Top young Tidewater QB arrested for robbery, assault and battery in midst of playoff run

One of the most promising young football players in Virginia's Tidewater region may see his career dissipate before it ever truly got going because of a shortsighted alleged attack that may land him in a juvenile detention center.

As reported by Virginia Beach NBC affiliate WAVY, Salem (Va.) High freshman quarterback Jarrel Lightbody, who has already started one game for the impressive Tidewater program, was arrested and charged with a late September robbery on November 14, with the athletic quarterback now facing charges of robbery and assault and battery for his role in a three-man robbery attempt of two other teenagers. The arrest was not made public and was only discovered when Lightbody was mysteriously absent from Salem's playoff matchup against Cheaspeake (Va.) Oscar Smith High.

According to WAVY, Lightbody and two other teenagers allegedly chased another pair of teens, with Lightbody stealing a backpack and emptying its contents after one of the two teenagers who was trying to escape fell in the road.

Salem head football coach Robert Jackson declined to comment about Lightbody or his status on the team before a Friday game against state powerhouse Oscar Smith, but the quarterback was not present for the game a week after starting in Salem's 17-14 playoff victory against Pulaski (Va.) High.

Oscar Smith eventually emerged from the area rivals' playoff tussle with a 34-28 victory, a result which only enhances the spotlight on Lightbody for his absence during his team's time of need. Now, many area football fans will wonder whether he'll ever get another chance at a football career which seemed to be on the verge of a major breakthrough just weeks earlier.

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