Prep Football: Moss helps Chargers top Liberty

BY TAFT COGHILL JR.

All week long, Chancellor standout right tackle Steven Moss had pondered his matchup with Liberty senior defensive end Wyatt Teller.

Teller orally committed to Virginia Tech last month.

Moss, a junior, has 13 major college scholarship offers of his own.

Moss felt like he won the battle in Chancellor’s 25–14 nondistrict win over the host Eagles Friday night.

Moss said he was particularly proud of his “hook” block on Teller during senior running back Dominic Kaopua’s 15-yard touchdown run to provide the final margin with 7:06 remaining.

Chancellor coach Bob Oliver said the individual battle between Moss and Teller was hyped in practice throughout the week, and he was proud of the way his player responded.

“He was pumped up,” Kaopua said of Moss. “He definitely stepped up. Holes inside the tackle were open pretty much every time.”

The Chargers (3–1) had highlights in all three phases.

Kaopua led the way with 121 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Senior quarterback Darrin Jackson passed for 116 yards, including a 59-yard scoring strike to Raymond Buckner in the third quarter.

Chancellor’s defense held Liberty (2–2) to eight first downs, but its special teams may have provided the play of the game.

Brandon Gallahan blocked a Liberty punt in the second quarter and Demetre Dores scooped the ball at Liberty’s 1-yard line and stepped into the end zone. The play gave the Chargers a 12–7 lead 2:10 before halftime.

“That just turned our momentum up 20 notches,” Jackson said. “It was just a domino effect from there.”

The Chargers increased their lead on the first possession of the third quarter.

Running back Chris Purvis saw his 70-yard touchdown run called back to the Chancellor 41-yard line because of an illegal block in the back.

But on the next play, Jackson found Buckner for the touchdown and a 19–7 lead.

Chancellor senior wide receiver Chris Holmes had burned the Eagles on a 39-yard pass play to the 1-yard line in the second quarter.

Oliver said that forced Liberty to pay close attention to Holmes, and Buckner was left open.

“The corner stopped on Chris,” Oliver said. “[Jackson] pump-faked, saw a window and stuck it right in there.”

The Eagles responded with a 71-yard drive that was capped by Aristotle Howard’s 3-yard touchdown run to pull his team within 19–14.

But on the next possession, it was all Kaopua. He carried the ball nine straight plays, ending with the touchdown burst.

It left Moss with a smile on his face because he was pleased he didn’t succumb to Teller’s “bull-rush.”

“I wasn’t going to let him overpower me,” Moss said.

The Chargers host Culpeper next Friday to open their Battlefield District slate.

Chancellor 0 12 7 6 — 25

Liberty 0 7 0 7 — 14

Second Quarter

Li-A. Howard 3-yard run (R. Morris kick)

Ch-D. Jackson 1-yard run (kick failed)

Ch-D. Dores 1-yard punt return (pass failed)

Third Quarter

Ch-R. Buckner 59-yard pass from D. Jackson (J. Clemens kick)

Fourth Quarter

Li-A. Howard 3-yard run (R. Morris kick)

Ch-D. Kaopua 15-yard run (pass failed)

TEAMSTATISTICS

Ch Li

First downs9 8

Rushing yardage29-161 43-80

Passing yardage116 61

Passes4-10-0 3-7-1

Punts-Avg.3-37.6 7-30.4

Fumbles-lost1-0 0-0

Penalties-yards6-47 6-56

INDIVIDUALSTATISTICS

Rushing: Liberty—T.J. Hogan 12-53; Aristotle Howard 17-39, 2TD; Bobby Chiccehitto 1-9; Denzell Champion 5-1; Rodman Munson 1-(-4); Tyler Longerbeam 7-(-18). Chancellor—Dominic Kaopua 20-121, TD; Darrin Jackson 7-25, TD; Chris Purvis 2-15.

Passing: Liberty—Tyler Longerbeam 2-4-1 57; Denzell Champion 1-3-0 4. Chancellor—Darrin Jackson 4-10-0 116, TD.

Receiving: Liberty—Aristotle Howard 1-41; Bobby Chiccehitto 1-16; Wyatt Teller 1-4. Chancellor—Raymond Buckner 1-59, TD; Chris Holmes 1-39; DreQuan Edwards 1-11; Tyler Morton 1-7.

Taft Coghill Jr.: 540/374-5526

tcoghill@freelancestar.com

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