Blue Devils win 21-20 over Hermitage

It was overtime, and the Varina Blue Devils were almost out of chances.

In the Central Region, Division 6 semifinal last night, they trailed visiting Hermitage 20-14, and everything they'd worked for -- the game, the undefeated season, and, yes, the dream -- was on the line.

The noise in the stadium was deafening. The tension was thick in the frigid air.

After a dive play gained a yard, they had three snaps left from the 9.

What's the answer?

Get the ball to Tre Johnson.

A moment later, the splendid junior running back who finished with 223 yards on 28 carries took a pitch from quarterback Hermon Norrell on the option right, turned the corner, made a quick juke step on the cornerback, and sprinted into the end zone.

Then, Cory Gay nailed the extra point, and the Blue Devils (11-0) had a hard-earned 21-20 victory and a 1 p.m. home date Saturday with Meadowbrook, which defeated L.C. Bird 27-14 in the other semifinal, for the regional championship.

"The true character of a man is when you get punched in the mouth, what are you going to do about it?" Varina coach Stu Brown said.

"We got punched in the mouth, but we stood up and made stops. We stood up and scored two touchdowns to win this ballgame. That says a lot about the character of this team."

Varina took a 7-0 lead into the break thanks to a 41-yard touchdown run by Johnson at 9:15 of the second quarter.

Hermitage (8-3) scored its first TD at 3:42 of the third period on a 58-yard pass from Michael Johnson to Derek Britt.

On the first play after Britt returned an interception 50 yards to the Varina 20, Johnson scored on a quarterback keeper, and Stephen Reynolds kicked the point after to put the Panthers up 14-7 entering the final period.

With the 5-10, 170-pound Johnson doing the heavy lifting, the Blue Devils traveled 53 yards in 11 plays, the last a 7-yard Norrell-to-Bobby Smith connection 1:29 from the end of regulation.

Hermitage scored first in OT on a 6-yard pass from Johnson to Theron Norman, but Smith broke through to block the PAT attempt.

"I lined up in the middle and went through the A-gap beside the center," said the 6-5 195-pound senior. "DeAntre' Rhodes blew it up, and I just followed him in there and got a hand on it."

The Blue Devils' first play in overtime was a 21guard trap, but Norrell saw an opening in the Panthers' defense.

"The defensive tackle was playing inside," he said. "Just one cornerback was out there by himself.

"I sprinted over to the sideline and told Coach. He gave me his trust."

With Brown's blessing, Norrell called 18 option. He took the snap, rolled right, and pitched to Johnson.

"Took the pitch and hit the corner," said Johnson. "We wanted to pound them, wear them out. That's Varina football."

Hermitage 0 0 14 0 6 -- 20
Varina 0 7 0 7 7 -- 21

Var Johnson 41 run (Gay kick)

Herm Britt 58 pass from Johnson (Reynolds kick)

Herm Johnson 20 run (Reynolds kick)

Var Smith 7 pass from Norrell (Gay kick)

Herm Norman 7 pass from Johnson (kick blocked)

Var Johnson 9 run (Gay kick)

RUSHING

Hermitage Gordon 14 carries, 94 yards, Johnson 16-69.

Varina Johnson 28-223, Upshaw 3-37, Harrison 2-5, Finney 1-4, Norrell 7-minus 7.

PASSING
Hermitage Johnson 8 completions, 16 attempts, 1 interception, 138 yards. Snead 0-1-1-0.

Varina Norrell 9-19-1-140.

RECEIVING

Hermitage Britt 2 receptions, 62 yards, Snead 2-41, Gordon 1-17, Norman 2-12, Stephens 1-6.

Varina Smith 5-95, Harrison 3-38, Upshaw 1-7.