Denbigh Patriots Sports

Meet Denbigh's: O'shea Bryant

 

Denbigh high school football has a long list of unheralded players, who were virtually unknowns and rose to the top of their prospective class. Players such as: Tony Vinson, Antonio Bethea, and Mike Tomlin are some just to name a few.  Next up, is starting cornerback O'shea Bryant.  At first glance you see a 6'3 slender framed, quiet guy with a little swag and you say basketball player, right. Nope, you get a guy with a pro-type cornerback body, track speed and the ability to make plays all over the field.  Bryant is Denbigh’s shut down corner. This year he has been asked to cover some of the district's best receiver. O’shea’s combination of technique, size, speed and awareness has made it tuff for opposing receivers.  He is a two year starter at corner with a connection that runs strong at Denbigh High School.  His cousin, Lamont Bryant, played quarterback under Coach Tracy Harrod and now attends Morgan State University. I caught up with O'shea to ask him about this year and beyond.

 

 

HrVarsity: How is the season going?

O'shea: So far not up to our expectations, but as a team we continue to  grow and show enthusiam.

HrVarsity: Is this team better than last years in your opinion?

O'shea: Yes and No. Experience has played a factor. We've played underclassemen at key positions this year.

HrVarsity: How do you feel about being match up with the opponent best receiver?

O'shea: I feel its a challenge. I like to go against our best receiver Paul Gostomski in practice. I also study the receivers on film and look for tendencies in their routes.

HrVarsity:  It early but, Any College looks yet?

O'shea: Looks from Delaware St. and NC Central

HrVarsity: Would you rather play man or zone and why?

O'shea: Man because I love the  press coverage and  zone seems so limited.

HrVarsity: Good luck on the rest of the season

O'shea: Thanks

Phoebus beats Denbigh 56-6

via www.dailypress.com

Denbigh drops to 3-5 with loss to Warwick

 

 

 

This is not the same TEAM.  The TEAM that showed the fire, passion, and unity it took to be winners in the first half of the season. The TEAM with the spirit of" we're in this together "has been replaced with "every man for himself."  The offensive TEAM that use to have fast starts now can't find its stride until the third quarter. The defensive TEAM that punished runners and quarterbacks with blitzes now can't stop anybody and gives up 278 yards to a sophomore running back. This football TEAM is better than that, but against the Warwick Raiders they didn't show it.

      The Raiders are as one dimensional as they come. They are going to run the ball, plain and simple. Denbigh knew it and just couldn't adjust the defense.  Warwick's pistol formation and big offensive line handle most of what Denbigh threw at them and by the end of the first quarter Warwick running back Cardon Johnson had 107yds on 6 carries, plus the score 16-0. Denbigh's Daquane Jones is playing unbelievable. His kick returns of 50yds and 80yds helped the Patriots start drives in great field position. His skills at receiver have made him Allen Simon's go to receiver. This young man has a bright future playing in the Peninsula district. The Patriots didn't get things going until down 23-0.  And with 4:11 left in the second quarter, went on a 9 play 73 yard drive to make the score 23-7. Denbigh intercepted the Raiders on the next drive and moved the ball to the Warwick 30. Looking for that spark of momentum, the Patriots self destructed.  Denbigh had a crucial block in the back penalty, holding penalty plus a mental mistake, when a receiver should have gotten out of bounds instead of trying to get more yardage, so they could set up a field goal attempt.

    The second half started bad. Personal fouls and sideline warnings added a sense of frustration that halted the first drive. Warwick blocked the punt and score from 6yards out to make the score 30-7.  After more penalties to start the drive, Denbigh went 11 play 84yd and a clutch 4th down completion from Allen Simon to Paul Gostomski for a touchdown, 30-14.  However, the first play from scrimmage Warwick's Cardon Johnson sprinted 61yds for a score. Making the score 37-14. Daquane Jones returned the kick off 80yds to the Raider ten.  That run was all effort and determination Mr. Jones went hard all night and shows a lot of heart.  The Patriots scored from six yards out on an Allen Simon run.  Allen left the game late on a sprain ankle injury and was replaced by Terrance Dingle.  The young quarterback had some success, but stared down tight end Paul Gostomski on a pass attempt and was intercepted by Warwick for a touchdown that sealed it.

     A TEAM is defined by Dictionary.com as "a number of persons forming one of the sides in a game or contest"  I would also add"  that a  TEAM is Mentally and Physically ready to sacrifice what ever  time, energy and personnel goals individuals may have  to accomplish TEAM success.  Including coaches. An old man once told me "Everyone standing beside you is not with you" but if you are mentally on the same page up are one where ever you go.  Next up Phoebus Phantoms.

Patriots come up short in 37-29 lose to Woodside

  

   "The Back Yard Brawl" as I called it, turned out to be just that.  The schools are less than a ten minute drive from each other, the players grew up playing little league football, basketball, or baseball together, plus the parents of future patriots and wolverines have a vested interest, to choose a school in the coming years. However, in this match these schools couldn't be more opposite. On this side of the field(or ring), we have the Woodside Wolverines 4-2 record, relatively new school, running the double wing offense, they run the ball 80% of their plays. Across the field (or ring) we have the Denbigh Patriots 3-3 record, the older school in terms of years, running a spread offense, they passes 80% of their plays.  Power against finesse, Hagler and Leonard. (In my Michael Buffer voice) Let get ready to Rumbbbbbblllllleee.

      Woodside receiver the ball and returned it down to the Denbigh thirty. Woodside sized the Patriots up quickly. With runs of 36yd by Donnell Lewis and 27yds by Majique key, on their first two drives, Woodside threw the first punches, leading the Patriots 14-0 with 7:54 left in the first quarter.  But the Patriots countered, going 70yds on 8 plays, to bring the score to 14-7 with 4:40 left in the first. Their touchdown came on a 4th down play, in which the Patriots had trips ( three wide receivers) to one side, the two outside receiver ran short routes underneath, the Woodside cover 3 zone, while the inside receiver ,Paul Gostomski, ran to corner of the zone to make a great catch for the score. The Wolverines didn't flinch. Taking advantage of good field position they score 10 unanswered points to go up 24-7 with 7:28 left in the half. The Homecoming fans had their white towels ready, but Denbigh said not so fast.  Behind the legs and right arm of quarterback Allen Simon, Denbigh responded with a furry of short pass and nice runs to go 70yds to bring the score to 24-14. The Patriots took advantage of the soft zone coverage Woodside was playing and also the small defensive lineman to open holes for Simon, #20 Jevonta Henmey,#12 Andre Watson, and #6 Shaquille Keyes.  Starting at the own 30 Woodside went for the knock out blow, going 70yds in 3 plays to widen the margin 31-14.  At that point, I thought I heard a call for Adrienne (Rocky Movies). But it was the halftime horn.  

       The Second half began with Denbigh receiving.  Their adjustments were to pound the middle (mid section) of Woodside’s defense. Running back, Jevonta Henmey was on a mission, he ran hard breaking tackle after tackle determined not to be stopped. However around to 34yd line of Woodside the Patriots let their guard down and fumbled away a good scoring opportunity. Seeing their opponent dazed the Wolverines went for the finishing blow and with 6:34 left in the 3rd, #33 Javonte Parker scored for one yard out to seemingly put it away.  Who knew the Patriots were playing possum.  From that point on, the Denbigh Patriots dominated the game. They scored on an 8 play 68yd drive, capped by a terrific run by quarterback Allen Simon. That made the score 37-21.  The crowd begged for a stop by the Denbigh defense.   Alex Killiam, Edward Petteway, and Donovan Scale must have heard their cry, because they smacked the Wolverines around forcing punts on back to back possessions.  The Patriots and fans sensed the momentum had changed. Allen Simon hit passes to Daquane Jones, Paul Gostomski, and Tevin Platteborze to set up a scoring pass to #80 Jones to 37-29 with the point conversion attempt good. Woodside was now on the ropes barely hanging on and Denbigh knew it.  With all their time out and 2:47 left the Patriot were in great shape to tie the game. With the ball Woodside clutched on to their opponent, holding ball, wasting the last two minutes only leaving one last shot with 7sec left. Denbigh's final pass fell incomplete.

     This was a very good game despite what the score might indicate.  Both teams gave and took each other best shot. Denbigh had a few players no mentioned the article that played well: the Offensive line did a great job, O'shea Bryant, Michael Taylor, and last but not least the coaching staff did a great making adjustments and keeping the guys in the game. Well Done.

 

 

 

Denbigh Wins Homecoming, 28-17

 

             

 

    The Homecoming game is a special event.  It's the game, a player circles on the calendar and guarantees a victory.  If one was made, Patriots came through. Todd Stadium's atmosphere was electric. The fans bought thunder sticks, had body and face paint, there was red, white, and blue everywhere, plus the crowd was loud and wanted the win badly. Although it wasn't easy, the Menchville Monarchs played a very tuff and disciple game. Both teams were eager to hit the field, Menchville had just defeated Gloucester and wanted to add to the win column, as for the Patriots , they were on a three game slide and needed a won the right the ship.

        At this point in the season "you are who we think you are". A team establishes an identity over the course of a season and usually goes with it.  So with that thought, open your window and throw out your preconceived notions.  Menchville opened the with a new wrinkle.  They had a new quarterback #12, Jamel Boothe and placed their key player Clifton Richardson in a variety of positions.  It must have caught the patriots off guard, not handing it to Richardson every play, because the Monarch marched down the field eating up over seven minutes of the first quarter to take a 6-0 lead.  The Menchville staff had their team prepared. On that drive they used three different quarterbacks, each with a specific duty and an array of formations from the I-formation, to the spread, to the empty and even the Maryland I formation.   Denbigh had a counter.  They started the game with a new back field.  In place of Allen Simon and Andre Watson were Terrance Dingle and Jevonta Henmey.  Coach Harris started very conservative handing to ball to #20 Henmey, who broke off big gains, but several holding penalties caused Denbigh to punt.  The Monarch held to ball the rest of the quarter with a 6-0 lead.

      After finding out Senior quarterback Allen Simon was benched for the first quarter because of disciplinary reasons, he returned in the second to lead the Patriots with some pin point passes to #81, Paul Gostomski, #80 Daquane Jones, and his usual instinctive running that wrecks havoc on defense and with 6:28 left in the second quarter the Patriots nodded it up 6-6.  Denbigh's kickoff coverage is a major problem; all year there's been big return and gaping holes everywhere.  The Monarchs took notice. Menchville set up their wedge return and started their drive at midfield.  Methodically they went to down the field.  Clifton Richardson fueled the charged with bone crushing runs that sent a messages to Denbigh defenders "i'm not going down easy".  Denbigh only gave up a field goal and with 1:10 left in the half it was 9-6 Menchville. On the Patriots next possession, quarterback Allen Simon was stripped while trying to pass giving the Monarch another opportunity for points. With no time outs, they attempted two short passes and spike the ball to stop the clock.  The field goal try was wide right and at the half it was still 9-6.

    Denbigh's Daquane Jones caught the second half kickoff and broke up the middle of the field, but some reason stopped to cut back give defender angles to catch him, otherwise he would have  returned it for a touchdown.  With good field position, the Patriots hit key passes to #1, Tevin Platteborze to move the ball inside the Monarch's five yard line. Allow me to speak for all Denbigh fan and people who follow the program casually, "STOP THROWING THE BALL INSIDE THE TEN YARD LINE" I’ve been watching since to Tabb scrimmage and it doesn't work.  So from the five yard line, Allen Simon drops back to throw and it's picked of by a Menchville linebacker, who smartly takes a knee.   
Menchville took over on their twenty. But after three plays miss-handled the punt attempt, allowing a safety. The score now is 9-8 Menchville.  The Patriots were intercepted at midfield on next drive. The Monarchs pounded the ball down to the Denbigh's ten with a nice sweep play with Richardson. He came out the game with an injury and the Monarchs fumble the next play. That’s when the momentum turned.  Denbigh got the ball and running back Shaquille Keyes put on a show. His patient running style and speed through the holes put Denbigh in scoring position.  From the fifteen yard, Keyes took the hand off, sprinted left saw that their was no openings, cut back right, broke through two Patriot lineman and bolted for the end zone. Wow impressive! Denbigh lead with 1:00 left in 3rd 14-9.

     Menchville return the kickoff all the way down to Denbigh's twenty to set up an exciting fourth quarter. Menchville capitalized on the field position with touchdown and two point conversion and took the lead 17-14.  The Patriots next two position put the Homecoming crowd on their feet. Two terrific bombs thrown by Allen Simon one to #80,  Daquane Jones for forty yards (40yds), at the 9:06 mark in the fourth, that placed the ball on the one yard line and Shaquille Keyes scored from there and another, with 6:30 left in the game, to #1 Tevin Platteborze for forty-seven yards (47yds) that broke the game open for good. Now, the score was now 28-17, Denbigh.  Menchville had to abandon the running game. The Patriot pass defense held off the Monarch to finish the game 28-17.

 

 

    Next up, the Back yard  Brawl, Woodside Wolverines.

 

Denbigh Homecoming Game Oct,8 7:00pm @ Todd stadium vs. Menchville

Go Patriots

Denbigh loses to Bethel 47-7

 

 

       

   Coming into this game,  you could say this  game will make a contender of the winner and a pretender of the loser. Due to a generous early season schedule, neither team has beaten anybody.  Bethel defeated Norview, Heritage, and  edged out Kecoughtan and Gloucester while Denbigh beat Heritage and Grandy. Their combined opponents records is 4 -18. Gauging both teams in warm-up, they both have one or two explosive players on offense, the defenses are relatively good, the fan's expectations were high, so let play some football. 

        The Patriots won the toss and elected to receive, which was odd because in every game this year they deferred to the second half, adding to that, is this  ever-present Mash unit of injured player sitting on the bench and ,for the first time, they just looked flat coming out of the locker room.  But don' t fear the Patriots are fast starters, just not today. On their third pass attempt, quarterback  Allen Simon was intercepted and returned for a touchdown to give the Bruins an early 7-0 lead.  The interception was a result of miss communication between quarterback and receiver or some good film study by the Bruins' # 24, Clayton Cowell, who jumped the route and could have walked into the end zone.  Denbigh received the kickoff but fumbled it back to the Bruins.  Bethel ran the ball three time, then tried to pass and  Denbigh's Oshea Bryant intercepted the ball on the Patriots 4yd line.  Denbigh tried to mustar some breathing room, but stalled and went three and out.  Bethel put together a good drive and with 9:01 left  threw a slant route to #4, Joe Goodwin, to take a  13-0 lead.  The Bruins  then assisted Denbigh with their only score by throwing a pass late across the middle(always a no-no as a quarterback) that was pick off by #28, and ran to Bethel's  15yd line.  On the next play, Allen Simon hit Daquanne Jones for a touchdown making it 13-7  bethel.  The onsuring drive,  Bethel went 80 yds  and with 24 secs in the first quarter lead 19-7. 

        The second quarter was riddled with mistake and a key injury to Denbigh's quarterback. Denbigh took over at their own twenty.They put together some good plays which included some short out routes, some runs, and a great scramble by Allen Simon. With the ball on Bethel's thirty-two, Allen Simon through behind Paul Gostomski and was picked off by Bethel's #2 Victor Bradley. The Bruins advanced to Denbigh's fourty-two and was picked off by Denbigh's #2  Jeremiah White. With 4:12 left in the second quarter, the Patriots trotted out on the field with out their leader Allen Simon.   He had to leave the game with concussion symptoms.    Coach Harris decided to be conservative, he ran the ball three times then punted.  Bethel feel unsure about their pass game did the same but on their punt attempt the ball went over the head of the punter and he fell on it at the 15yd line. Denbigh was in great position to get some points.  From the 10yd line the back-up quarterback,Terrance Dingle, dropped back to pass and got blasted, the ball  floated like a wounded duck  into the end zone (and guess what?) it was pick off by Bethel's #49, Chris Copeland. Bethel end the half with a play designed during a time out that called for #36, Sam Bennett, to run a wheel route along the left side. He caught the pass for a touchdown as time expired and Bethel went into halftime up 25-7. 

           In the third quarter Denbigh couldn't get out their own way. They fumbled hand offs, didn't block,couldn't tackle, and were limited in play calling because of the young  quarterback . Bethel took advangtage of that. They scored the next three touchdowns via punt return, a screen passing, and a hard nose gutsy ran. The running clock was on. Both teams played reserves or tried players in new positions for the rest of the game.

         With Menchville next, the Patriots can right the ship and even their record at 3-3. But, it won't be easy. The Monarch are coming off their first victory and want another one. Denbigh can do it. It will take a good week of practice that focuses on the basics on football. That's plain ole blocking and tackling. Its going to take a deep committment to focus on the NOW not the Past.  Its going to take the coaches to believe in what won the first two games and stick with it.  It can be done!

 

 

Bethel-Denbigh game rescheduled due to rain - Inside the PD - dailypress.com

The Denbigh-Bethel game, originally scheduled for Thursday night at Darling Stadium, has been shifted to Saturday afternoon at 2.

via weblogs.dailypress.com

Hampton sends a "Warning" to da PD; Beats Denbigh 49-12

        vs     


Who is next on the list? Playin me at 7.:36
up at Darling, first they callin' now they fallnin -

put the paint under my eyes
See who's this facin me - and why

It's my peoples Gee, from HRVarsity

told me he was in his blogglin spot, and heard the intricate plot
of Denbigh tried to do me like the Dukes (JMU) did their neighbor
Slow down Gee, please chill, drop the caper

Remember  that team near the “Ville” that wears the Black and Teal?
That on nine,two, ten (9-2-10) talked tough, but still didn't win

Yeah, that's Wood,Gee, i heard they want the crown of the Pee - Dee

I didn't say them, they schooled me to some players
that you knew from back when, but you’ll were pop warner then

Now they heard you set some crazy high goals, and wanna state title
And now they wanna slow your roll

So - thank Denbigh for warnin me, now I'm warnin you,
I got a ball man, tell me what you gonna do

Man, Denbigh wanted to try n change my fate!
Man, these teams wanna keep me out the state

Man, now we gotta show'em that we're great

They heard about the staff that takes average kids to greats

and also about the Coach with all the District titles plus the states

They heard about the player you got down in Tech now
And they heard you got half of Virginia locked down

They even heard about the player you sending up to to the north for school
They mentioned the Wahoos?
We bout to lose our cool

There's wont be a lot of crowd cheering, but more hurt feelings
if that's an official whistles that I’m hearing

Whatcha think all the weights is for?
All purpose war, got the Linebackers by the door
And I we feed two lunches, so they can devour
the competitors, tryin to drop our decimals

Man!  Denbigh tried take away my dream
they're a good team, things ain't always what it seem
It's the ones that go camps whicha, see your picture
Now they wanna grab the plays and come and getcha

Bet my qb won't slip
We got this o-line and some tailbacks we’re loaded to the tip
So I can rip through the ligaments
We Put the Patriots in some bad prediciments, where all the Peninsula district went

Touch that leather, feel the effects of, cause

what we hitcha you with, your wide outs betta duck
We bring pain, bloodstains on what remains
of ya jersey – don’t bring that ball, I know you heard me

We're n the pocket, watch the ball as I Cocked it
My backs will reload and EXPLODE  up the Four hole

In the fourth quarter I get hardcore
I coulda score fifty-four no beef no more Denbigh

Feel the rough, scandalous
The more running backs we stuff, the more dangerous
We don't even care about you or your weak crew
What you gonna do when the Crabbers come for you?
I'm not runnin, Teams I’m number one an
hold on, I hear Phamtons comin...

Wow, what a finish! Denbigh loses a close one to Kecoughtan 21-19

                         

       If you left this game early or didn't come at all, you missed a good one. Although early on, I couldn't have blamed you, because for the first quarter and a half it was like watch wet paint dry, with both team trading punts. But when things got going, this game was filled with crucial turnovers, punishing hits, and big plays. Denbigh got the scoring started by exploiting the zero coverage (no safety help and man to man coverage) Kecoughtan got away with most of the first quarter. With 6:34 left in the second quarter, quarterback Allen Simon saw the one on one coverage and place the ball perfectly in the hands of tight end Paul Gostomski for six. The extra point was missed. The Warriors returned the kickoff to their forty and on the first play from scrimmage gave the ball off the left side to running back Adrian Pope, who ran it sixty (60) yds, for a touchdown. The extra point was good. The score was 7-6 Kecoughtan. The teams went into halftime pleased that the score was still close,yet disappointed at the lack of offensive execution.

       The Patriots opened the second half with the ball and Coach Harris showed why he's excellent at halftime adjustments. Denbigh broke the huddle with an empty or jet formation( no running backs and speedy receivers), place their top wide out Devionne Green in the slot, he ran a skinny post route and quarterback Allen Simon threw a rocket to a wide open Green for six.  The extra point was good. The Warriors next possession can only be described in my NBA analyst Mark Jackson voice” Mama There Goes That Man" and that man would be Adrian Pope, he took the hand off and shot across the left side, cut back towards the middle and out ran the Denbigh defense for a seventy(70)yd touchdown. Being behind at this point in the game was new territory for Denbigh, not to mention, the quiet nervousness that crept throughout the crowd after that play made the situation seem insurmountable. Kecoughtan, however, felt the opposite, it was their time, but a tiger does change its stripes. After Patriots went three and out, in which they were pinned against their goal line, they punted giving Kecoughtan great field position.The Warriors took over near mid field, the next play a Kecoughtan tailback was punished by defensive tackle Stetson William and fumbled giving Denbigh new life. The Patriots drove the ball down to Kecoughtan's ten yard line and on third and five attempted an ill-advised pass attempt was intercepted by a Kecoughtan linebacker. Kecoughtan held the ball going into the fourth quarter.

     The fourth quarter started strangely, the officials remarked the ball about four times, in four different spots, before replaying the down with no time left because the quarter can't end on a defensive penalty. The Warriors had the ball and looked content to use the clock and play defense. They called three plays then punted. Two plays into Denbigh's drive, quarterback Allen Simon was picked off by safety Daishun Jackson, spotting the ball a mid-field for the Warriors. But theyonly went backwards and in four plays punted. While on Denbigh's next possession an exhausted quarterback, Allen Simon, threw another interception that was returned by Dante Phillips for a Kecoughtan touchdown. That made the score, Kecoughtan Warriors 21 to Denbigh Patriots 13. Denbigh received the ball on the twenty (20) with one more chance to score. Oddly  they started the drive by running, however It didn't fool the Warriors they stuffed the runningbacks every time. The Defense was amped. Denbigh needed to convert on a 4th and ,1 they tried to pass, but the quarterback was thumped hard for a lost and seemed to fumble, yet it was Kecoughtan's ball anyway. Content with running the ball, Kecoughtan lined up in a heavy formation (two tight ends and two running backs) but had consecutive false starts. Showing Denbigh their play previously with the false start, they ran the play  and got blasted. They fumbled and Denbigh had a chance to scoop and score but ended up falling on it. I know the Kecoughtan crowd went “here we go again.” Denbigh converted on several timely pass completions and a couple of penalties helped put the ball first and goal with forty-three(43)seconds left.They score on the next play, on a run by Andre Watson. Now the try for two. Here we go,  Denbigh hike the ball, the quarterback rolls right, the receiver raced to the corner, the pass launched........ but wide right, no catch. Kecoughtan got the ball back, due to the on side kick being touched by a Denbigh player before it went ten (10) yds. It was a Great Finish. Both teams show a lot of heart and character yet they still have work to do, but this afternoon they battled each other to the end. Next up for Denbigh is the Hampton Crabbers.