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Dinwiddie Crushes Matoaca

Morgan tosses four TDs in rout

by Seneca Contomanolis
DigitalSports Richmond

Talk all week surrounding the Dinwiddie-Matoaca football game focused on a possible offensive shootout.

It looks like someone forgot to tell the Warriors.

Generals quarterback Adam Morgan threw four touchdowns and his team scored 35 unanswered points in the second and third quarters as fifth-ranked Dinwiddie defeated Matoaca 49-21 on Friday night.

The junior finished 18 of 28 for 282 yards and one interception, connecting on two touchdowns with Dequan Coles and one apiece for Jerrell White and Wilkie Cox.

"This is a turning point for Dinwiddie football," Morgan said. "We were focused from the start of the game. This is why we worked hard in the offseason."

The Generals defense also showed up, forcing five turnovers (three fumbles, two interceptions), all in Matoaca territory.

Three of the turnovers led to touchdowns from the offense.

"I can't say enough about the defense," Dinwiddie coach Billy Mills said. "The difference in our football program has been our defense. You've got to be able to stop teams."

Adam Morgan helped the Generals move to 4-0 with their 49-21 victory over Matoaca.

The Warriors (0-1 Central, 1-3) got the scoring started in the first quarter after senior linebacker Taylor Ferguson recovered a fumble off of a botched Dinwiddie option at the Generals' 34-yard line. Four plays later junior quarterback Dustin Clark found DeCarlos Smith on a 20-yard fade rout for 7-0 lead.

Dinwiddie's next drive ended with a 27-yard missed field goal. Matoaca took over on its own 17-yard line but fumbled on the first play during a handoff and Generals linebacker Bradley Johnson recovered it at the 10.

That led to Morgan's first touchdown pass, a 6-yard strike to White over the middle with 4:52 remaining in the first quarter.

Matoaca answered with a 77-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard TD run by Clark.

From that point on it was all Dinwiddie (1-0, 4-0) as the next four General possessions ended in touchdowns, and the Warriors next four included three punts and an interception.

With 10:54 left in the second Cox scored on a 10-yard run. Dinwiddie converted a two-point conversion to take a 15-14 advantage.

After a Matoaca three-and-out, Morgan hit Coles on the first play for a 69-yard touchdown pass.

"We came out slow, but after we went up 15-14 we took control," running back Cox said.

Adam Morgan, Dinwiddie, 9/28/07

Seneca Contomanolis caught up with Dinwiddie QB Adam Morgan.

Cox picked off Clark on Matoaca's next offensive series and that led to another Morgan to Coles touchdown, this one a 17-yard pass with 6:48 remaining in the half.

Morgan threw his final touchdown pass with 5:37 left in the third, finding Cox on a screen pass that he took in from 12-yards out.

"Nobody can stop our screens,�?� Cox said. �??They are a huge part of our offense.

Matoaca finally ended the 35-0 Dinwiddie run following an interception of Morgan. Clark scored his second one-yard run of the night twelve seconds into the fourth quarter.

Jamar Parham was the lone bright spot for the Warriors on offense as the senior running back was a workhorse rushing for 188 yards on 29 carries.

This was an important win for a Generals team coming off just four wins in the past two seasons.

"This was huge. All year it has been about our confidence. Now the next thing is we have to maintain this type of consistency."

There's a new favorite in line for the Central District title after Dinwiddie's big win and Meadowbrook's 19-16 loss to Thomas Dale.

Said Morgan: "We feel like we made a statement. This was huge for our confidence. We played with a lot of pride and heart."

Dinwiddie 7-28-7-7 �?? 49
Matoaca 14-0-0-7 �?? 21

M �?? Smith 20 pass from Clark (Thacker kick)
D �?? White 6 pass from Morgan (C. Jones kick)
M �?? Clark 1 run (Thacker kick)
D �?? Cox 10 run (J. Jones run)
D �?? Coles 69 pass from Morgan (C. Jones kick)
D �?? Coles 17 pass from Morgan (kick failed)
D �?? Whitaker fumble recovery in end zone (C. Jones kick)
D �?? Cox 12 pass from Morgan (C. Jones kick)
M �?? Clark 1 run (Thacker kick)
D �?? J. Jones 4 run (C. Jones kick)

RUSHING
Dinwiddie �?? Wilkie Cox 7 carries, 58 yards, Adam Morgan 4-26, Jerrell White 2-16, Josh Jones 6-15, Bradley Johnson 2-8, Quintaze Jackson 1-3; Matoaca �?? Jamar Parham 29-188, Josh Edwards 3-27; Brett Diamond 3-19, Ryan Shook 1-9; Dustin Clark 2-3

PASSING
Dinwiddie �?? Morgan 18 completions, 28 attempts, 1 interception, 282 yards; Matoaca �?? Clark 4-10-2-95, Josh Edwards 0-1-0-0

RECEIVING
Dinwiddie �?? Dequan Coles 5 receptions, 114 yards, Cox 7-103, White 5-35, Sam Haskins 1-30; Matoaca �?? DeCarlos Smith 3-87, Diamond 1-8

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