Story and Photo by Krystle Bono- The Arcadia Firebirds downed the Nandua Warriors last Friday night in Onley, 42-31, in the first district match up of the season.
Joe Teasley got things rolling with a touchdown to put the Warriors on the board first. The 2-point conversion was good, placing the Warriors in the lead after the first quarter, 8-0.
Jaheim Bailey notched another six for Nandua with a 12-yard touchdown in the second, and with a completed pass to Xzaviyor Snead to get the extra points, the Warriors were up, 16-0.
A 16-yard run by Lethan Williams would put the Firebirds on the board, and with the kick good, they narrowed the gap, 16-7. Another Firebird touchdown and extra point would inch Arcadia closer to rest the halftime score at 16-14.
Teasley scored another one for the Warriors to pull away in the third quarter, but the Firebirds would catch up and ultimately move ahead to claim the 42-31 victory.
“I heard that the Nandua-Arcadia games were true dogfights, now I understand why. I believe both teams played 100 percent and left it all on the field. Both teams played through cramps, but kept coming back. It was true ironman football,” reflected Arcadia varsity assistant coach Dan Macca.
“For Arcadia, the true motivation came from the seniors Bryden Bibbins, as he returned to kick across the 50 to Nandua, to motivate our first touchdown, and Chris Beasley and Shy’Keem Jacobs, who both played a tough middle linebacker, slowing down the run and helping to stop their [Nandua] offense.”
“Brothers Tiar and Bryden Bibbins at the safety position to help slow the passing game down and made a wonderful team. Juniors Lethan Williams and Jaden Hope provided exciting offense of plays for motivating the Firebirds,” he continued, “It is obvious that this team is becoming a second-half team, never to be counted out as they get stronger. Overall, the team is really coming together, the family atmosphere and respect or each other, and the opponent, is allowing them to develop into a fine team of young men.”
The Northampton Yellow Jackets defeated Surry County on the road last Friday, upping the Cougars, 31-13.
C.J. Smith started off with a 10- yard rushing touchdown to put up the only points in the first quarter to make it 6-0.
Corey Smith Jr. rushed 34 yards to score in the second, and then scored another six on a 15-yard rush. With the extra points good, the Yellow Jackets were up 20-0 at the halfway mark.
Surry got on the board in the third quarter, with no points from the Yellow Jackets, however, C.J. Smith put up a 10-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to give Northampton a lead. The two-point conversion was good from Trenton Johnson.
With three minutes left in the fourth, Trip Wescoat scored a 25- yard field goal. Surry responded with 11 seconds left in regulation to add a six-yard touchdown to their count, and the with their PAT good, the final score would rest in favor of the Yellow Jackets, 31-13.
The Chincoteague Ponies dominated King and Queen Central last Friday in their away contest, topping the Royal Tigers, 45-16.
Arcadia will host the Broadwater Vikings next Friday night in Oak Hall at 7 p.m. Northampton and Nandua will both be on the road next week. The Yellow Jackets will face West Point, and the Warriors are set to battle Lancaster.
