Bulldogs Pound Cougars 35-7 In Rematch
(ASHBURN, VA) - The Stone Bridge Bulldogs made a major statement two games into the 2006 season by crushing the defending AAA Division 6 State Champion Oakton Cougars 35-7. The victory avenged the Bulldogs' only regular season loss from last year, and gave evidence that this team is a serious contender this year.
Stone Bridge scored touchdowns on each of its first four possessions, and for the second week rushed for over 300 yards. Devon “Y'Lou” Brown again led the way with 171 yards on 23 attempts, while Terence Glenn had a huge night, scoring three touchdowns and throwing for another.
Oakton opened the game with the ball on its own 20, but went three-and-out. The Bulldogs took over on their own 40, and on third-and-five, Brown rambled down the right side, spinning and side-stepping until being pushed out at the two. Glenn punched it in from there, and Stone Bridge was quickly up 7-0.
After a fine kick return by Handel Stephen-Dowd to the Cougar 44, Oakton seemed to find a ground game and moved to the Bulldog 25. Quarterback Stephen Pournaras couldn't quite connect with his receivers, however, and Oakton was forced to punt, pinning the Bulldogs at the six.
Stone Bridge worked the ball out to the 37 when Matt Irwin raced around the left end, down the sideline and seemed to have scored, but a penalty at the Oakton 25 brought the run back to the 35. A holding call on the subsequent play backed the Bulldogs up even further, and soon Stone Bridge was looking at fourth-and-fifteen. Rolling out to his left, Glenn found Mike Barta with a 40-yard TD strike, and the Bulldogs were in control 14-0
On the ensuing kickoff, Oakton found something to cheer about when Ervin Garner shot up the middle and scampered all the way to the Stone Bridge 28. Four plays later, Pournaras found Jared Green behind the secondary and the Cougars were back in the game, trailing 14-7.
In the next series, the Bulldogs kept it to the ground, but a holding penalty left them looking at fourth-and-three on their own 41. Glenn came through again, this time with a 29-yard sprint to the Oakton 30. A rush by Brown and an 18-yard pass to Zach Thompson brought the ball to the six, where Glenn finished the drive with his second rushing touchdown.
The Cougars tried to regroup, but a fumble by Garner after a reception and hard hit by Sam Kraynak turned the ball over to Stone Bridge at the Oakton 43. Pounding it out on the ground again, the Bulldogs made it 28-7 when Brown rammed in from the one. Chad Grendell, who was a perfect five-for-five on the night, hit his fourth PAT kick just as the skies opened up and poured sheets of rain.
Following the kickoff, Oakton's Orlando Bryant had two fine runs of 12 and 26-yards, but the last resulted in a fumble recovery by Mike Stancik, and both teams slogged to the locker rooms with Stone Bridge leading 28-7.
The third quarter saw Mother Nature accomplish what the Cougars' defense could not, namely stop a Bulldog drive. Neither team could sustain any momentum, and the score remained unchanged entering the fourth quarter.
With 10:31 left in the fourth, Stone Bridge took over on its own 28, and Oakton got a big dose of Brown and Glenn. Eight rushes later, Glenn broke free and scored from 33 yards out for his third rushing touchdown of the night. After the kickoff, the Cougars went three-and-out, and the Bulldog reserves ran out the clock.
Stone Bridge takes its 2-0 record and a big head of steam on the road for a match-up with Northern Region rival and 2005 playoff team Loudoun Valley. Last year's contest was intense, with the Bulldogs scoring in the final seconds to claim the win.
Prepared by, Dave and Suzy Barta
spbarta@aol.com
