Hermitage shuts down Highland Springs 24-12

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.

Thomas Dale defeated Hermitage in the region semifinals in 2002. The Knights went on to win the region title.

Hermitage defeated Highland Springs for the third time in six years in the region semifinals. The Panthers won the region crown in 2007.

Everyone knew the defenses would be center stage in last night's meeting. Highland Springs wound up with 169 yards total offense. Hermitage had 163.

The Panthers won because "they won the field position battle on a wet field," Highland Springs coach Loren Johnson said.

Neither team mounted any kind of sustained attack. Highland Springs scored first after DeShawn Holmes recovered a fumbled punt on the Hermitage 20-yard line. JaQuan Burchette connected on an 18-yard TD pass to Wyatt Johnson with 3:34 remaining in the first quarter.

The Springers (9-2) didn't threaten again until they scored with 3:08 left in the game on a 3-yard run by John Saunders.

"They executed well. We had to stay on our P's and Q's to execute with them," Grant said.

The Panthers, aided by a personal foul penalty, went 44 yards in four plays early in the second quarter for their first score. Quarterback Brendan Riddick looked one way then found Desmond Williams wide open in the end zone from 14 yards out. John Stiebel kicked the extra point that put Hermitage on top to stay.

Following an interception by Brandon Rogers, who returned it 24 yards, Hermitage settled for a Stiebel field goal from 27 yards out with 0:21 on the clock to lead 10-6 at halftime.

Neither team scored in the third quarter, but a short Highland Springs punt, a good return by Anthony Vieng and a face mask penalty on the Springers put Hermitage on the HS 23-yard line. Riddick scored on a 3-yard run up the middle to increase the Panthers' lead.

Riddick, a junior, ran the ball nine times and threw four passes in Hermitage's first three possessions of the second half.

"It's never a one-man offense. Our goal was to handle their defensive line, block and make plays," Riddick said. "We couldn't have done it without our offensive line. People think of [our offense] as a sleeper. We put up 24 points on one of the best defenses in the state."

The Panthers' final TD belonged to the defense. Burchette fumbled a snap on the goal line, and linebacker Daryl Howell recovered in the end zone.

Grant was in on 15 tackles. Howell had eight tackles, and Rogers six. Raynard Revels collected three sacks and six tackles.

"We have a very good defense that sets the tone for the team," Hermitage coach Patrick Kane said. "[The offense] scored when we needed to. It's rare when a coach can say all three phases played well in a really big game."

Highland Springs ------------------------- 6 0 0 6 -- 12
Hermitage ------------------------- 0 10 0 14 -- 24

HS -- Johnson 18 pass from Burchette (kick failed)

H -- Williams 14 pass from Riddick (Stiebel kick)

H -- FG Stiebel 27

H -- Riddick 3 run (Stiebel kick)

H -- Howell fumble recovery in end zone (Stiebel kick)

HS -- Saunders 3 run (run failed)

RUSHING

Highland Springs: Saunders 13 carries 44 yards, Burchette 14-48, Thompson 2-8, Folsom 1-minus 7. Hermitage: Riddick 22-48, Gordon 11-25.

PASSING

Highland Springs: Burchette 8 completions 23 attempts 76 yards, 1 interception. Hermitage: Riddick 9-20-90.

RECEIVING

Highland Springs: Carter 2 receptions 31 yards, Pugh 2-20, Johnson 1-18, Saunders 1-minus 5, Folsom 1-5. Hermitage: Williams 2-24, Yurchak 2-22, Vieng 1-26, Gordon 3-18, Britt 1-0.