New Kent holds off Colonial Heights’ rally to capture football season opener

New Kent’s Austin Brown (78) corrals speedy Colonial Heights’ quarterback Za’marion Mason (2) for a loss in the backfield.

Robb Johnson photo

After a disappointing outcome that resulted on missing the playoffs, New Kent’s football team looked to make amends in their home opener Friday night as they hosted the Colonial Heights’ Colonials.

Despite jumping out to a massive lead, New Kent had to hold on as they withstood a comeback from the visitors in a 21-14 win inside of the Ed Allen Jr. Athletic Complex.

New Kent went on the offensive early in the game. A connection by Ashton Whitlow to Ryan Grey for 25 yards followed by Khoen Christian’s 26-yard scamper placed the Trojans inside the 10-yard line. From there, Grey’s tote into the end zone provided the hosts a 7-0 lead.

Whitlow, now on the defensive side of the ball, intercepted Colonial Heights’ quarterback Za’Marion Mason on the visitors’ opening drive. From there, New Kent marched down the field with Christian taking it in on the ground from 13 yards out to up the hosts advantage to 13-0 in the first quarter.

In the next frame, New Kent continued to overcome self-inflicted penalties in marching down the field. After back-to-back penalties nullified gains, Christian would strike on the ground again, this time on a 44-yard gash that provided New Kent a 19-0 lead with 6:33 remaining until halftime.

But New Kent continued to make mental errors, resulting in penalty yardage and setting up Colonial Heights in decent starting position. The visitors capitalized as Daviyon Warner crossed the goal line from three yards out to cut New Kent’s lead down to 13 (19-6) as the teams entered halftime intermission.

After a scoreless third quarter, New Kent’s defense placed points on the board, as a sack by Austin Brown on the Colonials’ quarterback resulted in a safety and a 21-6 lead for New Kent.

After the hosts failed to capitalize on the free kick, the visitors received the big play they were looking for in the night. After the setback during the last offensive series by the Colonial Heights’ quarterback, Mason was able to sweep around the left side of the line and dazzled his way to an 82-yard touchdown run. A converted two-point conversion by the visitors cut New Kent’s lead down to a single score (21-14) with just over five minutes in regulation.

The visitors got the much needed stop against the Trojans, forcing New Kent to punt with 1:30 remaining. New Kent’s Thomas Wilson saw his punt partially blocked, resulting in the Colonials scooping the ball and returning the ball inside the Trojans’ 20-yard line to set up the possible game tying and winning scores.

But that field position was quickly thwarted on the offensive series, as Colonial Heights was hit with a chop block penalty, forcing them closer to midfield. One last attempt by Mason saw New Kent defenseman Seth Bayens force a fumble and recover it, ending the game. From there, the hosts kneeled on the ball to conclude the contest.

The Trojans improve to 1-0 on the season.