The Shadow
SUSSEX – Speed kills.
The Covington Cougars got a first-hand look at the damage it can do as they fell to the Sussex Central Tigers in Saturday’s Group A,?��Division 1 Eastern Section playoffs, 88-8.
The Tigers rushed for 482 yards on 21 carries in the first half as they jumped out to an astonishing 74-8 lead at the half.
“A lot of athleticism and a lot of speed,” said Dressler. “If I could say one thing about the team we played today, they’re the Tigers and I give them the first name Tony and recommend that they do commercials for Kellogg’s because they’re grrrrreat.
“That is no joke,” added the Covington coach. “They are a very good football team. They run the veer very well and they did a great job today.”
The opening kickoff of the game foreshadowed just how quick the Tigers really were as John Jones took the kick and raced 90 yards in 13 seconds to get the Tigers on the board and the first of eight two-point conversions gave Sussex an 8-0 lead.
That started the onslaught as Sussex added four more scores in the quarter.
Darian Curley covered 82 yards on the Tigers next possession and Tyquan Johnson raced 62 yards on Sussex Central’s third possession of the game to increase the Tigers’ lead to 22-0 with 5:12 remaining in the first quarter.
Jeronte Langford scored from 49 yards out and Johnson scored his second touchdown of the game on a 27-yard scamper to give the Tigers a 36-0 lead after the first quarter.
Sussex Central led 44-0 before the Cougars got on the board when quarterback Troy Helton rolled to his right and hit Brandon Phillips for a five-yard touchdown pass. Helton’s two-point run made the score 44-8 with 7:17 to play in the first half.
Johnson scored his second touchdown of the game from 49 yards out on the first play of the Tigers next drive and Curley found the end zone for the third time on the day from 45 yards out to increase the Tigers’ lead to 58-6.
Darrell Taylor then returned an Andrew Alban punt 52 yards for the Tigers’ ninth touchdown of the first half and Johnson’s 36-yard TD run as the second quarter clock expired gave him his third touchdown of the day and Sussex Central a 74-8 lead at the break.
Curley rushed for 184 yards and three scores on five carries in the first half, while Langford tallied 153 yards and two scores on seven attempts and Johnson had 138 yards and three scores on seven carries.
“We just never recovered from the opening kickoff and it kind of snowballed from there,” said Dressler.
The two teams agreed to play eight minute quarters in the second half to reduce the chance of injury and the Tigers got two scores from running back Churrio Scott in the second half for the 88-8 final.
Scott rushed for 109 yards and two TDs on eight second half carries.
The 88 points put up by Sussex Central set a new VHSL playoff scoring record, breaking the mark set in King William’s 82-0 victory over Arcadia in a Region A, Division 2 semifinal in 1999.
The Tigers finished the game with 614 yards rushing on 39 carries, while Covington totalled just 121 yards of total offense.
Helton rushed for 75 yards on 16 carries, while completing 3 of 12 passes for 54 yards and one score with one interception.
“I told the team thank you for a great ride,” said Dressler. “We went 9-4, it’s been a long time since we had a winning season like that and I just can’t thank them enough for the hard work that they put in.
“You never want your season to end whether it’s the state championship or quarterfinals, somewhere it’s going to end,” added Dressler. “But hey, we had a great season and we know what to build on.”
The loss ended the careers of 11 seniors that dotted the Covington roster.
Warren Harrison, Kody McLaughlin, Jacorey Hughes, Dominique Jordan, Alban, Lucas Via, Jackson Hinkle, Lucas Paxton, Kevin Tyson and Jamie Cobb suited up in the blue and gold uniforms for the final time of their high school football careers.
Sussex Central (12-1) will host the Clintwood Greenwave (11-2) in next week’s Group A, Division 1 semifinals, while Galax (13-0) will host Central Lunenburg (10-3).
Covington ended the season with a 9-4 record and won their first outright Pioneer District title since 1999.
