Linebacker extraordinaire Curtis Grant described the Hermitage defensive effort this way after the Panthers defeated Highland Springs in the Central Region, Division 6 football semifinals: “Excellent. Tremendous. Extravagant. We played phenomenal tonight.“ Whatever superlative Grant wanted to use would be appropriate. The Panthers defeated the Springers 24-12 last night at Hermitage and advanced to the Division 6 championship game Friday against Thomas Dale. Hermitage (10-1) will be the host for the Knights, who defeated L.C. Bird yesterday.

Third-ranked Hermitage (6-0, 9-1) compiled 332 yards total offense and rolled to its third consecutive Colonial District championship. Quarterback Brendon Riddick completed 11 of 18 passes for 206 yards, two touchdowns and an interception . He also scored a rushing TD. Anthony Vieng (3 receptions, 101 yards) and Derek Britt caught the TD passes. Easton Gordon led the ground game with 114 yards on 14 carries. Linebackers Curtis Grant (12 tackles, sack) and Daryl Howell (eight tackles) and defensive back Brandon Rogers (four tackles, two interceptions) spearheaded the Panthers’ defense. Jayrin Waller rushed for 39 yards on 14 carries for Patrick Henry (3-4, 4-6), which finished under .500 for the first time since 1992.

Alfred Traylor Dudley’s efforts to bring history to life for Hermitage High School students kept Bruce Bowen coming back for more. Bowen took American history from Mr. Dudley during the 1966-1967 school year. Upon finishing college, Bowen returned to Hermitage—and to Mr. Dudley. “When I became a teacher, he was in Room 148, and I was next door in Room 150. And we taught next door to each other for 20 years,“ recalled Bowen, who retired last spring as Hermitage’s athletic and activities director.

Hermitage High School’s athletic booster club has received $2,040 from Richmond Ford and Ford Motor Co. from a recent Drive One 4 UR School event. By test-driving a car, 102 people raised $20 apiece for the school. During the past two years, Ford has provided more than $1.3 million to high schools that have participated in the program.

Brendan Riddick threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as the Panthers scored the last 53 points to stay unbeaten in the Colonial District by beating the Vikings. Easton Gordon (70 yards) hauled in a Riddick touchdown and rushed another one in for Hermitage (6-0, 8-1). Derrick Britt led all the receivers with 84 yards on five catches and Nick Yurchak and Desmond Williams each caught touchdown passes. Raynard Revels led the defensive effort with three tackels and a 10-yard interception return for a score.

Hermitage’s Erin Fitzgerald got 10 kills and Kristi Richardson handed out 21 assists as the Panthers defeated Maggie Walker 3-0 in the opening round of the Colonial District girls volleyball tournament. Fitzgerald also got six aces and a dig and Richardson added four kills and four blocks.

Boys volleyball: Mills Godwin 3, Hermitage 0  11/02/09 9:28 PM