The Indians travelled to Nottoway last Friday night for Powhatan’s Southside District season opener. With the help of a stellar defense, a few lucky breaks and the reemergence of Shawn Minor’s passing game, Powhatan won their 37th consecutive district game, 33-6 over the Cougars.

Despite the Cougars having a short week to prepare for Powhatan (they beat Brunswick 14-12 last Monday night), they came out fired up determined not to allow any room for Shawn Henderson to run. Every time Henderson touched the ball, a swarm of maroon jerseys descended on him for the tackle. Not only did this frustrate Henderson who finished the night with only 43 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown but it forced the Indians offense to adjust its game plan.

“With Shawn, they just knew every play he was going to run. They really studied us and I knew I was going to have to step up and be a throwing quarterback this game” said Minor after the game.

Minor entered the game averaging only 70 yards passing a contest with two touchdowns and four interceptions thrown in the previous four games. However, he found his rhythm early against a weak Cougar secondary passing for 145 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions on the night.

Before Minor went to the air, he was running for his life on Powhatan’s first series. Nottoway sacked him for a 25-yard loss fumbling the ball in the process though he did recover it. Forced to punt, Minor hit a low line drive kick which was muffed by Nottoway and recovered by Powhatan’s Kurt Taylor at Nottoway’s 31-yard line.

With their first break of the game, Powhatan used the short field to their advantage as the combination of Henderson and Vance Hendren moved the ball downfield before Henderson punched it in from one yard out with 3:41 left in the first quarter.

The Indians added to their total when the first quarter ended as Minor found Hendren (3 catches for 40 yards) wide open on a seam route over the middle for a 26-yard touchdown pass and a 13-0 lead.

On the next series, Nottoway showed their grit and determination to get back in the game driving 67 yards behind their workhorse running back Regis Craft for a touchdown with only 1:45 left before halftime.

But there was still time on the clock and Powhatan’s second big break of the first half led them to their third score of the night. On fourth down from the Powhatan 36 yard line, Minor dropped back to punt but the snap was low forcing Minor to scramble. When he stopped running, he had picked up 38 yards and the first down at Nottoway’s 25 yard line with 20.4 seconds left in the half.

On the very next play, Minor hit a diving Josh Ingram (3 catches for 51 yards) in the back of the end zone for a touchdown and a 20-6 halftime lead.

In the second half, Powhatan’s defense ratcheted up the intensity forcing a fumble on Nottoway’s opening possession which Dustin Kingery recovered.

That turnover led to another Minor to Hendren touchdown pass from eleven yards out. The teams would trade turnovers and possessions until the final break for Powhatan occurred just before the final whistle when in a matter of three plays, the score went from 27-13 to 33-6.

Nottoway’s Jamal Hawkes was in at running back. He fumbled the handoff recovering it at midfield. Then he switched field running to his left and up the sideline for a touchdown. But there was flag on the play, a block in the back behind the play at the Powhatan three yard line negating the touchdown. Hawkes fumbled on the very next play which James Jennings recovered for the Indians at their 25-yard line.

Then, Landen Bradley (6 carries for 97 yards) took the handoff, ran to his left breaking three tackles on his way for a 75-yard touchdown and just like that a 13 point swing for Powhatan.

The defense recovered four fumbles on the night holding the Cougars (3-3) to only 178 total yards of offense as Jay Jackson led the defense with 9 tackles.

This Friday is Homecoming for Powhatan (4-1) as the Indians welcome Bluestone (0-5) to town. Kickoff is at 7:30.