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Titans Finish 10-0 Regular Season

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style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>Another 10-0 Season for Titans:
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>
115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>For the tenth time in the last 14 years, the Lake
Taylor Titans are Champions of the Eastern District in football.
style=> They overcame an early 14-7 deficit in
Portsmouth on Saturday night and scored 42 unanswered points to beat the
class=SpellE>Norcom Greyhounds, 49-14.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Lake Taylor's victory wrapped up a perfect 10-0 regular
season, their third in six years.
Perhaps most importantly though was securing the #1 overall seed for the
Eastern Region Division 5 Playoffs, meaning every game will be at home and in
the city of Norfolk as they try to reach the State Playoffs for the first time
since 1982.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"They bounced back," Lake Taylor Head Football Coach
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Hank Sawyer said in regards to trailing
early. "They're teenagers and they've
been through a lot, playing two games in one week and listening to me barking,
hollering. We wanted to keep the top
seed because if I don't have to go on the Peninsula, I don't want to go on the
Peninsula."
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>The Titans have now scored 40 or more points eight
times this year and rank second in the Eastern Region in scoring at 46 a
contest. Igniting Lake Taylor's latest
offensive onslaught was versatile senior talent
normal'>Donovan Powell, who can play quarterback, running back or wide
receiver on offense as well as in the secondary on defense.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Powell operated at QB in their twin-veer system,
rushing for 101 yards and a career-high four touchdowns on 14 attempts.
style=> Consistently, he was able to move the
chains. That included Lake Taylor going
6-for-11 on third downs and converting all three of their fourth down opportunities.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"I just want to thank my line for the protection.
style=> I felt like I needed to step up in my role to
create some good momentum for my team.
It took us a while to get right, and that was even during practice the
whole week. As soon as we got in a
groove and came together as one, things started to click better for us," Powell
remarked afterwards.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"I feel like we need to correct some of the small
mistakes to be even better, and I think we're going to take it to another level
next week. We just have to focus at one
game at a time, and I think if we can do that we can get to our goal, which is
State's. This team is real hungry."
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Lake Taylor needed a game-winning touchdown catch on
fourth down as time expired to beat Granby, 27-25 two weeks ago, and just four
days earlier won a 63-40 shoot-out versus Churchland.
style=> Their defense surrendered more points (65) in
those two contests than they did in their seven previous games combined
(27).
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>It took Norcom less than six
minutes to get points thanks to a 59-yard touchdown pass from
class=SpellE>Darron
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> Downing to
normal'>Darius Jackson along with a 64-yard run from
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Traquan
normal'> Martin to set up Downing 1-yard TD sneak.
style=> The Greyhounds gained 135 yards on 16 plays
in the opening half, but were 0-for-3 on third downs and trailed by two touchdowns.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Lake Taylor's defense stepped up in the second half,
allowing only 20 total yards and keeping Norcom out
of the red zone as well as the end zone.
This victory over a Greyhounds team that reached the region title game a
year ago and pitched a 27-0 shutout the last time the Titans came to Portsmouth
should raise their confidence going into the postseason.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"I think we got it back a little bit today.
style=> I'm going to have to put up a few new
defensive fronts because you show your hand at being really good early, and
then people say I've got to ready to stop this, stop this.
style=> The same way I want to run the ball, I've got
to stop being so stubborn and change some things defensively to keep people
honest to take some pressure off my kids," Sawyer noted.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"That's why you need coaching.
style=> Sometimes you get in that funk like we did
last week against Churchland.
style=> Kids don't know how to get out of that
funk. You've got to help them get out of
that and show them. We couldn't do a lot
of contact this week and we did a lot of film [study]."
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>
mso-highlight:yellow'>Quarterback Talent & Depth:
style=> Lake Taylor has been so productive on
offense largely because of the balance and amount of weapons they have.
style=> Through three quarters of play, the titans
rushed for 289 yards on 41 attempts. They
were so methodical and effective in their approach during the third period that
they had a 23:26 to 11:52 advantage in Time of Possession late in the third
quarter.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>The Titans attack opponents with multiple receivers
that do damage in Harry Freeman (12 TD
catches on the year), Jakale
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> Pinkney (38-yard
TD on slant pattern in the 4thQ),
normal'>Nhyre
class=SpellE>Quinerly and mammoth 6-foot-5 tight end
class=SpellE>Jalyn
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> Holmes.
style=> Tailbacks
normal'>Brandon 'Pork Chop' Moore and
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Daquan
normal'> Davis have combined for over 2200 yards rushing and 27TD's as well.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>At the quarterback position, Powell is a threat on the
run and Delmon
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> Williams continues to be sharp
slinging the ball to their many talented weapons as he will go into the
playoffs with a gaudy 23-0TD/Int. ratio, plus has completed over 60% of his
passes for the year.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"We're trying to keep you off balanced.
style=> Early in my career, I started out and was
just run, run, run," Sawyer admitted. "Now
I don't mind throwing the ball a little bit."
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Having two QB's with the ability to hurt defenses gives
Lake Taylor flexibility and makes their attack all the more diverse moving
forward. That should also complicate the
preparation for defenses that will see the Titans in the playoffs.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"We're not only alternating them, but both of them are
in the game at the same time. You should
see Delmon Williams catch the football.
style=> He plays scout team receiver for us a lot of
times. He can catch the football real
well," Sawyer went on to say.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"Donovan's just unbelievable in space.
style=> Let's face it he's a better athlete in space
than Delmon is, whereas Delmon's
a better passer than Donovan is. With
that two-headed monster, we're blessed.
We have five quarterbacks on this team.
Even Marquise [
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Poole] played quarterback for ten games
for Booker T."
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>
mso-highlight:yellow'>Davis Emerging:
style=> Transferring over from Norview, Davis has
really thrived late in the season for the Titans.
style=> Against Churchland,
he carried the rock 15 times for a personal-best 229 yards.
style=> He ran 14 times versus Norcom,
grinding out 80 yards against a Greyhounds defense that doesn't miss too many
tackles.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Davis' emergence has allowed Moore to catch a breather
when needed and he's showing he has the ability to put the offense on his back
if called upon.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"He can do some things.
If you want to key on Pork Chop, go ahead because Daquan
can pop," Sawyer stated. "We feel good
about him and he'll make you miss. He's
very quick."
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Davis, who checks in at 5-foot-6, 160-pounds, took
quite a pounding despite being a smaller guy.
Now ten games into Lake Taylor's system, he has adjusted pretty well and
hopes to be a major factor for them in the postseason.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"I'm a little sore, but we've got to rev it up even
more for the playoffs. This was a good
win for us as we get ready for what's up ahead.
We knew we had to win this game to get the Eastern District title, and
this is just one step towards going for a State Championship," Davis said.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"I'm a little bit more comfortable than I was at the
beginning. I'm starting to understand
the system more. Things are coming to me
easier now and I'm just trying to do what I can for my team."
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>
mso-highlight:yellow'>Familiar Foe Awaits Greyhounds:
style=> Norcom will
enter the Eastern Region D-5 Playoffs as the #6 seed and play the third-seeded
Hampton Crabbers at Todd Stadium in Newport News.
style=> It's the sixth meeting between the two
schools since 2009 and fourth straight year they face off in the
postseason.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Hampton has won four of the last five meetings during
that stretch, including 27-13 earlier this year in the regular season.
style=> However, the Greyhounds did end the Crabbers'
campaign in the regional semifinals last year, 20-14 at Darling Stadium.
style=> Norcom is hoping
the same thing that happened in 2011 occurs this November, which was beat a
Crabbers that defeated them in the regular season in 'win or go home' mode.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>
115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Postgame Audio with Coach Hank Sawyer
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>
115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>
Stats:
style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Lake
Taylor 49:
normal'>
Delmon Williams - - 9-13 for 163Yds. 2-0TD/Int. ratio
Donovan Powell - - 14Car. 101Yds. 4TD's
Brandon 'Pork Chop' Moore - - 18Car. 90Yds.
Daquan Davis - - 14Car. 80Yds.
Harry Freeman - - 3Rec. 65Yds. TD
Jakale Pinkney - - 3Rec.
57Yds. TD
Jalyn Holmes - - 2Rec. 37Yds; 4 Tackles, 3TFL, Sack
Shiheem Johnson - - 4 Solo Tackles, TFL, Sack, QBH
style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Norcom
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>
line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> 14:
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>
115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>
Traquan Martin - - 8Car. 90Yds;
1Rec. 8Yds.
Darron
Downing - - 3-11 for 89Yds. 1-0TD/Int. ratio; 8Car.
12Yds. TD
Darius Jackson - - 1Rec. 59Yds. TD
Triquan Holman - - 10 Tackles (8 Solo
class=GramE>)
Fred Harris - - 8 Solo Tackles
Antony 'Tweety' Styles - - 7 Tackles
style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> 
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";text-decoration:none;text-underline:
none'>Matthew Hatfield
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>
has covered Eastern Region Football & Basketball since 2004 for
href="http://www.virginiapreps.com">
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
text-decoration:none;text-underline:none'>VirginiaPreps.com
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>, part of the Rivals.com
Network. Check out
href="http://www.twitter.com/hatfieldsports">
normal'>
text-decoration:none;text-underline:none'>Hatfield's Twitter page
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> for more sports related updates,
and you can also read his work in the
href="http://www.suffolknewsherald.com">
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