Colonial Forge beats Patriot for region football title

Just a freshman, Colonial Forge wide receiver Darion Majeed has seen his role increase over the course of the season and into the Eagles’ run through the Region 6B playoffs.

On a cold and blustery Black Friday with a championship at stake, Majeed rewarded his coaches’ trust with two receiving touchdowns, and sixth-seeded Colonial Forge cruised to a 42-14 win at No. 5 Patriot to claim the Region 6B title, their first regional crown since 2019.

The Eagles will travel next Saturday for the state semifinals to Oscar Smith in Chesapeake. Oscar Smith defeated Highland Springs Friday 28-7 in the Region A final. 

Virginia high school playoff scores (Nov. 29 games)

Class 6

Colonial Forge (10-3) moved 53 yards in less than four minutes on the game’s first drive, opening the scoring with TaySean Jones’ 14-yard touchdown grab in the front left corner of the end zone on 4th-and-9. Patriot (9-4) turned the ball over on downs on their first two offensive trips, bookending Majeed’s first score that made it 14-0 after speedy Eagles quarterback Brock Brimhall found him wide open in the end zone from 29 yards out.

“We’re getting better on defense, we came out aggressive on offense – we knew that had to be part of the game plan – and we worked hard on special teams,” Colonial Forge head coach John Brown said. “If you can play great run defense and run the football, and be good on special teams, you’ve got a lot of things [going] for you.”

Stopped an inch short of the goal line on their second fourth-down attempt of the half, Patriot forced a fumble on the Eagles’ next play, and Jack Fowler caught a screen pass before spinning into the end zone to cut the Pioneers’ deficit in half two plays later.

Leading 21-7 to start the second half, Colonial Forge intercepted Tyler Knutson for the second time and marched 51 yards in 7 plays, capped off by Majeed’s second score of the afternoon, taking it in on the run from eight yards out.

“I do it for my teammates, my family, and definitely God,” Majeed said. “It feels amazing, man. All the hard work we put in over the summer and individually is starting to pay off and it’s a really good feeling.” Majeed had five catches for 53 yards.

“He’s made plays like that all year long,” Brown said of his young receiver. “Him being that young and being able to do that gives me a glimpse at the future, so we’re pretty excited for him.”

Jamir Brown scored on a two-yard run up the middle on Patriot’s ensuing possession, but Brimhall answered right back on the Eagles’ next drive with an electric 55-yard draw play that went the distance.

Now, with just 60 minutes against one of two powerhouse teams standing as the only obstacle between the Eagles and a trip to James Madison University for the state final, Brown’s message is a simple one as his group looks toward history.

“We’ve talked about having mental toughness and physical toughness all year long, and the main thing is [that] we want to do it when the leaves start to fall off the trees,” Brown said. “We’ve got to play brutal, physical football. Whatever team wins tonight, they’re going to be brutal and physical and we’ve got to be able to do the same.”