Southampton Academy Football Eyes State Title After Semifinal Win

SOUTHAMPTON, Virginia — Southampton Academy‘s varsity football team remains undefeated after a decisive victory in the Virginia Independent Schools Football League (VI8FL) state semifinals. The Raiders topped Blessed Sacrament Huguenot Catholic School 54-0 on Thursday, Oct. 30, improving their season record to 10-0.

The Raiders displayed dominant performance at Pillow Field, where they established a 22-0 lead at halftime. Southampton Academy added 32 more points in the second half without allowing the visiting team to score. Head Coach Cole Heiderich commented on the team’s energy, stating, “I thought we came out a little lethargic, a little slow, but the boys responded well, and it’s always good to have a goose egg up on the scoreboard.”

Senior quarterback Ethan Webb led the offense, completing 11 of 14 passes for 188 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 84 yards and one touchdown and converted four two-point attempts. Senior tight end Ashton Whitehead contributed significantly with two receptions for 76 yards, two touchdown catches, and a rushing touchdown.

Despite the team’s impressive victory, Webb reflected on the emotional aspects of the game, particularly his last at Pillow Field. “I was just so lucky and blessed to play on this field with all my buddies…I need to stay focused for the state championship next week,” Webb said. He also emphasized the importance of maintaining focus to prevent the types of mistakes made in previous games.

With the state championship scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Dinwiddie Sports Complex, the Raiders are preparing for a rematch against Brunswick Academy, who defeated Broadwater Academy 43-0 in the other semifinal. The match will be a chance for the Raiders to avenge their last year’s state finals loss against the Vikings, in which Brunswick prevailed.

Coach Heiderich stressed the need to eliminate previous mistakes, stating, “We gave up a lot of big plays defensively last week. Our goal is to stop those big plays and execute well on offense. We can’t afford to lose focus again.” The Raiders are eager to secure their first state championship since their defeat last year.