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James Seay (left) threw three touchdown passes, two to Devonta Tabannah (right) in Potomac's 42-0 showing at Crossland on Saturday.
By Andy States
Content Manager, SMAC
James Seay threw three touchdown passes, Devonta Tabannah accounted for three touchdowns of his own, and the visiting Potomac Wolverines won their second straight game 42-0 over the Crossland Cavaliers on Saturday afternoon.
Potomac (5-3) led 14-0 before it gained a single yard on offense. Deonte Caldwell recovered a Crossland fumble in the end zone on the game's first play from scrimmage and later, after Potomac turned the ball over on its first offensive play, Marcus Hagens picked up an errant Crossland snap on a punt and scooted 30 yards into the end zone to put the visitors up two scores before the Wolverines' offense ever had a chance to make an impact.
The game was the first for the Wolverines against former coach Eric Knight, in his first year at the Cavaliers' helm, after amassing 125 wins and two state championships in 15 years leading Potomac. The game was filled with emotion from the outset, and was eventually called with 7 minutes 5 seconds left in the third quarter due to increasing tensions on the sidelines.
"It was a strange game," Potomac coach Chris Davidson said. "The weather was weird. There was a strange vibe to the game and the way it ended is probably fitting."
Crossland (2-6) was held to less than 70 yards of total offense, and earned just three first downs. Adding to their woes, the Cavaliers gave up two touchdowns on special teams, one on an offensive turnover and turned the ball over at their own 20-yard line on another to leave the Wolverines with a short field.
"It's the same thing that happened last week. I bet you we've given up as many point on special teams as we have on defense," Knight said. "And whatever else we've done on special teams has helped put the defense in situations where [opposing offenses] have 20- or 30-yard drives. That's why we've been getting blown out all year.
"It's been hard. What we're trying to do is break bad habits, teach them assignment football defensively."
The win was the second straight shutout for Potomac, which shut down Forestville 46-0 the week prior. When its offense was on the field, Potomac displayed some versatility in producing 126 yards on the ground and 81 through the air. Stephen Darden led all rushers with 73 yards on nine carries, while Tabannah hauled in three passes for 40 yards and a pair of touchdowns and D'mitrious Ballard caught two balls for 41 yards and a score.
"Overall, I was proud of the team," Potomac senior Devonte Helms said. "Special teams, defense, offense, we all came through and played as a team."
"I guess everybody just feels as though it's not an individual game," added Seay of the team's maturation. "It's a team game."
Potomac opened the season 3-0, but suffered through a three-game slide to drop back down to .500. With wins the past two weeks, the team has maintained its slim playoff hopes. The task will not be an easy one, however. The Wolverines will need to win their final two games -- tough contests with Douglass and Largo -- and will need some help otherwise to pull into the 3A South's fourth and final spot.
"We have two very difficult games left," Davidson said. "We'll see what happens. Maybe we'll get lucky and a couple things will happen and we'll be able to sneak into the playoffs. Who knows?"
Potomac 42, Crossland 0
P 14 28 0
C 0 0 0
First quarter
P - Caldwell recovered fumble in end zone (Bennett kick), 11:48
P - Hagens 30 fumble return (Bennett kick), 6:19
Second quarter
P - Tabannah 15 pass from Seay (run failed), 6:38
P - Tabannah 55 punt return (Thompson pass from Seay), 4:33
P - Ballard 24 pass from Seay (pass failed), 4:33
P - Tabannah 20 pass from Seay (Seay run), 0:00
Top individual performers
Rushing
Potomac: Darden 9-73, Best 5-47, Hagens 5-17
Crossland: Foster 7-25
Passing
Potomac: Seay 5-12-0 81
Crossland: Watson 4-11-1 35
Receiving
Potomac: Tabannah 3-40, Ballard 2-41
Crossland: Foster 2-17, Gantt 1-13, Daniels 1-5
