by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
Hermitage kicker Stephen Reynolds was the hero.
He booted a 37-yard field goal with 50 seconds left – the equivalent of a 50-yarder in pro ball based on difficulty and situation – to give the Panthers a one-point lead.
That normally would end a Central Region high school game. But this was no normal game.
Desmond Coble and Chris Carter stole Reynolds’ hero cape and the spotlight that comes with it on a 65-yard bomb, giving top-ranked Meadowbrook a 20-13 victory Friday night in the battle of the top-ranked teams in the latest Fox/DigitalSports Top 10 poll.
“I don’t know what to say,” Carter said. “It’s unbelievable.”
Second-ranked Hermitage probably still can’t believe the Monarchs scored.
After an incomplete pass on first down, Coble dropped back into a clean pocket with time to survey the defense.
Tight end Brett Rooney came across the middle. He was Coble’s favorite target with five receptions for 61 yards, and Hermitage safety Brendon Riddick knew it, so he stepped forward to him.
Once he did Carter beat Matt Snead to the post pattern where Riddick was, outracing the defense for a game-winner.
Carter didn’t even run the right route, but it ended up being the right route.
“Great job Chris Carter,” an exuberant, exhausted Coble said. “Great catch at the end of the game for that touchdown. It’s just a good win.”
Matter of fact, a great win that Coble had an arm and two legs in. He threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns, all of Meadowbrook’s scores.
He also had 72 yards on the ground and gave Meadowbrook’s defense fits with his elusiveness.
The three-year starter is only a junior and his passing has improved abundantly since he stepped onto Cogbill Road’s campus.
Carter caught two of Coble’s TD passes, the first with a leaping grab over a defender to bring Meadowbrook within one at 7-6.
He totaled five catches as well with 108 yards and played well at cornerback.
Hermitage scored first as the Panthers found their running game.
Then QB Theron Norman (15 of 24, 224 yards) went up top and found Mandela Stephens for a 34-yard score on third-and-forever. An MBK safety tipped the pass right to Stephens.
The Monarchs held a 12-7 lead on Coble’s offering to Dequinnus Menefee, a 15-yarder on third-and-8.
Then two Reynolds field goals set up Coble-Carter magic.
“I’m just real proud of our kids,” Meadowbrook coach Bill Bowles said. “They kept fighting and they kept fighting. They could have hung it up right at the end there. And they made a play.
“Players make plays.
Meadowbrook 0 12 0 8 – 20
Hermitage 7 0 6 0 – 13
H – Stephens 34 pass from Norman (Reynolds kick)
M – Carter 24 pass from Coble (kick failed)
M – Menefee 15 pass from Coble (pass failed)
H – FG Reynolds 27
H – FG Reynolds 37
M – Carter 65 pass from Coble (Phillips run)
Meadowbrook – Donico Phillips 17 carries, 93 yards, Coble 14-72, Jevonn Worsham 9-52; Hermitage – Easton Gordon 15-62, Michael Johnson 5-34, Norman 3-(minus 13)
Meadowbrook – Coble 15 completions, 21 attempts, 0 interceptions, 227 yards; Hermitage – Norman 12-21-0-211
Meadowbrook – Carter 5 receptions, 108 yards, Rooney 5-61, Menefee 2-29, Rodney Ragin 1-15, Phillips 1-16, Worsham 1-(minus 1); Hermitage – Matt Snead 5-52, Nick Yurchak 4-74, Stephens 1-34, Duan Perez-Means 1-30, Gordon 1-21
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