Controversial finish allows Warhill to escape New Kent with 13-7 victory

New Kent’s Wade Grubbs (56) pulls down Warhill running back Chase Julio (22) to slow the speedster down early in Friday night’s contest.

Robb Johnson photo

Friday night’s slugfest between the hosting New Kent Trojans and the visiting Warhill Lions provided the latest example of how every yard and second counts in football. But the controversial conclusion of the game provided an outcome that the home team questioned even after the final horn sounded.

New Kent Trojan quarterback Joey Campbell was stopped short of the goal line as time expired as Warhill emerged with a 13-7 victory in the Bay Rivers District contest.

Scoring remained at a premium until a blocked punt by New Kent’s Wade Grubbs in the second quarter set up excellent field position for the Trojans. After a personal foul by Warhill, Jamie Jones’ 11-yard scamper set up Campbell’s two-yard tote for the first score of the game, providing the hosts a 7-0 lead.

New Kent maintained their advantage until the second half, when Warhill orchestrated back-to-back touchdowns to take a 13-7 lead. The visitors held that lead as New Kent entered into its final drive with 2:38 remaining in the final quarter.

Starting at the 47-yard line in Warhill territory, New Kent saw drives kept alive due to Lions’ miscues. First, it was a pass interference penalty that moved the ball 15 yards down the field. Moments later after a Campbell scamper for 20 yards, it was a roughing the passer penalty the put the ball inside the 10-yard line for the hosts.

Warhill’s defense brought down New Kent on two consecutive stops, forcing them to lose yardage. With the clock under 20 seconds, Campbell completed a pass to Isaiah Singleton who was brought down at the one-yard line. New Kent got the snap off as Campbell barreled behind the right side of his offensive line. Officials signaled a fumble and that it was short, but a flag was thrown on the play as a Warhill coach ran out on the field to argue the spot of the ball. After the officiating crew congregated, the flag was ultimately picked up as it was deemed that the game had concluded prior to the coach coming onto the field and sending Trojan fans home disappointed.

After the contest, New Kent head coach John McCauley disagreed with the final decision and explanation provided by officials after the contest.

“I thought Campbell got in,” the head coach commented. “I did not see where he fumbled.

“The unsportsmanlike penalty was against one of their coaches and they said the game was over when the flag was thrown,” McCauley continued. “It should have been a penalty and we should have had a free play at the end. We played a good game and should have come out on top.

“I do not feel that team is better than us, but they fought hard and we just have to come back and get our stuff together against York,” the head coach concluded.