VIDEO - Green Run Wins ODU 7 on 7 Passing Tournament
Old Dominion University was the site of the more talent-rich 7 on 7 Passing Tournaments put on in Hampton Roads in quite some time. A total of 16 teams competed on Saturday, June 11, 2022 on the campus of the Norfolk school transitioning from Conference USA to the Sun Belt this year.
Coming out on top as Champions of the star-studded field were the Green Run Stallions out of Virginia Beach, who capped a steamy day in the heat with a perfect 9-0 mark by day by taking down reigning Class 4 State Champion Varina for the hardware.
"It was very sunny all day, but I'm glad of our boys' outcome. They came to compete at a high level and I'm proud of them," declared Green Run Head Football Coach Brandon Williams afterwards, pleased to compete in front of Ricky Rahne and the Monarchs' coaches as spectators watched eagerly from the seats at S.B. Ballard Stadium.
"Coach Rahne and his staff did a great job of putting this event together. I'm looking forward to what they're building and I love with what they're doing with this program here at ODU."
In the tourney, Green Run first defeated Great Bridge before surviving a tussle from Indian River in the quarterfinals. They then took down Western Branch - with highly regarded WR/DB Paul Billups - in the semifinals.
Varina, led by a Top 10 prospect in the state from the Class of 2023 as well in Kaveion Keys, reached the Final by eliminating Flint Hill in the tourney's opening round, followed by ousting Oscar Smith in the quarterfinals and their Richmond counterpart Manchester in the semis.
Green Run's aerial attack was led by QB Kevin White, a newcomer to the squad from Menchville. White fired multiple touchdown passes in the Championship to Class of 2024 receivers Keylen 'Brodie' Adams and Tasean Young-Stieff, both of whom hold double-digit scholarship offers and combined 73 receptions for 1682 yards and 24 TD's as sophomores.
The deep ball was often on display throughout the event, and figures to be a big component to the offense this year.
"He's got a big arsenal to throw to and those guys can make plays with the ball in their hands," Williams said. "Replacing Xavier who put up big numbers, we're expecting him to do the same thing. Both of them are ball players. Xavier was a great quarterback and I think Kevin will be a great quarterback. I'm looking forward to the numbers he'll put up."
Adams, one of the most coveted rising juniors in the nation, has been a quiet leader by example that teammates respect.
"He's a ball player. We're expecting big things from him," Williams said of one of the premier vertical threats in the state. "Every day in practice, they see his work ethic. It's definitely rubbing off on the other guys. We're going to put the ball in his hands and let him do some work."
Defensively, the Green Run secondary was sound with Tyler Baker, Milt Ferguson and Kaevon Blanding (younger brother of former Bayside star and UVA safety Quin Blanding) all hovering around the football.
"They're going to be our leaders on the defensive side of the ball. We're going to be pretty solid on the back end, which we always are," Williams noted. "With those three back there, I'll be surprised if anybody throws the ball on us.
Another newcomer that made noise in the secondary is sophomore Knahlij Harrell, whose older brother Kwantay Anderson starred for the Stallions and is now at Howard University.
"He's definitely ready to step up to the challenge," Williams commented of Harrell.
Following the program's first ever regional title and State Semifinal appearance on the gridiron, the Stallions have high expectations. Green Run enjoyed a heck of a ride last year, but it didn't end the way they wanted with a resounding 35-7 home loss to Maury.
"Ever since that dreary day in December, we've been preaching finish. That's heavy on their mind," Williams stated. "They want to get back to that point and I think we're taking the right steps to get back to that point. We finished the tournament."
But while the tournament is done, Green Run's not finished in its pursuit of the ultimate prize: a State Championship.
Matthew Hatfield serves as Publisher for VirginiaPreps.com, part of the Rivals.com Network, and is a regular contributor to the ACC Sports Journal. Check out Hatfield’s Twitter page for more sports related updates, and you can also read his work in the Suffolk News Herald. To contact Matthew, please e-mail hatfieldsports2k4@yahoo.com, and don’t forget to listen to him from 10 AM to Noon on 757 Saturday Sports Talk on ESPN Radio 94.1.