Christchurch School wins season opener
The Christchurch School 2010 football season opened in Lynchburg on Saturday at Virginia Episcopal School. Christchurch beat the Bishops and began along a path they hope will end in the VISFA title game. For now, a 1-0 start in the conference and the state is good enough. VES scored its only points for a safety.
Quarterback Taylor Byrd (Gloucester) was 8 of 14 for 129 and 2 touchdowns. He was not sacked and threw no interceptions. This was not the only story in game one, however. The line was solid, and the running game dominated the Bishops.
Byrd, Cool Battle (Stem, NC) and Andy Snow (Deltaville) have emerged as exceptional captains. Their team is together, and despite some tweaking needed in pass routes, hole selection, and line assignments, the Seahorses are ready to be competitive in VISFA Division 2 play.
The scoring began with a stretch play in the first quarter. Sophomore Jordan Wallace (Hampton) followed Snow, Carlos Gray (Temple Hills, MD), Will Smith (Charlotte, NC), Jeff Williams, and Calvin Strong (Gloucester) along the right sideline. About 50 yards later, they were in the end zone.
In the second quarter the second Seahorse TD featured Byrd tossing a seam pattern into the hands of a streaking Snow, who had run by the defender. 65 yards later, he was in the end zone. Wallace took a swing pass from Byrd later in the 2nd and galloped for his second TD. This one for 31 yards.
The VES safety was really the result of an incredible punt by VES. The ball landed inside the 10-yard line, so Wallace had no choice but to let it roll into the end zone. But the ball stopped inside the 1. The second play from scrimmage was a stretch play to the right, but VES blitzed off-tackle and dropped Byrd for a tackle in the end zone.
The final TD of the game belonged to Cool. Battle rammed one home from two yards out after Byrd led his troops down the field to eat up the clock as time ran down. After running two conversions in for the Horses, Carlos Gray got to kick one. His foot was true, and Christchurch was up 31-2.
Gray was a leader on defense as well. He had three tackles, one sack, and an exciting pick that he returned for 20 yards in the third quarter. Leading all tacklers was Will Smith. The Charlotte, NC junior was stellar on the line with eight tackles.
Christchurch will host Nansemond Suffolk Academy this Saturday on Dischinger Field at 1:00.
