Wayne Christian can't slow down Southampton's running attack

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 23, 2015 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

The frustration showed on Gavin Wiley's face as he gathered his helmet and walked toward the sideline Thursday evening.

He spoke not a word.

The two-way starter didn't need to say anything.

Wayne Christian head football coach Victor Young said it for Wiley and his teammates, who endured a season-ending 50-16 loss to Southampton (Va.) Academy in 8-man football action.

"Our guys, we won the last two games, we came out and they just jumped all over us. They kept the pedal on (full speed) until the last second ticked off the clock. (They) just played harder, flat out got it done.

"Our defense couldn't get stops."

Southampton eighth-grader Montae Barrett and ninth-grader Josh Smiley combined to rush for 452 yards and account for all seven of the Raiders' touchdowns. Barrett hauled in two touchdown receptions of 2 and 11 yards from quarterback Winston Browne.

The Raiders (3-3 overall) collected seven touchdowns on 10 offensive possessions, and logged a second-quarter safety.

"Number two (Barrett), he was a stud ... think he had a career night on us," Young said. "We just couldn't do anything with him. He's probably the best running back we've faced all year. He's the fastest (and) he's the strongest."

Trailing 18-8 late in the second quarter, sixth-grade quarterback Jaydon Young directed Wayne Christian on a textbook drive inside the Raiders' red zone. Wiley and backfield mate Will White handled the running duties, while Young completed two short passes to Jaxon Bauer.

On third-and-two, Wiley ran up the middle and appeared to have the first down. But time expired.

Southampton received the second-half kickoff and needed just five plays to build a two-touchdown advantage.

"We were driving down toward the end of the half," Young said. "They come out, get the ball first in the second half and score, and then my guys just couldn't get back (into the game)."

Jaydon Young's 55-yard scoring pass to Bauer closed the gap to 24-16. Southampton reeled off 26 consecutive points, that included 16 points off of Wayne Christian turnovers.

Young ended the night with a career-best 193 yards and two touchdowns -- both to Bauer -- on 10 completions. Bauer led the receiving corps with 120 yards on four receptions.

Brady Sugg emerged as the Eagles' defensive leader with seven tackles. Cuyler Grantham sacked Raiders' quarterback Browne for a nine-yard loss in the opening quarter.

"I just told the guys that what happened this season is bigger than football," coach Young said. "It's about shaping and molding these guys into productive young men, and that's what we've done. Every day I tell them that student comes before athlete.

"Win, lose or draw, we get it done in the classroom, then we'll come out and here and work hard on the football field. (A) 3-4 (record) is not bad. We're looking forward to next year."