Phoebus uses last-second touchdown to stun Salem for Class 4 football title (2024)

LYNCHBURG — Salem players were strewn across the field at sun-splashed Williams Stadium. Some had their faces buried in the turf. Others stared in disbelief. They had celebrated a touchdown drive 57 seconds earlier that evened the score against Phoebus. Now, they were watching the Phantoms celebrate the game-winning score.

The Spartans’ chance to claim an 11th VHSL state football championship was ripped from their grasp as Keyontae Gray’s 86-yard catch-and-run touchdown reception with one second remaining allowed Phoebus to outlast Salem, 21-14, in Saturday afternoon’s Class 4 state championship game at Liberty University.

“I was just shocked because we knew the game was over and their team won and there was only one second left,” Salem linebacker Chris Cole said. “It was very heartbreaking.”

The Spartans (13-2) used a sterling defensive effort to make Phoebus earn its third consecutive state championship. The Phantoms (15-0) entered the game averaging nearly 44 points per game and needed the last-gasp touchdown to avoid being held to less than 20 points for the third time this season.

Salem prevented the explosive plays — only one play of more than 20 yards was allowed prior to Gray’s score — and forced a pair of three-and-outs. Cole also secured an interception when teammate Julian Warme tipped a pass late in the second quarter for the game’s lone takeaway.

“It’s their intensity and their focus in which they play with and they play for one another,” Salem coach Don Holter said of his defense, which didn’t allow more than 21 points in a game all season. “They are so damn coachable. One of the most coachable groups. And then they focus in and dial in on what they’re doing. Their will to win is immense.”

Salem trailed 14-6 with 4:08 remaining. Peyton Lewis, the Tennessee recruit, had five carries for 27 yards to get the Spartans to the Phoebus 36, and quarterback Eli Taylor completed his only pass for a 30-yard strike down the left sideline to Cole.

Cole, who was defended by Phoebus cornerback Ricardo Underwood on the play, took the ball from Underwood’s grasp with one hand and put the Spartans at the 6-yard line with less than two minutes remaining.

“The ball was overthrown and the DB had it,” Cole said, “but I told myself, you know, I didn’t want to lose, so I did whatever it takes. I left it on the field.”

Fullback Jayveon Jones scored on a 2-yard run with 58 seconds left, and Taylor found Josiah Moyer in the back of the end zone to convert on the two-point conversion to even the score at 14.

“I would say that our will to win was pretty great marching down when we scored,” Lewis said, “and just one small mistake led to a big problem within the game. That created some inconvenience for us.”

Phoebus was behind the chains on the following drive when Dontay Davis recorded the sack on the first play of the drive, but quarterback Maurikus Banks found Gray over the middle.

Gray broke through and scampered down the field for the go-ahead touchdown with one second left on the clock.

“I saw the safety come down. He was reading the quarterback’s eyes,” Gray said. “So I just put my hand up, trusted my quarterback, he threw it and touchdown.”

Salem limited Phoebus to 169 yards of offense before the 86-yard touchdown.

“I’d say we did play good defense,” Lewis said. “We responded well to all types of formations and all types of schemes that they tried to run at us. I’d say in the heat of the game, yeah, we responded well.”

Salem linebacker Jaelyn Allen posted game highs of 13 tackles and 3.5 tackles for a loss.

Cole added nine tackles, one sack and 2.5 tackles for a loss in addition to his second-quarter interception that set up Lewis’ 3-yard touchdown run heading into halftime.

Lewis rushed for 84 yards on 27 carries.

The Spartans finished with 142 yards of total offense.

“Offensively, we drove the ball,” Lewis said. “… Phoebus’ defense, they played hard. We just had to grind it out.”

The Phantoms had a 15-play, 72-yard scoring drive to open the game.

They had 97 yards over their next 32 plays before the game-winning touchdown.

“Once our kids got settled in, they played well,” Holter said, adding the game had the feel of two prized fighters feeling each other out before trying to deliver knockout blows.

Salem graduates 17 seniors from a class that went 44-7 and claimed a state championship in the spring 2021 campaign.

“It’s like being a parent and your kid goes on to bigger things. It’s going to be tough to let them go,” Holter said. “You’ve watched them grow up, you’ve contributed a little bit to how they grow and their success, [and] you love them. … Obviously they’re going to move on to great things.”