By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Manager, Washington D.C. Metro Area
*Games are listed alphabetically. District games are listed first, followed by out-of-district match-ups.
Week 1 Highlights
Click here for LIVE SCORES as they come in
Email pmurphy@digitalsports.com with scores.
Postponements:
Annandale at Falls Church, Saturday 6 p.m.
Centreville at Edison, Saturday 7 p.m.
NORTHERN REGION WEEK 1: BY THE NUMBERS
166 – The total fourth-quarter passing yards last week by Falls Church senior quarterback Ajay Kashyap on 7-for-10 passing, including two touchdowns.
-3 – The total yards allowed by the West Potomac defense on 18 second-half plays last week. They yielded 40 total yards for the game.
1.7 – The average point differential between South Lakes and Jefferson in their last five meetings. The difference favors the Seahawks, though the Colonials have won three of those games.
80, 78, 68 – The distances of three touchdowns Hayfield scored last week against Marshall. It faces Lee, which has four first-time defensive line starters, this week.
0 – The number of completed passes Woodson allowed last week against Fairfax. It faces Lake Braddock this week; that number may rise.
LIBERTY DISTRICT
South Lakes (1-0) at Jefferson (0-1), 7:30 p.m.
South Lakes has not had more than three wins since 2005 (5-5), but looks well on its way after the season-opening 41-14 home win over Falls Church.
Seahawks’ Coach John Ellenberger was beaming in the preseason over his junior running backs and senior quarterback, none of whom disappointed. Ja’Juan Jones carried 16 times for 135 yards and three scores and Darius Smith rushed 9 times for 71 yards and touchdown, adding a 48-yard reception.
Signal-caller Shawn Rana was remarkably efficient — 8-for-12, 136 yards, TD, INT — with the only interception coming via an athletic play by a Jaguar cornerback on a well-thrown ball. Junior wide receiver Sean Price — younger brother of A.J. Price (Penn State) — was a reliable target, catching four passes for 74 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown.
More impressive in a more one-sided game was Jefferson sophomore quarterback Kevin Karn. Karn, against a physically superior Herndon defense, went 14-for-23 passing for 208 yards, with a touchdown and no picks. He completed three-or-more passes to three different receivers, all of whom recorded 50-plus yards. The Colonials, though, lost two fumbles on their first three plays, which led to 14 Hornet points en route to 61-6 home loss. The defense also allowed Herndon’s top two running backs 228 yards and four touchdowns on only nine carries.
This series has been extremely close this decade, with Jefferson winning three of the five match-ups. The average score, though, favors South Lakes, 28.8-27.1.
To prevent the Seahawks from evening the series, the Colonials’ defense must perform better stopping the run and be more responsible with the football offensively. South Lakes’ pass defense allowed Falls Church to go 7-for-10 passing with 166 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and will need to step up its game to stop a very similar — but less-experienced — pass attack, led by Karn.
PATRIOT DISTRICT
W.T. Woodson (1-0) at Lake Braddock (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
While this is its first year in the district — and will be its first Patriot game — Woodson has some familiarity with Lake Braddock. The Cavaliers and Bruins have met five times since 1999, with Lake Braddock winning all five games by a combined 118-69.
That includes a thrilling 23-22 Bruin win in Week 2 last year, in which Cavalier senior quarterback Connor Reilly had his Hail Mary pass batted down at the 3-yard line as time expired. He finished 16-for-25 passing with 244 yards with a touchdown and an interception. In that game, senior running back James Johnson — who started at linebacker and did not have a carry last week against Fairfax — had 11 rushes for 110 yards and a score.
The Bruins return many of their contributors, too. Junior quarterback Michael Nebrich went 7-for-10 passing for 136 yards, adding 22 rush attempts for 86 yards and two scores. Senior tight end Mike Resetar had four receptions for 101 yards.
Last week, against Langley, Lake Braddock unveiled its new “Renner”-vated offense and cruised to a 38-0 win. Nebrich threw for 294 yards and two touchdowns on 18-for-32 passing — which includes several early dropped balls. He completed 12 of 16 passes after halftime.
But it was the Bruin defense that impressed most, holding the run-happy Saxons to 71 yards on 35 carries. Senior defensive back Thomas Stickford had three interceptions, including a 32-yard return for a score.
Meanwhile, against Fairfax, Woodson scored the go-ahead touchdown with :21 seconds left in the first half on a diving catch in the end zone by junior running back Paul Fridley from Reilly. Reilly, committed to Temple, completed 16 of his 29 passes for 183 yards for two touchdowns and an interception. He connected with seven different receivers, six of whom had multiple receptions.
Expect both teams to spread the ball around noticeably offensively. Lake Braddock is in its second week of the new offense, which should continue the in-game improvement it hadat Langley in Week 1. But this is the first week it will be employed without Bill Renner on the sidelines, so the Bruin offensive coaches are on their own.
Woodson’s defense must get off to a better start than it did against Fairfax last week, as it allowed two scores of longer than 40 yards in the first 12:10 of the game. But the Cavaliers held the Rebels to two non-penalty first downs after halftime and without a completion for the entire game. It will take a similar effort — and similar turnover capitalization — for four quarters to keep oversized Lake Braddock within reach.
OUT-OF-DISTRICT
Annandale (1-0) at Falls Church (0-1), Saturday 6 p.m.
This is the first meeting between the Atoms and the Jaguars in over 10 seasons.
Annandale secured a hard-fought home win over Centreville, 21-14, to open the season. The defense allowed just one touchdown to the young, athletic Wildcats and the offense used a balanced, conservative approach to secure the win. First-year quarterback, junior Tony Hysjulien threw for 200 yards on 9-for-16 passing with a touchdown and two picks while sharing time with senior Rick Adams, who had 88 yards on 3-for-6 passing. Adams also had the game-winning, one-yard touchdown run with 2:38 left in regulation.
With all Centreville eyes on standout Annandale junior Melvin Robinson at receiver — whose three receptions for 60 yards were all after half time — senior wide-out Rob Potts caught four balls for a game-high 85 yards, including a spectacular 35-yard reception that set up the winning score.
Falls Church, meanwhile, struggled for three quarters at South Lakes last week before showing signs of life in the fourth period. Jaguar senior quarterback Ajay Kashyap was 7-for-10 passing for 166 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including an incredible 65-yard catch-and-run by senior Amilicar Ferrufino.
To contend with Annandale, Falls Church needs to employ the opportunistic passing game it showcased in the final frame of its Week 1 loss and find ways to get to the Atoms to cough up possessions. Also, the Jaguars need to steal a play out of the Wildcats’ defensive playbook and keep Robinson quiet as long as possible, praying Potts does not have another big game against single coverage.
Centreville (0-1) at Edison (0-1), Saturday, 7 p.m.
Since 1997, the Eagles and Wildcats have met just twice, Centreville winning both ends of a home-and-home series in 2003 and 2004 by a collective 70-18.
The Wildcats suffered a disappointing, seven-point road loss last week, but showed amazing promise. Sophomore tailback Manny Smith had a team-high 12 carries for 98 yards, nine and 89 coming before the half. Senior wide receiver Warren Denny dominated on both sides of the ball, recording six receptions on offense and six tackles and an interception defensively.
Senior quarterback Cam Walter made an early return to the lineup after surgery to repair a torn labrum. He had 11 carries for 46 yards, as well as 8 completions on 18 attempts for 93 yards, a 23-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Chase Walter and an interception.
The Eagles’ road loss, while also disappointing, was harder to swallow. Senior quarterback Levi Barber and senior athlete Christian Washington each showcased their home run potential, scoring touchdowns of 75 and 70 yards, respectively, in the first 13 minutes. But West Springfield front seven disabled the Edison offense thereafter, swallowing Barber for six sacks.
The Eagle defense yielded two second-half scoring drives of 13 plays or more and had no answer for the mobile quarterbacks the Spartans deployed.
If Centreville can repeat its Week 1 performance at Annandale, its athleticism will prove troubling for Edison. The Eagles need to counter that by tackling better and stringing together first downs. If the Wildcats can get to Barber and neutralize senior running back Angus Harper — as the Spartans did, holding him to 15 rushes for 33 yards — they may pull an upset in Alexandria Friday.
Chantilly (0-1) at Langley (0-1), 7:30 p.m.
Chantilly suffered utter heartbreak last week, falling on a 24-yard, 4th-and-10 touchdown pass with :08 seconds left, 23-21, at South County last week. Langley’s season-opener was no less depressing, but not as dramatic, as it was shut out at home, 38-0, by Lake Braddock.
For the Chargers, senior receivers Kris Martin and Braden Voorhees both proved reliable targets for junior quarterback Carson Romine and senior running back Mike Ferris proved life is not totally lost after Pace, carrying 13 times for 60 yards. The defense did not yield a sustained drive until the Stallions’ last-minute march. South County’s first two touchdowns were scored on a one-play, 51-yard first-quarter pass and a five-play, third-quarter strike dominated by a 64-yard fake-punt run.
The Saxons, meanwhile, were plagued by turnovers, poor field position and inability to string together first downs. The Bruins intercepted three passes and held the hosts to 71 rushing yards on 35 carries. Langley had 138 yards and 10 first downs, but no more than two on any drive.
Neither team can afford a loss in ultra-competitive Division 6, especially considering the teams’ Week 3 opponents. Chantilly travels hosts West Potomac, one of the early-season dark horses to contend for the Patriot District title, and Langley travels to Madison, a perennial Division 5 semifinalist.
The Chargers beat the Saxons each of the last two seasons, including a 21-14, Monday-afternoon home win last year.
Dominion (0-2) at Wakefield (0-1), 7:30 p.m.
After its loss to Lee last week, Wakefield welcomes AA opponent Dominion to Arlington.
The Titans have lost 17 of their last 18 games and are 2-4 all-time against current Northern Region opponents, including 1-1 against the Warriors. Dominion has lost its first two games this season by a combined 87-9.
Wakefield is no less desperate for a win. It has statistically the easiest schedule in the region this season, but that will cost it PowerPoints come season’s end. In the Warriors loss to the Lancers last week, junior quarterback Vincent Roberts led a fourth-quarter scoring drive, which he capped with a one-yard dive. But the defense was beat deep for a pair of touchdown tosses to Lee senior running back Idreis Augustus and allowed him another pair of scores on the ground.
If Wakefield wants to make the playoffs for the second time in school history (1986), this game is a must-win.
Fairfax (0-1) at Robinson (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
This has been one of the most one-sided rivalries of the decade, with the Rams winning all five intra-Fairfax meetings by an average score of 42-5.
Last week, both teams faced tales of two halves.
Robinson trailed T.C. Williams 23-14 at half time Thursday before owning possession in the second half en route to a 36-23 win. The Rams ran 38 second-half plays, while the Titans had just 15. Robinson junior running back Jared Velasquez alone had more rushing attempts after the intermission than T.C. ran plays. He finished with 32 carries for 138 yards and four touchdowns as Robinson scored the final 22 points to escape the upset bid.
Fairfax, meanwhile, used a 40-yard touchdown run by junior running back Marcus Bailey and a 65-yard score by junior Anton Burns — all in the first 12:10 of the game — to jump to a 14-7 lead. But Woodson scored twice in the second quarter, including a momentum-grabbing 20-yard score with :21 left in the half, en route 26 unanswered points.
The Rams must quell the Rebels’ home run threats in Bailey and Burns, something they failed to do early against Titan senior Cortez Taylor, who had 183 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns on his first three touches. Robinson made an adjustment and held Taylor to eight carries for negative-three yards after his early surge.
For Fairfax to have a shot at the upset, it must turn defensive errors into long-distance scores and find a way to curtail Robinson’s power running game, which wore out T.C. Williams and chewed clock in the second half. The Rebels also need some aerial versatility on offense; they were held without a completion last week.
Hayfield (1-0) at Robert E. Lee (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
No team made more of a surprising statement last week like Hayfield. With a handful of third-year starters, it employed the triple option to perfection in a decisive, 35-0 home win over Marshall.
Hawk senior quarterback Anton McCallum scored a 34-yard touchdown run on their second offensive play. His co-stars were sophomore running back Steven Lynch, who had an 80-yard touchdown run, and senior tailback Rayshawn Rigans, who scored on an unbelievable 68-yard punt return and a 78-yard touchdown run. They also showcased a variety of screen passes out of the option, which allowed Rigans to tally 40 receiving yards on two catches.
That offensive athleticism, though, is equaled by the Lancers. Senior transfer Idreis Augustus lived up to the hype with four total touchdowns Friday — two rushing, two receiving — and senior returning starter Jazmier Williams complimented Augustus with a 16-yard first-quarter touchdown run. Senior quarterback Greg Lopez was nearly flawless under center against a rebuilding Wakefield team, as Lee posted 38 points in the first half.
The X-factor in Week 2 will be how the Lancers defend the triple option, specifically McCallum, who runs a verified 4.46 40-yard dash. While Lee has four experienced players in its secondary and a beast middle linebacker in senior Eric Wright, it has four first-year starters, all juniors, on its defensive line.
The Lancer offense, led again by its talented backfield trio, should shine again. But if the Hawks find a way to exploit the inexperience of the defensive front four, this may turn into a shootout.
Lee has four-game winning streak in the series, including a 24-7 win last year.
Marshall (0-1) at Stuart (0-1), 7:30 p.m.
Both the Statesmen and Raiders are searching for their first points of 2009.
Stuart fell, 10-0, to city rival, Single-A George Mason. Marshall, meanwhile, fell victim to a well-executed triple option, 35-0, at Hayfield, yielding three touchdowns of 68 yards or more.
In this series, the Statesmen have won the last five games by a combined 161-6, including a 28-0 victory in Week 5 last year.
Keep an eye on Marshall’s running back duo of Victor Vanegas and Aaron Phares, who combined for 93 yards on 35 attempts last week.
McLean (1-0) at Herndon (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
Last week, Herndon erupted for 47 first-half points and played punishing defense en route to a 61-6 road win over Jefferson.
Senior running back Randoll Anane carried five times for 158 yards and two touchdowns, senior running back Devon Thompson rushed four times for 70 yards and two scores and senior quarterback Zack Ozycz went 5-for-7 through the air with 62 yards and a touchdown pass to senior B.F.F. Nick Impellizzeri. Ozycz also added a 63-yard touchdown run that will be on almost every highlight compilation we produce this season.
McLean, meanwhile, earned Coach Jim Patrick an overdue first-career win, 44-14, at Washington-Lee, snapping a region-long 12-game losing streak in the process. Senior tailback Riley Beiro carried 27 times for 290 yards and three touchdowns, adding a handful of 20-plus-yard kickoff and punt returns. Senior tight end Jonathan Fremerman also found space and caught two touchdown passes.
In fact, if the playoffs started today, the Highlanders would be the No. 3 seed in Division 5. For what its worth, the Hornets would be No. 6 in Division 6.
These teams have no recent history, but Herndon enters as the favorite. For McLean to contend, Beiro will need a repeat performance and the defense will have to force turnovers. The Hornets’ skill position players are among the most experienced the Highlanders will face, but the offensive and defensive lines are full of first-year varsity members.
McLean has to exploit that inexperience or the Herndon could put on another offensive clinic.
South County (1-0) at Washington-Lee (0-1), 7:30 p.m.
The Generals are one of four teams that the Stallions will see for the first time in their brief history this year.
Last week, South County nearly watched victory slip through its fingers — then bounce off its chest — but rode senior quarterback Aaron Andrews 69 yards in 66 seconds with no timeouts for the game-winning score on 4th-and-10 with :08 left. Sophomore defensive back Andrew Rector — who scored 24 touchdowns as the freshman team running back last year — recorded two interceptions in the win, including one on the final play that sealed the win.
With running mate Ronnie VanDyke sidelined for the year after shoulder surgery, senior two-way starter Andre Simmons had a fumble recovery, a 64-yard run on a fake punt and was on the receiving end of Andrews’ game-winning, 24-yard touchdown toss.
Washington-Lee, meanwhile, suffered a costly 30-point home loss to McLean. Senior Karl Lendenmann broke his radius in the loss and was expected to be one of the Generals’ main contributors. Junior quarterback Richard Lewis was effective under center, going 12-for-17 with 131 yards, a touchdown and an interception and junior running back Anthony Taylor used a 52-yard score to highlight a 91-yard night. Still, the loss of Lendenmann is troubling.
Stone Bridge (1-0) at Heritage (0-1), 7:30 p.m.
The Bulldogs and Pride have not played since Stone Bridge moved to the Northern Region, but met back-to-back years in 2003 and 2004. The Bulldogs won those games by a combined 86-3, but Heritage was just opening and was 5-15 its first two years.
Three of the Pride’s next four seasons yielded winning records, including a 6-4 campaign in 2008. Their quarterback in that most-recent run, then-sophomore Brian Rody, is the new starter for the Bulldogs, an intriguing little wrinkle.
In his first Stone Bridge start, he was 5-for-11 passing with 51 yards and an interception, but that came on 4th-and-long. He captained a 21-18 home win over 2007 Division 6 state champion Westfield.
Bulldog junior running back Marcus Harris carried 21 times for a game-high 83 yards in the win. Senior Spenser Rositano ran for a touchdown, was on the receiving end of a WR-Pass, 66-yard touchdown and blocked the game-tying field goal with under a minute remaining.
Last week, Heritage took a 14-0, first-quarter lead over Broad Run, the defending Division 4 state champion, before allowing 23 unanswered points to lose, 23-14. The Pride need another start like it had in Week 1 to hang with the Bulldogs, but also need to hold the opposing running back in-check more than last week, as well. They gave up 263 yards and two touchdowns to Spartan senior T.J. Peeler.
T.C. Williams (0-1) at Mount Vernon (0-1), 7:30 p.m.
This match-up features a pair of teams in desperate need of a morale boost.
T.C. Williams jumped out to a 23-14 halftime lead last week at Robinson before allowing 22 unanswered points via an unrelenting rushing attack in the second half. Mount Vernon, meanwhile, gained just 40 total yards on 47 plays, including -3 yards on 18 second-half snaps, in a 42-3 road loss to rival West Potomac.
Last year, the Majors snapped a five-game losing streak to the Titans, spoiling the ribbon-cutting at T.C. Williams’ new home field. Quarterback Brian Green ran for the game-winning 10-yard touchdown run on the second possession of the first overtime in Mount Vernon’s 23-20 win. The Majors’ top three running backs accounted for 225 yards on 51 carries.
The Mount Vernon offensive line is completely new and struggled against West Potomac last week. If T.C. Williams can get pressure on quarterback Andrew Sable and spring its speedy senior running back, Cortez Taylor, like it did last week, the Titans will be in great position to avenge last year’s Week 1 loss.
T.C. Williams’ second-half performance will be the determinant, though. In its last 11 games, it is has blown six second-half leads.
West Springfield (1-0) at Oakton (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
Last season, West Springfield’s promising season came to an abrupt end, 49-43, in the Division 6 semifinals at Oakton. The Cougars went on to win the Division 6 Northern Region championship, while the Spartans lost 10 starters and their head coach in the offseason.
In Week 1, though, West Springfield could not have looked more impressive under new sheriff in town, former Marshall Coach J.T. Biddison. Aside from two long touchdowns allowed in the first 13 minutes, the Spartans locked down the Eagles’ potent offense, sacking the quarterback six times and holding the starting running back to 33 yards on 15 carries.
Meanwhile, they controlled the game offensively, driving for points on two second-half possessions of 13 plays or more to salt the game away. West Springfield deployed a dual-quarterback system, showcasing junior Matt Prokop and senior Eric Schauder, and both proved more than effective. Starting running back Dan Collins was sidelined with an injury, but will return for Oakton.
The Cougars, in the Outback Bowl, pitched a shutout. Oakton beat Madison, 14-0, featuring a completely new offensive backfield, but the same starting offensive line as the regional championship team in 2008. Junior quarterback Jimmy Boone, in his first varsity start, played mistake-free, going 8-for-14 passing for 144 yards and a 44-yard touchdown connection with junior running back Luke Willis.
Boone also carried 11 times for 66 yards and a score.
Last year’s playoff game was the first time these teams had met since the 2002 regular season, a 24-10 Cougar win. For Oakton to continue its run of success, it will need to be more disciplined than last week — it yielded 11 penalties for 90 yards — and find a way to bring down the mobile West Springfield quarterbacks.
West Springfield needs a repeat of the Week 1 defensive performances — sans the two 70-plus-yard early touchdowns — and continue to run the ball well behind senior tackle Mike Justice and the offensive line.
This promises to be one of the more exciting games of Week 2.
West Potomac (1-0) at Westfield (0-1), 7:30 p.m.
DigitalSports Game of the Week
Statistically, no team was as impressive in Week 1 as West Potomac.
Returning all five starting offensive linemen, but only senior receivers Shawn Lee and Will Rosenkranz out wide, there was a gaping hole with the departure of quarterback Cole Walter. Wolverine senior quarterback Colin Mathewson, who lost only two games in three years starting on freshman and junior varsity, was 13-for-19 passing for 234 yards and four touchdowns in the first half alone. He finished with 292 passing yards.
Senior slot receiver Deandre Essex came out of nowhere with eight receptions for 189 yards and two scores. Lee added seven receptions for 65 yards and score. Centreville-transfer, senior running back Darel Layne carried 13 times for 85 yards and a score — all in the first half. Defensively, senior outside linebacker Shakil White had three sacks and two fumble recoveries.
West Potomac allowed Mount Vernon to gain only 40 yards on 47 plays, including negative-three yards on 18 plays in the second half.
Westfield, for its part, visited 2007 Division 5 state champion and two-time defending regional champion Stone Bridge for a marquee opening-week game. It lost, 21-18, on a blocked field goal in the final minute, and only had 10 fewer offensive yards than the Ashburn Bulldogs.
Senior wide receivers Gary Turner and Aaron Scoville each had six receptions, with Turner notching 116 yards and a touchdown, Scoville 39 yards. Sophomore running back Kendall Anderson — younger brother of graduated Bulldog running back Jordan Anderson (James Madison) — rushed four times for 47 yards, including a 42-yard touchdown, in his varsity debut.
The only all-time match-up between these teams came in the 2007 Division 6 regional semifinals, a game Westfield won handily, 41-7, en route to its second state championship.
For the Wolverines to win, they need Mathewson to continue to get his receivers the ball in space and the offensive line to provide similarly powerful performance.
For the Bulldogs to win, junior rover Harry Van Trees needs to be equally as disruptive as he was last week and the running game needs to repeat their 6.9 yards per carry against a much bigger defensive front.
While a loss would be costly for either team, a win is more vital for Westfield. It would be 0-2 with a road game at Lake Braddock next week and the Concorde District schedule starting three weeks thereafter.
Yorktown (1-0) at Madison (0-1), 7:30 p.m.
The Patriots and Warhawks met twice last season, with Madison taking both the aggregate score, 33-30, and the game that mattered.
Yorktown won the regular-season meeting on the road, 23-7, but fell at home in the playoffs, 26-7.
Last week, though, the Patriots unveiled their new spread offense and showed they are ahead of the learning curve. Fourth-string quarterback, 5-foot-6 junior defensive back Jordan Smith stepped in for injured starter Sam Nottingham and completed 15 of his 30 passes for 177 yards for two touchdowns and an interception. Senior wide receiver, a returning all-region honoree, Mike Veith had a game-high nine receptions for 100 yards and a score.
Senior fullback Erik Cardillo carried nine times for 61 yards and two scores in Yorktown’s 36-14 win over Wilson (D.C.).
Madison, in the Outback Bowl, fell to Vienna-rival Oakton for the sixth time in the last seven years, 14-0, on the road. While the Warhawks minimized mistakes — committing just two penalties and one turnover — they struggled to move threaten the Cougars offensively. They only had two plays longer than 10 yards and none longer than 20.
Senior quarterback Eric Roland was 16-for-32 passing for 109 yards and no interceptions.
Yorktown will put up points, new offensive scheme and missing starters notwithstanding. If Madison can keep up and create turnovers, this game is up for grabs. If the Patriots get behind early and the Warhawks are responsible with the ball, Yorktown may struggle to stop the power running game of Madison.
The Patriots held the Tigers to 57 rushing yards on 20 carries, but the Warhawks feature a much more imposing running game.
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