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COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Tribe’s Jones named Preseason All-America
William & Mary senior defensive back Jalen Jones, a Deep Creek High graduate, was named to the Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America first team.
Tribe senior tight end Trey McDonald and graduate offensive lineman Ryan McKenna made the third team.
Jones topped FCS with 20 pass breakups and 22 passes defended while adding 48 tackles and two interceptions. Off the field, he is W&M’s representative among 197 nominees for the 2025 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, as is James Madison backup quarterback Blake Kendall.
McDonald made 10 catches for 130 yards and was a key blocker for a W&M rushing attack that ranked fourth in the FCS at 232.8 yards per game. McKenna, who twice has received All-CAA honorable mention, helped clear the way for an offense that averaged 413.2 ypg.
FOOTBALL RECRUITING
Varina standout commits to Hampton
Hampton University gained a commitment from running back/wide receiver Mike Farley Jr., who had been playing for St. Christopher’s but has transferred to Varina, last year’s Class 4 runner-up to Phoebus. He’s a 5-foot-10, 205-pounder.
Farley revealed his commitment at a ceremony in which two of his teammates announced their pledges: running back SirPaul Cheeks to West Virginia and linebacker Braylon Hood to Furman, where former Varina and Virginia Tech defensive lineman Kevin Lewis is an assistant coach.
SOCCER
Louis’ hat trick sparks Lionsbridge to playoff victory
Fortunate to reach the playoffs, Lionsbridge FC took full advantage of its opportunity Tuesday night at Christopher Newport’s TowneBank Stadium. Ricky Louis scored the match’s last three goals for a hat trick as the Lions won 4-1 over Charlotte Independence II in the USL League Two playoffs.
Making their fifth consecutive playoff appearance and renowned for some of the league’s larger crowds, Lionsbridge earned the right to host more playoff rounds at CNU. The winner of Sunday’s match will reach the national quarterfinals.
Friday at TowneBank Stadium, Northern Virginia FC will play at 4 p.m. against West Chester United SC of Pennsylvania, and Lionsbridge then will take on Salem City FC at 7:30. Salem City is based in Bermuda Run, North Carolina, on the west side of Winston-Salem.
Entering the regular season’s final night, in order to gain the Chesapeake Division’s second and final playoff berth, Lionsbridge needed to defeat Patuxent Athletics FC and needed Virginia Beach United to lose at Northern Virginia FC. Both occurred.
Lionsbridge went ahead in the 16th minute. Damian Gallegos scored from about 25 yards on a deflected shot soon after Charlotte had cleared the ball from the 18-yard box.
Charlotte pulled even at 1 in the 49th minute on Emilio Cazares Herrera’s short shot after an excellent Noah Louzan pass between defenders.
In the 52nd, Louis gave the Lions the lead to stay on a leaping header off Andrew Bennett’s corner kick. Lionsbridge went ahead 3-1 on Louis’ tap-in off a curling Taig Healy free kick from about 25 yards that hit a post.
Louis completed the hat trick from 18 yards off a Sam Delgado pass in the 80th minute.
“We’re really pleased with the way we played,” coach Chris Whalley said, crediting the fans with enduring about a 30-minute pre-match weather delay. “After giving away such a poor goal, we were excellent in the second half and really, really ruthless.”
COLLEGES
FloSports, ODAC agree to deal
FloSports and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, whose 14 members include Virginia Wesleyan and Lynchburg, entered into an exclusive five-year media-rights agreement that will begin in this fall. …
Mario Wilson has been hired by Lynchburg as the Hornets’ director of cross country and track and field. He has been an assistant for the Virginia Cavaliers. Lynchburg’s athletic director is former Christopher Newport basketball player, assistant coach and administrator Jon Waters.
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER
Great Bridge defender named Class 5 Player of Year
Great Bridge senior defender Niko Panayiotou was named the Player of the Year in VHSL Class 5, about half of whose schools are in Hampton Roads.
Joining Panayiotou on the first team were Menchville senior forward Christian Robertson, Princess Anne junior forward Josiah Roberts and senior midfielder Maciej Majcherczyk, and Kellam junior midfielder Jace Asercion and junior defender Caleb Perry.
The second team include Kempsville senior forward Logan Prendergast, Kellam junior forward John Maggio, Hickory senior midfielder Joe Vasquez and junior defender Merrick Clark, Menchville sophomore defender Grady Morello and Maury senior goalkeeper Khalil Williams.
BASEBALL
Edwards ties season steals record as Pilots win eighth game in row
The Peninsula Pilots (24-10) ran their winning streak to eight games Monday night, dominating the Tri-City Chili Peppers 19-5 in seven innings before 894 at War Memorial Stadium in Hampton.
Pitchers for Tri-City (11-21) walked 16 and hit four batters.
Kyle Edwards, a former Cox High star who plays for Old Dominion, stole four bases to tie a Pilots season record with 41, as well as scoring three runs and driving in three. His 41st steal was of home plate.
Curry Sutherland homered, doubled, drove in five runs and scored three. Isaiah Shivers drove in three runs on 2-for-4 batting, and Scotty Young scored three runs, drew three walks and stole three bases. Chris Martinez homered, scored twice and walked three times.
Peninsula, which leads the Coastal Plain League’s East Division by five games, took a 6-0 lead in the first inning and added six runs — on one hit — in the sixth.
Starter Nate Miller pitched three shutout innings, yielding one hit. Jackson Baird threw one scoreless inning for the victory.
Originally Published:
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