Varina Capital champs

by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com

With the way Varina and Highland Springs play defense, the team that made the first gaff would lose.

Unfortunately for Highland Springs, the Springers made the first mistake - early.

On its first possession, HS set up to punt. JaQuan Burchette, sitting about five yards from snapper Carl Smith, tried to take the snap instead of punter Clarence Hill.

Varina's T.K. Hester was alert on the play and dropped Burchette 11 yards behind the line at the 21.

Six plays later Trey Johnson scored from a yard out leading Varina to a 10-7 victory Friday night in front of a standing-room only crowd at Varina.

With the win, the Blue Devils (6-0, 10-0) earned the Capital District crown and the Division 6 top seed next week. Highland Springs (5-1, 6-4) had its season end in heartbreaking fashion.

"It was real big that we scored first," Varina's terrific running back Trey Johnson said after gallooping for 126 yards on 28 carries. "To get our momentum up, our confidence up."

Both defenses took over from there, though Highland Springs had some opportunities for points.

HS got a 79-yard TD run by J.J. Saunders called back for a block in the back call, and missed on a wide open Hill behind the Varina secondary for a sure TD.

Early in the second period, Varina took advantage of good field position as Johnson burned up 31 yards on two carries to get the Blue Devils to the 8-yard line.

The drive stalled from there and Cory Gay booted a 20-yard field goal that ended up being the game winner in this head-knocker.

Varina forced two more Highland Springs turnovers in the second half, a fumble recovery by Jonathan Jones and a fabulous interception by Jamal Townes (see it here!).

But Burchette and the Springers put together a lovely 7-play, 74-yard drive capped by Burchette's 25-yarder to Wyatt Johnson, who made a leaping grab (see it here!). Andrew Compton's kick put Highland Springs in striking distance.

Both of the Springers' next two possessions put them in striking distance, but Varina forced a punt once and batted down Burchette's desperation fourth down pass on the other.

Johnson and QB Herman Norrell ran out the clock from there to seal the rivalry victory.

"Defense, bread and butter," Johnson said. "We're the bread, and they're the butter."

H. Springs 0 0 7 0 -  7
Varina      7 3 0 0 - 10
V - Johnson 1 run (Gay kick)
V - FG Gay 20
HS - Johnson 25 pass from Burchette (Compton kick)