Even with its star running back sidelined during the second half, Tabb’s football team showed it had plenty of offensive firepower during a 44-34 season-opening victory over Denbigh at Todd Stadium in Newport News Friday night.
After forcing Denbigh to punt on the game’s opening possession, Tabb took over on their opponent’s 49-yard line and scored moments later after senior running back Brent Hinson, the Tigers’ top returner who rushed for over 1,500 yards last season, broke off a 33-yard touchdown run.
Late in the first period, a Tabb interception led to an 8-play, 55-yard scoring drive capped off by Nick Hunter’s 1-yard quarterback keeper to give the Tigers a 14-0 cushion.
Denbigh’s offense found its stride during the early stages of the second and cut its deficit in half after quarterback Jermaal Wells polished off a 69-yard drive with an 8-yard touchdown run. Earlier in the drive, Wells hooked up with Donavyn Johnson for a 55-yard pass play to set up the score.
Tabb caught a break midway through the second quarter when a long pass attempt on third down was incomplete, but Denbigh was flagged for a penalty to give the Tigers new life. A few plays later, Hunter punched in his second 1-yard touchdown burst of the evening to put Tabb ahead 21-7 with 5:12 remaining until halftime. The scored would hold into the break.
Tabb took possession first in the second half, but turned it over quickly after Denbigh’s Elijah Rice – a transfer from Bruton High – intercepted a Hunter pass. Denbigh would then march 41 yards downfield before Wells ran in his second touchdown of the night from six yards out to make the score 21-14.
Tabb wasted no time answering back on their next possession, though, after freshman running back Dre McCray, filling in for Hinson who did not play during the second half, took a handoff 43 yards to paydirt to give Tabb a two-score lead, 28-14.
After Denbigh fumbled the ensuing kickoff, McCray found the end zone again moments later as Tabb’s lead all of a sudden grew to 35-14.
But Denbigh wasn’t done just yet. On their next possession, Rice hauled in a screen pass from Wells and shredded the Tabb defense for an 80-yard touchdown to bring the Patriots back in contention, 35-22, after a successful two-point conversion attempt with still 5:46 left to play in the third quarter.
The two exchanged scores early in the fourth quarter with Wells and Rice hooking up again for a 69-yard touchdown as Denbigh trimmed the deficit to 42-28 less than a minute into the final period.
Midway through the final period, Tabb’s defense brought down Wells in the end zone for a safety to put the Tigers up 44-28 and all but seal the victory.
The Patriots made things interesting during the waning minutes after Wells found a receiver for a 10-yard touchdown. Denbigh missed the two-point try to make the score 44-34 with 1:12 to play and then recovered the ensuing onside kick attempt, but the clock expired during their last-minute drive.
Hinson, Tabb’s standout running back who scored a touchdown during the first half, did not play during the final two quarters and was seen on crutches at the end of regulation.
-Dennis Vaughan contributed to this report.
