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[Dave Johnson]

A Look Back to Week Two in the PD

BY DAVE JOHNSON | djohnson@dailypress.com

I have to admit it — when Phoebus wideout Jermando Towler caught his first touchdown pass in Friday night’s 30-27 win over Bethel, I turned to nobody inparticular (a heck of a guy) and asked, "Did he play last year?" Nobody in the press box could say.

Then Towler caught two more scoring passes, one a beautiful over-the-shoulder reception on a fade route. He ended up with seven catches for 110 yards.

So I asked Phoebus coach Bill Dee, who most certainly would know: Did Towler play last year?

"Not a lot," he said, before breaking into a laugh. "But he’s gonna play a whole lot this year."

That much I guessed. In fact, I guessed that after his 55-yard touchdown catch last week against Maury.

So what’s the difference in this kid?

"Basically, it’s just confidence," he said. "Last year, I wasn’t sure of myself. But now I have the confidence that I can do it."

With Towler and Reid Evans as the wideouts and Tajh Boyd at quarterback, Phoebus — the team that normally loves to grind it out — has the most-dangerous passing game in the Peninsula District. And one of the best in the Eastern Region.

Boyd, by the way, threw for 259 yards and three touchdowns. Anybody remember a Phoebus quarterback throwing for more yards than that?

*******

When Bethel announced Jeff Nelson as its new head coach, many were skeptical. I’ll admit to being one of them. His one season as a head coach resulted in an 0-10 season at Bluestone. Not what I was expecting when principal John Bailey promised "a national search."

But two weeks into the season, who can argue? With essentially the same roster from last season, the Bruins are wearing different uniforms and showing a different mentality.

Friday night against the defending state champion, Bethel showed no fear and slugged it out. The Bruins led 27-20 with 6:48 left, and the only reason they lost was because Boyd was simply too good.

Next up for Bethel: Saturday afternoon against Warwick.

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Here’s some more honesty: I didn’t think Gloucester would beat Norview Friday night. Not because I think the Dukes are a bad team, or that Norview is all that good. I just had a hunch that Gloucester would have a letdown after last week’s nice effort against Hampton.

(A word about my "hunches." A couple of decades ago, I had a hunch that Michigan’s Antoine Joubert would be a far better NBA player than Georgia Tech’s Mark Price. Remember Antoine Joubert? Of course you don’t. Which proves how brilliant my "hunches" often are).

The Dukes won comfortably 35-20, their best scoring output in a while. Quarterback Tommy Reamon Jr., the target of some unfair scorn on the message boards, had more than 200 total yards and four touchdowns.

There’s no question this team is a lot better than last year. How much better? We’ll find out more the next two weeks as they host Kecoughtan and Bethel.

*******

I did, however, think Woodside could beat Maury. So why, you may ask, did I pick the Commodores? For the simple fact that (a) I figured Maury had to be better than it showed the previous week against Phoebus, and (b) the Wolverines are still something of an unknown to me.

When I heard Maury was up 16-0 in the second quarter, I figured that was about right. Then I heard Woodside scored four unanswered touchdowns to win 28-16. And I thought, Danny Dodson can coach (which I already knew) and the new kids must be pretty good.

Huge game for the Wolverines Friday night — at Phoebus.

*******

From the For What It’s Worth Department: The Peninsula District went 6-2 last weekend against the Southside.

That’s it for now. Good weekend coming up with Woodside-Phoebus and Bethel-Warwick leading the way.

[BallFan]

Hey, Dave I don't guess Hampton played this past week.The Crabbers put up 45 points had a running clock the entire 2nd half and by the way, their defense held Granby to -21 yards.....That wasn't worth a mention I guess.

[Old School 33]

Hey Dave I remember Antoine Joubert and he was a great college player but he wasn't able to stick in the NBA but had a pretty successful career overseas. Mark Price turned out to be a pretty good pro huh?

[PDfan]

Come on now. allthough it's good for Hampton's numbers and overall stats. WHAT DID THEY DO??? I mean they barely beat a team the should've CRUSHED and they beat a team they should have destroyed. it's good for their confidence and all, but they did what the should've done. If you would've been at the game you would've saw how good the Bethel team played Phoebus. Then how Tahj Boyd was there to lead his team to the win.

[phantomfan]

Originally Posted by PDfan

Come on now. allthough it's good for Hampton's numbers and overall stats. WHAT DID THEY DO??? I mean they barely beat a team the should've CRUSHED and they beat a team they should have destroyed. it's good for their confidence and all, but they did what the should've done. If you would've been at the game you would've saw how good the Bethel team played Phoebus. Then how Tahj Boyd was there to lead his team to the win.

And after doing THAT!!! The Daily Press sports writers voted Hampton #1 in this weeks poll. I give up.