Morgan, Generals oust Rebels

Dinwiddie quarterback Adam Morgan knew this season wouldn't end like the last one.

Douglas Freeman shut down the Generals' opening possession in the Central Region Division 5 semifinals. In three plays, the Rebels pushed the powerful Dinwiddie offense back 4 yards and poked the ball loose from Morgan. After taking over at the Dinwiddie 31-yard line, the Rebels needed just four more plays for senior Robby Blanchard to find the end zone on a 14-yard run.

Freeman never scored again, though, and Dinwiddie went on to win 38-7.

Morgan led the rally, running for a touchdown and throwing for three more on his way to breaking the Virginia High School League record for career completions and for touchdown passes.

"I couldn't get it done without my teammates," Morgan said. "Especially defense. They put them off tonight."

Last fall, Dinwiddie fell out of the Central Region playoffs in the semifinals, getting upset by visiting Patrick Henry.

"That was motivation all off season," Morgan said. "Leave no doubts is our motto, that's what we're trying to do here."

Generals receiver Jerrell White admitted that quick strike from Douglas Freeman brought back the memory.

"We were a little nervous," he said. "When they scored first, we were a little nervous. We didn't show it though. I ain't expecting that."

On the following possession, Morgan took Dinwiddie 74 yards in less than a minute. He completed a pair of long passes, 36 yards to White, 19 yards to Terron Addams, and rushed for 18 yards before making a 1-yard touchdown run.

Kicker Chad Jones tied the game at 7-7, and Dinwiddie never trailed again. In the second half, the Generals' defense never allowed the Rebels closer to the red zone than a failed 41-yard field goal attempt on the opening possession of the third quarter.

Addams and Andre Thweatt each picked off a Sam Jacobson pass in the second half.

Morgan moved the offense confidently downfield. He and White connected for a pair of second-half touchdown passes. With starting running back Mark Beville pulled from the game for a banged-up ankle, backup quarterback Chris Hall picked up some carries and rushed for the icing touchdown.

The extra point attempt was delayed when right tackle David Abbey was banged up on the touchdown run and left on a stretcher. Generals coach Billy Mills said that the measure was largely precautionary and Abbey appeared to have a stinger.

For Morgan and White, the record-setting touchdown pass was nice symmetry. White's first touchdown catch was from Morgan. For both of the then-freshmen, it was their first varsity game.

"It was a fade route down the middle," Morgan said, shivering in the cold at his home field. "And ever since then, we've played rec league together, we've just had a connection through our whole lives. I understand where he's going to be and he understands where I'm going to put the ball."