The James Monroe High School football team won its second straight game in a 35-34 thriller over Liberty-Bealeton Friday night at Maury Stadium. Freshman quarterback Jude Hardy connected with wide receiver Jayden Bumbrey on the game-winning 35-yard touchdown with 1:12 to go in the game as the Yellow Jackets rallied from a 12-point deficit in the final four minutes.
Hardy continued the strong start to his career, going 24-for-35 for 283 yards and four touchdown passes. He is now up to 12 scoring passes on the season. Bumbrey recorded seven catches for 93 yards and three touchdowns.
Jamari Brooks and Kam Kea rushed for 68 and 64 yards, respectively. Brooks scored on a 5-yard run.
After Liberty’s Landon Hirmer scored on a 4-yard run, the Yellow Jackets trailed 34-22 with 4:14 to play. But Hardy and Brooks hooked up from 18 yards away with 3:18 remaining and the JM defense stopped Liberty on the ensuing possession, setting the stage for the final moment.
The Yellow Jackets (2-1) have a bye next week before their Battlefield District opener at King George Sept. 27.
North Stafford 41, Courtland 7
North Stafford snapped a 13-game losing streak in resounding fashion Friday night with a dominant 41-7 home victory over Courtland.
It is the first win for the Wolverines since a 21-14 victory over Stafford on Oct. 14, 2022. North Stafford had dropped 22 of its past 23 games entering the contest against the Cougars.
Quarterback Chase Sullivan passed for 260 yards and three touchdowns and Antwan Barnes scored on a fumble recovery in the end zone and a reception. Ricky Adkins hauled in two long touchdown passes from Sullivan of 56 and 58 yards, respectively. Kayden Bowens and Micah Brown also scored on touchdown runs for the Wolverines.
Marcus LaRue scored Courtland’s only touchdown on a 1-yard run. The Wolverines visit Briar Woods on Friday for a nondistrict contest. Courtland has a bye before visiting Culpeper in its Battlefield District opener Sept. 27.
Caroline 41, Spotsylvania 20
Caroline pulled away in the second half to defeat Spotsylvania for the first time since 2016 in the Battlefield District opener for both teams.
The Cavaliers were paced by senior quarterback Peyton Fletcher’s 246 passing yards and three touchdowns.
Junior wide receiver/defensive back Blake Morris recorded six catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns, and an interception on defense.
Junior running back/linebacker Tre Coles rushed for 62 yards and three touchdowns, including the final two scores of the game from 17 and 28 yards away to punctuate the victory.
Javoun Morris added a 46-yard scoring reception for the Cavaliers who are 2-0 for the first time since 2008.
The game was tied at 20 at halftime.
The Knights (0-3, 0-1 Battlefield) went ahead 6-0 and 12-7 on touchdown passes of 67 and 48 yards from Colton Jones to Jacob Moore. They took their final lead, 20-13, on an 8-yard run by Manny Duah with 1:18 remaining in the first half. The Cavaliers tied it at 20 on Javoun Morris’ score 12 seconds later before dominating the second half.
Caroline returns to action in its home opener Friday against King Willliam. Spotsylvania visits Atlee the same night.
Riverbend 35, King George 20
The Bears earned the nondistrict road victory to improve to 2-1 on the season behind 225 rushing yards and four touchdowns from running back JoJo Thomas. Luke Marlowe added 111 rushing yards and a touchdown.
The Foxes (1-2) were paced by quarterback Dylan Koch, who went 19-for-34 for 314 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Gunnar Reger recorded 10 catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns, while Charles Johnson hauled in Koch’s other scoring pass.
King George has a bye before hosting James Monroe Sept. 27. Riverbend is also off next week before returning to action Sept. 27 at Highland Springs.
Louisa 49, Massaponax 34
The Panthers suffered a loss in a high-scoring affair despite 274 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
Massaponax was paced by junior running back Josiah Perry, who finished with 190 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. Perry scored on runs of 52 and 53 yards.
Gabriel Newby-Morris added 66 rushing yards and two scores as well as a 14-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Ian Shook Jr., who went 9-for-16 for 105 yards and the one score. The Panthers (1-2) return to action Friday at home against Matoaca.
Stafford 35, Colgan 0
The Indians improved to 3-0 on the season behind 204 total rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. Quarterback Zion Gray (99 rushing yards) and Michael Creamer (70 rushing yards) scored two rushing touchdowns apiece.
The Indians will be back in action Friday at Independence.
Colonial Forge 48, Potomac 12
The Eagles (3-0) used a balanced attack to earn their third straight victory to begin the season. Colonial Forge scored 34 unanswered points to start the game, led by Josiah Bryson’s three touchdown runs, including one from 58 yards.
Quarterback Brock Brimhall completed 10 of 12 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns. He hooked up with TaySean Jones (five catches, 100 yards) for a 39-yard score and Jake Ashinhurst for a 26-yard touchdown connection. Andrew Dickey also scored on a 1-yard run for the Eagles, who host unbeaten Patriot Friday night.
Brooke Point 54, Independence 7
The Black-Hawks are off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 2018 after a dominant performance Friday night. Brooke Point quarterback Gabriel Dombek passed for five touchdowns and ran for another. Two of his touchdown passes went to Javier Hubbard, while Aviance Young Jr., Jacob Dalton and Justin Davis caught one each. Corey Reid scored a rushing touchdown and Wayne Robertson reached the end zone on defense.
Brooke Point will see if it can continue its hot start Friday when it visits Eastern View in a nondistrict contest.
St. Michael 24, Paul VI 12
Quarterback Nahshon Wilson scored on a 60-yard touchdown run and added a 10-yard pass for another score as the Warriors (3-1) rolled to a victory that was not as close as the final score indicates. Matthew Holland scored on two quick catch-and-run receptions of more than 50 yards for St. Michael.
Josh Jackson and Brad Lipscomb led a strong defensive effort, holding Paul VI to less than 175 yards of total offense. The Panthers scored all of their points late in the fourth quarter after the game was out of reach.
The Warriors return to action Friday at Trinity Episcopal in Richmond.
Fluvanna 31, Chancellor 19
The Chargers dropped to 0-3 after a hard-fought loss to the Flucos. JJ Billingsley rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown on nine carries to lead Chancellor. Quarterback Leo Ferguson completed 13 of 19 passes for 121 yards and a score. Logan Hunter hauled in seven receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown.
The Chargers have a bye Friday and will host Spotsylvania Sept. 27.
