by Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi
Lancaster needed a big play and got one when senior quarterback Daveon Smith connected with freshman receiver Brooks Parker for a highlight reel grab that kept the Red Devils alive for another week of postseason play.
Parker pulled in the game-winning catch with 30 seconds remaining as Lancaster sent Rappahannock packing in a 28-27 come-from-behind win in a Region 1A quarterfinal on Friday, November 10.
Next up, top-seeded Essex in a regional semifinal game tomorrow, November 17, in Tappahannock.
Ironically, Lancaster last beat the Trojans in 2010 in a first round playoff game. Two weeks ago Essex capped its ninth undefeated regular season in program history and went on to shut out Colonial Beach, 46-0, in a regional quarterfinal. The winner of tomorrow’s contest advances to the Region 1A final.
“To be the best, you have to beat the best,” said LHS coach Landon Gouveia. “We’ve got to beat the number one team in the state….