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Eagles' gamble proves costly

November 21, 2009 12:36 am

BY TAFT COGHILL JR.

CENTRAL GARAGE

That's because Tate had nothing to hang his head about.

The senior stepped in at quarterback after Bryan Burrell exited the Eagles' playoff contest against King William with a shoulder injury in the first quarter.

Tate played quarterback, running back and linebacker. He also punted, kicked off and returned punts.

His efforts weren't enough, however, as the Eagles dropped a hard-fought 27-20 road contest to the Cavaliers to end their season.

Washington & Lee head coach Malcolm Lewis said that if he has ever received more effort from a player in a game he doesn't remember it.

"He pretty much took the team and carried it right on his shoulders," Lewis said of Tate. "He's the gutsiest player we've got."

King William will visit Essex (11-0) in the regional championship game next Saturday at 1 p.m.

Tate nearly helped the No. 3-seeded Eagles (8-3) pull off the upset over No. 2 King William (9-2).

He amassed 169 yards of total offense and two touchdowns. He had a sack on defense.

"If he was off the field," Lewis said, "we were significantly less of a team."

Tate's 49-yard touchdown run gave W&L its first lead of the game at 14-13 with 9:54 left in the third quarter.

His 29-yard touchdown pass to Brooks (seven receptions, 90 yards) pulled the Eagles within 21-20 with 5:55 left in the game.

"I played every play like it was the last," Tate said. "When we were down, I just felt like it could've been my last play. So I ran harder. And even though I was tired, I came back on the field and did what I had to do."

With the Eagles down by 1 after Brooks' score, Lewis decided to go for a 2-point conversion. But Tate's pass fell incomplete. King William took the ensuing kickoff and marched 51 yards for a touchdown to provide the final margin.

Lewis said he doesn't regret going for the 2-point conversion instead of tying the game. He said he recalled losing to Essex in overtime in the Region A championship game two years ago partly because he elected to tie the game late with an extra point.

"It's kind of like the old basketball adage," Lewis said. "You go for the tie at home. You go for the win on the road. I didn't want to get into a tie game with these guys on their home turf. It was kind of early to try to pull it off, but we had a play we had been working on all year long for this."

The decision backfired, but the Eagles said they're proud of the fight they showed.

"Everybody gave their best effort," senior defensive lineman Adrian Bryant said. "The better team won this game."

Washington & Lee	0	7	7	6	--	20
King William	13	0	8	6	--	27

First Quarter

KW--D. Powell 14-yard pass from L. Redman (T. Redman kick).

KW--D. Temple 1-yard run (kick failed).

Second Quarter

WL--B. Miles 27-yard fumble recovery (D. Ramirez kick).

Third Quarter

WL--J. Tate 49-yard run (D. Ramirez kick).

KW--J. Akers 66-yard pass from L. Redman (L. Johnson run).

Fourth Quarter

WL--D. Brooks 29-yard pass from J. Tate (pass failed).

KW--L. Redman 5-yard run (kick failed).

TEAMSTATISTICS

INDIVIDUALSTATISTICS

Passing: King William--Lewis Redman 19-25-0 229, 2TDs. Washington & Lee--Jamar Tate 7-19-0 87, TD; Bryan Burrell 2-5-0 13.

Receiving: King William--Joe Akers 4-98, TD; Daryl Powell 5-60, TD; Larry Johnson 4-38; Devin Carey 2-27; Lamont Ward 1-9; Devonta Temple 2-2; Hunter Faulkner 1-(-5). Washington & Lee--D.J. Brooks 7-90, TD; Devontae Campbell 1-5; Travis Seager 1-5.

Taft Coghill Jr.: 540/374-5526
Email: tcoghill@freelancestar.com