Thursday night highlights | Granby moves to 2-0 with thrilling victory over Kecoughtan

Drevyon Tharrington rushed for 112 yards and capped an 80-yard drive in the closing minutes with his third touchdown as Granby held off Kecoughtan 26-24 Thursday night at Powhatan Field. The Comets, who opened the season with a 49-7 win over Denbigh, are 2-0 for the first time since 2012 — when Granby started the season with eight straight victories. The Comets trailed 24-20 with 2:48 left but put together an 80-yard drive in just 1:33 — highlighted by Shaineek Wright’s 54-yard reception from Christian Post.

Three plays later, Tharrington found the end zone on a 2-yard run with 1:05 left. Kecoughtan (1-1) reached its own 45 on the ensuing possession, but was penalized and then allowed a sack on the final play. Tharrington had TD runs of 5 and 2 yards earlier in the game for the Comets, who bounced back from a sluggish first half and 9-6 halftime deficit.

Kecoughtan’s Malachi Marion scored on TD runs of 2 and 5 yards, and Earnest Jones caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Knowel Smith. The teams were flagged for 220 penalty yards. G, Tharrington 24-112, 3 TDs rushing; Wright 4-75 receiving; K, Marion 15-49, 2 TDs rushing; Ernest Jones 3-20, 1 TD receiving; Smith 8-20-1, 76 yards, 1 TD passing.

— Granby first-year coach Kendal Jefferson after the Comets’ victory over Kecoughtan. Jefferson took over a Comets program that had won just three games over the past four seasons and finished 0-9 last year. Green Run quarterback completed 19 of 25 passes (without an interception) for 288 yards and three touchdowns in a 51-17 victory over Cox.

Farrar, in his first season as a starter, also ran for a TD. Benedictine, the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association runner-up in Division I last season, scored 31 unanswered points in a 31-13 road victory over No. 6 Western Branch.

Ky’Nique Baines rushed for a 48-yard touchdown to give Western Branch (1-1) a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. But the Richmond-area Cadets, playing in their season opener, scored three TDs, and Cole Draucker made a 40-yard field goal. Cody Shelton threw a 14-yard touchdown pass and scored on a 3-yard run, and Leo Boehling scored on TD plunges of 1 and 2 yards.

Gloucester came up with a fourth-down stop in the closing minute to beat York 17-14 on the Dukes’ home field. Gloucester (1-1) had lost five consecutive meetings against the Falcons since 2017, falling 27-0 and 42-0 the past two seasons. On Thursday, York (0-1) drove into Dukes territory, but Gloucester’s defense swarmed on a fourth-and-6 screen pass at the 21-yard line with 42 seconds left.

Kellam forced three turnovers — including an interception in the end zone — in a come-from-behind 17-14 victory over Kempsville. The Chiefs (0-2) led 14-0 after the first quarter on TD passes of 46 and 16 yards from Sawyer Whitmore. But Kellam (1-1) intercepted Whitmore (12 for 21, 162 yards passing) twice and recovered a fumble while holding Kempsville scoreless during the final three quarters.

Isaiah Lovegren scored three touchdowns, and Landstown put up 22 unanswered points in the second half during a 28-14 victory over Princess Anne. The Eagles trailed 14-6 at halftime, but Lovgren scored on a 1-yard run and Zach Ruello passed to Zaveion Cleveland for the ensuing 2-point conversion to tie it with 8:40 left in the third quarter. Lovegren added a 13-yard run in the closing minutes of the third and added a 6-yard run and 2-point conversion run with 3:47 left in the game.

AJ Martin scored on a 2-yard run and hauled in a 26-yard TD pass from Christian Francis for the Cavaliers (0-2). Cleveland scored on a 38-yard pass from Zachary Ruello in the game’s opening minute. Bruton survived in a 27-26 win over Nandua on the Eastern Shore as the Panthers improved to 2-0 for the second consecutive season.

Bruton finished 5-6 last season after a playoff appearance, matching the program’s win total during the previous five seasons. #4 Green Run 51, #12 Cox 17 Benedictine 31, #6 Western Branch 13 #10 Warhill 21, Matoaca 7 #13 Bayside 43, Tallwood 26 #14 Salem 23, Ocean Lakes 22 Kellam 17, Kempsville 14 Landstown 28, Princess Anne 14 Menchville 21, Heritage 20 Bruton 27, Nandua 26 Essex 13, Jamestown 0 King George 42, Hampton 13 Hickory 20, Manor 0 Granby 26, Kecoughtan 24 Colonial Heights 40, New Kent 0 Grassfield 20, Woodside 7 Gloucester 17, York 14 Sign up for email newsletters.