Playoff Matchups & Notes
WHAT: Semi-Final Game, Group AAA, Division 5, Northern Region Playoffs
WHO: #1 Stone Bridge Bulldogs (9-1) vs. #4 Madison Warhawks (7-3)
WHEN: Friday, 18 November, 7:30 PM
WHERE: Stone Bridge High School, 43100 hay Road, Ashburn, VA 20147
GAME NOTES:• Stone Bridge, in its first year at the Group AAA level, won the Liberty District title with a perfect 7-0 district record. Madison finished second, with a 6-1 district record.
• The two teams met on 14 October, on a muddy field at Stone Bridge. Madison scored on the first play of the game, on an 80-yard run from Aaron Lambert, but the Stone Bridge defense kept the Warhawks in check for the rest of the game. Stone Bridge won, 15-7, in overtime. The Bulldogs found the going tough on the ground; Madison held them to just 70 rushing yards on 30 carries.
• Madison averaged 278 yards of total offense (222 rush, 56 pass) and 22 points per game in the regular season; the Warhawks have given up 12 points per game. Stone Bridge has averaged 332 yards of total offense (226 rush, 106 pass) and 28 points per game, while allowing opponents 14 points per game.
• Both teams have come on strong in the past few weeks. Madison’s ground game has become more productive; Stone bridge has scored early and often, and the starters have spent most of the second half on the bench.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:• Madison: RB Justin Duncan has gained 910 yards on 112 carries and scored 10 TDs. However, 517 of those yards came in the last two games of the season. RB Aaron Lambert gained 737 yards on 103 carries and scored 6 TDs. Warhawk QB Warren Anderson completed 32 of 60 passes for 458 yards and 3 TDs. He also rushed 43 times for 317 yards and 4 TDs.
• Stone Bridge: Junior QB Terrence Glenn has completed 57 of 125 passes for 975 yards and 11 TDs, and has rushed for 776 yards and 10 TDs. Shamar Knight-Justice has rushed for 667 yards and scored 6 TDs. Leading receivers are Kevan Walker, with 16 catches for 303 yards (3 TDs), and Mike Barta with 14 catches for 229 yards (2 TDs). On defense, the Bulldogs are led by Nate Hawkins (62 tackles, 8 sacks) and Andrew Holoman (62 tackles). Sophomore Jeron Gouveia has 4 interceptions, which he has returned for an average of 32 yards; he has scored 1 TD.
BOTTOM LINE:
• If the field at Stone Bridge is dry, this will be a different game than the last matchup. Madison will try to use its punishing ground game to take time off the clock and keep Stone Bridge’s single wing off the field. If the field is dry, the Bulldogs will not hesitate to unleash their full single wing package. The question is, since both schools have excellent defenses, which team’s offense will achieve its goals and prevail?
WHAT: Semi-Final Game, Group AAA, Division 5, Northern Region Playoffs
WHO: #2 Loudoun Valley Vikings (9-1) vs. #3 Edison Eagles (9-1)
WHEN: Friday, 18 November, 7:30 PM
WHERE: Loudoun Valley High School, 340 North Maple Avenue, Purcellville, VA 20132
GAME NOTES:
• Loudoun Valley, in its first year at the Group AAA level, won the National District title with a perfect 7-0 district record. Edison finished second, with a 6-1 district record.
• The two teams met on 28 October at Loudoun Valley. The Vikings converted two early Edison turnovers into touchdowns to take a 14-0 lead, and the Vikings held on to win, 21-19. The Eagles were held to 73 rushing yards, but passed for 276, as they were forced to play catch-up.
• Edison averaged 400 yards of total offense (256 rush, 146 pass) and 40 points per game. Loudoun Valley averaged 36 points per game, while its defense yielded just 8 points per game.
• Loudoun Valley has outscored its last two opponents 124-6.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:• Edison: QB Shawn Lloyd has completed 86 of 147 passes for 1420 yards and 18 TDs. He has been intercepted just twice. His primary receiver has been Justin Smith; he has 48 catches for 809 yards and 9 TDs. He has also carried the ball 6 times for 117 yards and 2 TDs. Ed Baldwin has 9 catches for 141 yards and 4 TDs. RB Devan Clark leads the rushing attack, with 829 yards and 10 TDs on 105 carries.
• Loudoun Valley: RB Tommy Schonder has been the workhorse for the Vikings, with 1141 rushing yards (188 carries, 18 TDs), and by Brock Bell (94 carries, 726 yards, 10 TDs). Sam Clay has completed 59% of his passes (48 for 81), for 644 yards and 7 TDs. Kody Farr (14 catches, 191 yards, 2 TDs) and Tommy Schonder (11 catches, 128 yards, 2 TDs) have been reliable receivers for the Vikings. But the real force for the Vikings has been its defense, allowing opponents 176 yards of total offense per game (94 rush, 82 pass).
BOTTOM LINE:
• Edison was done in by its own mistakes in the regular season meeting. The Eagles fell behind and the Viking defense made sure that Edison never caught up. Look for Edison to try to strike early in this game, to establish momentum and take Loudoun Valley out of its offensive scheme. Look for Loudoun Valley to emphasize ball control on offense, using Schonder and Bell, and a controlled passing game, to dictate the pace of the game and keep Edison off the field.
WHAT: Semi-Final Game, Group AA, Division 4, Region II Playoffs
WHO: #1 Harrisonburg Blue Streaks (10-0) vs. #4 Park View Patriots (5-5)
WHEN: Friday, 18 November, 7:30 PM
WHERE: Harrisonburg High School, 1001 Garber’s Church Road, Harrisonburg, VA 22801
GAME NOTES:
• Park View shares the Dulles District title with Heritage, but advanced to the playoffs because of a higher power point rating.
• The Patriots lost 4 of their first 5 games, but then won 4 of 5 in district play.
• Harrisonburg won the Valley District title. The Streaks had to stage a remarkable rally to defeat R.E. Lee-Staunton, 21-17 in the last game of the regular season. The Blue Streaks went to the Division 4 state championship game in 2004; on the way, they defeated Stone Bridge, 14-3 to win the Region II championship. Harrisonburg lost to Salem in the state final.
• Harrisonburg averaged 30 points per game, while giving up just 14. Park View scored an average of 27 points per game, but gave up an average of 30 points.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:• Harrisonburg: Offense is led by QB Ben Sarver and RB Andy Owah (who had gained 1267 rushing yards going into last Friday night’s game at Lee). Their highly capable offense is complimented by a very tough, tenacious defense
• Park View: Sophomore QB C.J. Leizear completed 111 of 235 passes for 1821 yards and 22 TDs, both school records. His favorite receivers are Raymond Mends, who led the Dulles District with 33 catches (610 yards, 7 TDs), Joey Stefanacci (22 catches, 314 yards, 3 TDs), and Kerry Dudley (21 catches, 346 yards, 6 TDs). Junior RB Deric Dudinski started the season slowly, but came on very strong, with 1187 rushing yards (190 carries, 10 TDs) and 234 receiving yards (18 catches, 2 TDs). Curtis Coker, who set a new school record this season with 126 tackles, leads the Park View defense.
BOTTOM LINE:
• Park View has shown that it is capable of scoring points, but it has also given up a lot of points. This could be a problem for the Patriots, as their offense will be seriously challenged by the Harrisonburg defense. The real key to this game may be how well the Patriot defense can perform against a Harrisonburg offense that can strike quickly.
