ISLE OF WIGHT—Isle of Wight Academy took a huge step in defending its Virginia Independent School Division III state championship by knocking off Greenbrier Christian Academy 35-0 Friday night.

It appears that Isle of Wight will be the No. 1 seed in the Division III playoffs and will likely play Blessed Sacrament Huguenot in the first round at home Friday night. The Chargers beat BSH 34-7 earlier in the season. Broadwater Academy, which beat IWA earlier this season, was the second seed before this weekend’s action and had a Saturday game against Brunwsick Academy. It is unlikely that Broadwater will be able to catch Isle of Wight in the rankings.

The Chargers played a complete game against Greenbrier, mixing up the plays on offense, and holding down the fort on defense.

Isle of Wight (9-1) litterally took no time at all to establish the lead. Rusty Brake ran the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown. IWA kicker Cody Dowdy made it 7-0.

After the IWA defense held Greenbrier to a three and out, the Chargers scored on their next series. Brake hit Kevin King on a timing pattern down the right sideline for a 49-yard touchdown. Dowdy’s kick made it a 14-0 lead with less than six minutes gone in the game.

IWA could have had more in the first half, but Brake coughed the ball up twice, including once on the Greenbrier 5.

The IWA defense held Greenbrier (7-3) to just 70 yards of offense in the first half, including only 34 through the air. Coming into the game, IWA head coach Dale Chapman was worried about how his defensive secondary would play against a strong GCA passing attack. Quaterback Josh Healey was just 5-for-17 for 50 yards on the evening. The Chargers’ defense broke up several long pass plays.

“Our defensive secondary really stepped up. That has been a question mark in our defense all year long,” Chapman said. “I was really proud of them. We worked on it this week. I even got down and played some quarterback to simulate Josh Healey.”

Brake opened the scoring in the second half when he cruised 42 yards down the right sideline on a keeper with 6:51 to play in the third quarter. Dowdy upped the lead to 21-0.

IWA’s next scoring drive included what might have been the offensive play of the season for the Chargers. On a third and 14 play, Brake scrambled and saw King open downfield. Brake zipped the ball 40 yards on the run, right into the hands of King who ran a few steps into the end zone with 44 seconds to play in the quarter.

“He’s (Brake) doing a good job. Last year, we threw him in at quarterback and he was a tight end. Last year, he was kind of feeling his way. This year, we are a little more balanced run and pass. That’s tough for a defense to defend,” Chapman said.

To make things worse for the Gators, Parker Jackson fumbled the SA

kickoff, which was recovered by IWA’s Robbie Kearns at the Greenbrier 12. On the next play, Moore ran in it and the Chargers had scored twice in 12 seconds.

Brake finished the game with 95 yards rushing on 13 carries and threw for 107 yards. Lance Moore rushed for 85 yards on 15 carries.