by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
(804) 240-2191
Two out of three ain’t bad.
The Hanover Hawks took advantage of Petersburg turnovers, and rode the legs of Deane Cheatham to the tune of 204 yards and three scores to take their second Central Region, Division 5 title in three seasons, 42-8 over Petersburg Saturday night.
Cheatham had 152 yards in the second half to wear down the Crimson Wave defense, and Hanover’s defense kept the dangerous Kevin Green and his band of receivers off balance with constant pressure.
Cheatham started the scoring on a 3-yard burst after a 14-yard fourth-down conversion from Sam Rogers to Danny Trsic.
A Petersburg penalty on Matt Palmen‘s extra-point let Palmen kick off from Petersburg’s 45.
Palmen popped it high in the air, and Thomas Davis couldn’t handle it. Hanover’s Chris Lee recovered.
Six plays later, Rogers found Marzae Brooks in the back of the end zone. 14-0 Hawks.
Petersburg went three-and-out, and Hanover went back to work.
On fourth-and-one from its own 39, Cheatham got the direct snap out of punt formation and romped 24 yards for a first down.
Next Rogers scored from 15 yards out on a tackle-busting option play, as the lead went to 21 points with 8:21 left in the first half.
“We turned the ball over,” Petersburg coach Mike Scott said. “Special teams, they just totally dismantled us. That hurts.”
Green hit Keith Johnson on a 40-yard pass as Petersburg tried to rally on its next possession.
But 343-pound lineman-turned-fullback Quinton Spain fumbled two plays later at his own 18-yard line.
Two possessions later, Rogers found Kenny Morris for a 41-yard scoring play as the Hawks led 28-0 at halftime.
In his second playoff start, but 12th of the season, Rogers, a freshman, finished 9 for 19 with 138 yards, two TDs and one interception that didn’t hurt since it was near the halftime buzzer.
“We don’t consider him a freshman,” coach Josh Just said, playoff beard in full force. “He’s a football player. He’s a leader. He’s a natural quarterback.”
Petersburg blocked a Hanover field goal in the third period, and got its only points of the contest once Green scrambled and found Damond McLaughlin for six points.
Spain bulled in for the two-point conversion as Just refocused his Hawks.
Cheatham and the offensive line got back to work in the fourth period, as the 6-1, 215-pound junior broke runs of 45 and 54 yards to show his speed that he thought his opponents believed he lacked.
“They were saying I was slow so I tried to prove them wrong tonight,” Cheatham said. “I don’t know what they think now, but I guess I’m faster then they thought.”
Petersburg is better than Scott thought.
The Crimson Wave went from 54 players, to 27 to 22 as the team went through adversity.
Scott only saw a 2-8 season ahead. But the Wave rallied and reached a title game no one thought they would be in, especially with such a young unit.
“We weren’t supposed to be here,” Scott said. “We’re a dangerous team to play against. They’ve been through a lot. It’s nice to see them come out and face a championship team.”
Hanover will face a defending championship team, Saturday, December 5 at 2 p.m. at Darling Stadium against Eastern Region champion Phoebus, who is 13-0 and the defending state Group AAA, Division 5 champs.
Petersburg 0 0 8 0 – 8
Hanover 14 14 0 14 – 42
H – Cheatham 3 run (Palmen kick)
H – Brooks 10 pass from Rogers (Palmen kick)
H – Rogers 15 run (Palmen kick)
H – Morris 41 pass from Rogers (Palmen kick)
HALFTIME
P – McLaughlin 19 pass from Green (Spain run)
H – Cheatham 6 run (Palmen kick)
H – Cheatham 54 run (Palmen kick)
RUSHING
Petersburg – Gregory five carries, 33 yards, Green 11-31, Turner 3-20, Spain 2-(minus 1), McLaughlin 1-(minus 2); Hanover – Cheatham 22-204, Rogers 11-35, Morris 1-25
PASSING
Petersburg – Green 11 completions, 22 attempts, 144 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception; Hanover – Rogers 9-19-138-2-1
RECEIVING
Petersburg – McLaughlin 3-50, Johnson 3-45, Magruder 2-9, Gregory 1-5, Haskett 1-4; Hanover – Morris 2-45, Underdown 2-38, Trsic 2-23, Cheatham 1-17, Brooks 1-10, Facison 1-5
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