12/11/2023 football Edit

Phantoms Complete 3-Peat in Dramatic Fashion

Will Garlick • VirginiaPreps

Writer VirginiaPreps.com

Will Garlick has been with VirginiaPreps.com since 2006. Will served 20 years in the US Air Force and received his Masters degree from Florida Institute of Technology. Email williamgarlick@yahoo.com

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Freshman quarterback Marikus Banks found receiver Keyontae Gray behind the Salem defense for an 86-yard touchdown completion with one second on the clock to give Phoebus their third straight State Championship, 21-14 over Salem.

Before one of the most dramatic finishes to a state title game in VHSL history, Banks was sacked on the previous play as the clock almost ran out, but found enough time to see Gray sneaking down the middle of the field for the eventual winning score.

Phoebus receiver Keyontae Gray made a play at the end of the 2023 VHSL Class 4 State Championship that won't soon be forgotten by football fans all across the Commonwealth (Kaitlyn Olson, VirginiaPreps.com)

Less than a minute before Gray's heroics, Salem had tied the score with 58 seconds left after an interception by Georgia commit Chris Cole, #1 rated prospect in Virginia for the Class of 2024 by Rivals.

Cole returned the pass to the Phoebus 5-yard line. Jayveon Jones ran it in from 2-yards out and the 2-point pass from Eli Taylor to Josiah Moyer knotted up the score at 14-all with under a minute to go.

Phoebus used an 11-play, 46-yard scoring drive to take a 14-6 lead with 4:14 remaining in the 3rd. Paul Stephen Davis ran a jet sweep to the right corner to extend the Phantoms lead.

As for Phoebus' other score, it came on the first drive of the game when they took 7:30 minutes off the clock. Davion Roberts ended the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, his 29th of the season.

Salem answered in the second quarter on the final play before halftime. Tennessee commit Peyton Lewis ran it in from 3-yards out, but the extra point was no good and that kept the Phoebus lead at 7-6 at half-time.

Peyton Lewis grinds for yardage in the running game against the tough Phoebus defense (Will Garlick)

Banks was poised in the pocket on the game-winning drive and he finished the game 11 of 17 for 165 yards and a touchdown. Keyontae Gray finished with two receptions for 87 yards. He also blocked the extra point attempt. Junior Davion Roberts carried 21 times for 65 yards and a touchdown. Nathaniel Anthony was credited with 12 tackles

Salem was led by Peyton Lewis with 88 yards on 27 carries. Just a week prior in the semifinal round against Tuscarora, he ran for 373 yards and 4 TD's on 30 attempts.

Cole had one reception for 30 yards, turning out to be the Spartans' only pass reception of the game. Jaelyn Allen, the Region 4D Defensive Player of the Year, had a game-high 13 tackles, including eight solo stops. Cole added a sack, interception and tackle for loss among his nine tackles.