New Kent Charles City Chronicle

News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | March 29, 2024

New Kent survives scare from Tabb, keeps playoff hopes alive

By Robb Johnson | October 23, 2022 1:48 am

New Kent’s Peyton Williamson (left) is able to wrestle down Tabb speedy running back Dimarcus Gantt (4) for a loss.

Robb Johnson photo

After dropping their homecoming contest to Grafton, New Kent’s Trojans find themselves in a position that they prefer not to be in when it comes to playoff positioning, on the outside looking in. And in a Friday night road game at Tabb, things didn’t seem promising for the Trojans.

But a miscue by the Tabb Tigers late in the contest resulted in New Kent’s Ashton Whitlow’s late game score that elevated the Trojans to a 14-13 win, keeping their playoff hopes alive.

Early in the first quarter, Whitlow intercepted Tabb signal-caller Cole Sigler, returning it deep into Tiger territory and setting up a possible score. However, a fumble by New Kent’s Joseph Batkins saw Tabb’s Lance Koontz scoop the ball up. The Tiger would return the ball 83 yards for a score. Adding the extra point, the hosts led New Kent 7-0 less than five minutes in the game.

On Tabb’s next offensive series, Sigler connected with tight end Camryn Dixon on a 58-yard strike to get the ball down to the four-yard line in New Kent territory. Two plays later, Tiger running back Kyrell Alexander punched the ball in for another score, boosting Tabb’s lead to 13-0 with 5:22 remaining in the first quarter. However, New Kent blocked the extra point attempt, something that would be a key factor later in the line.

Meanwhile, New Kent’s attempts to score in the first half fell to the wayside due to miscues. At the end of the second quarter, Khoen Christian’s toss attempt to teammate Ryan Gray saw the New Kent Trojan bobble the ball and slip out his hands as time expired. The result of the play kept the visiting Trojans scoreless heading into the halftime intermission.

New Kent turned to the air to begin the third quarter of play. Christian connected with Whitlow on a fourth down attempt down the sideline to keep the Trojan offense on the field. Moments later, Whitlow hauled in a pass down the middle of the field in the end zone for a New Kent touchdown. Taytan Hybiak’s placement cut Tabb’s lead down to six (13-7).

Tabb maintained the lead deep into the fourth quarter and regained the ball after New Kent’s Thomas Wilson was forced to punt to the hosts. The Tigers were able to get out the shadow of their own goal post, but a crucial fumble on a pitch play saw New Kent dive on the ball at the 25-yard line, returning possession to the visitors.

Whitlow transitioned into the quarterback role with a minute showing on the clock. Taking the snap from the shotgun formation, Whitlow found a seam for a 10-yard scamper and a score to tie the game up at 13 apiece. Facing the pressure of a tied game, Hybiak calmly converted the extra point kick, giving New Kent a 14-13 lead with 30 seconds remaining.

Tabb garnered good field position on the ensuing kickoff. However, New Kent’s defense deflected all attempts for the hosts to move the ball into field goal range, stopping the progress of Tabb as time expired on the clock.

After the contest, New Kent Head Coach John McCauley talked about the comeback victory.

“We never gave up tonight and we just kept fighting and believing,” he said. “We came out in the second half and played football.

“We had to let go of our mistakes [in the first half] and we came together as a team and pulled out a great win,” McCauley concluded.

New Kent evens up their record on the year at 4-4.