Top-ranked Essex spoils Charles City’s homecoming celebration

Charles City's Ladainian Hall (5) split Essex defenders Jaden Holmes (2) and James Beazley (54) as teammate Joseph Simms (55) aids in blocking.

Robb Johnson photo

Friday night’s homecoming contest for Charles City’s Panthers featured the hosts welcoming the number two Group 1A team in the state Essex Trojans to Leon C. Miles Memorial Stadium. And while the Essex Trojans did exert dominance on the scoreboard, it was the Panthers miscues that proved to be their downfall.

Six first half turnovers led to easy scores for the visiting Trojans as they emerged with a 51-0 victory over the Panthers.

Essex needed less than a minute for the opening score as they drove 54 yards down the field, with quarterback Xzayviia Bundy scoring from one yard out.

Charles City looked to bounce back on their first opening possession. Ladainian Hall’s run off the left side of the line on the opening play went for 26 yards and crossed into Essex territory, something the visitors hadn’t been used to. But on the next play, James Harris IV fumble resulted in a recovery by the Trojans. Jaden Holmes capitalized for the visitors with a 25-yard touchdown run.

On the next series, a poor punt by Charles City was scooped up by Essex and returned for the score. After the Panthers were placed in another fourth down situation, Cosey Robinson’s punt was blocked by Essex, with Trojan Alyjah Rich picking it up for a scoop and score to up the visitors’ advantage to 26-0 by the end of the first.

An interception of Charles City’s quarterback Taylor Bey set up the next score for Trojans early in the second quarter. Another score provided the visitors a 44-0 halftime lead.

Essex added another touchdown in the third, but the hard work of Charles City didn’t go unnoticed. At the end of the third, Bey connected with Shane Jones on a 14-yard pass, with a facemask penalty tacking on another 15 yards. Another Hall run along with a Bey quarterback keeper put the hosts deep into Essex territory. But four consecutive offensive passes fell short, and the Trojans ran out the remaining time to close out the game.

After the contest, Charles City Head Coach Sherod Jones emphasized that his schedule of playing good teams will only get them better.

“When you play good teams, you have to get them to march 70-plus yards on every drive,” he said. “But if they start at midfield, they are already halfway to the end zone.

“We have improved and gotten better, but we have to continue to fight,” Jones added. “We are still learning and telling the guys not to look at the scoreboard. We are still young and by taking our lumps, this core group will return to do great things. But for now, we turn our focus to John Marshall and hopefully we can get a win.”

Charles City remains winless with a record of 0-5.