’s 2024 team who have now played their last game on the gridiron in a Big Red uniform. They included Bailey Allen, Quatrez Bynum, Tyler Duke, Deperest Johnson, Timmy Jones, Lavon Lashley, Javonte Lynch, Jakari Mack, Steven McClenny, Zykiem Murrell, Isaiah Taylor, Xavier Tyler and Laurence Wallace.
