Stone Bridge TKO's McLean Early in 62-6 Win
The Stone Bridge Bulldogs made quick work of the McLean Highlanders, putting the game out of reach in the first four minutes and cruising to an easy 62-6 victory. The Highlanders were clearly no match for the Bulldogs, who advanced to 7-0 and 4-0 in Liberty District play. Devon "Y'Lou" Brown surpassed 1000 yards rushing for the season.
McLean opened with the ball, but didn't hold it long. On the second play, safety Sam Kraynak intercepted a James Pascoe pass and returned it 48 yards for the score. The extra point made it 7-0 Stone Bridge, but Kraynak wasn't done. After the kick, Pascoe attempted another pass downfield that was tipped by Jeron Gouveia. Kraynak gathered it in again and returned it this time to the McLean 43.
Stone Bridge came out throwing, and Terence Glenn completed passes to Brown and Gouveia before hitting Matt Irwin for 23 yards to the three. Glenn then punched it in and the Bulldogs led 14-0 with less than three minutes gone in the game.
Ronnie Shaban's kick into the end-zone gave McLean the ball on the twenty, but the Highlanders were stifled. A short punt turned the ball over to Stone Bridge on the McLean 39, and on the next play Brown burst through the line and scored virtually untouched. The Shaban extra point made it 21-0 with 8:08 left to play in the first quarter.
McLean took over again on its own 20, and the results for the Highlanders did not improve. On the third play, Brown intercepted Pascoe again and returned it to the Highlander 17. Four plays later Glenn found Gouveia in the corner and the Bulldogs were rolling.
McLean took another touchback, but went three-and-out and punted to the Highlander 44. A handoff to Brown yielded an all-too-familiar sight at this point. The running back dashed 44 yards for his second score of the night, and with 3:35 still left in the first quarter, Stone Bridge led 35-0.
After the kickoff, McLean was simply unable to make anything work against the smothering Bulldog defense. With Stone Bridge choosing not to return the punt, the Highlanders were able to back the Bulldogs up to their own 20. At that point Brown made one last statement and took the first handoff 80 yards for the touchdown. With 1:12 left in the first, it was all Stone Bridge 42-0.
McLean made another attempt to start a drive, but on the first play Gouveia picked off Pascoe again. At this point the Bulldog reserves took over, and it wasn't long before Kareem Alexander found his way into the end-zone from 14 yards out. Ronnie Shaban's seventh extra point made the score Stone Bridge 49 McLean 0.
The Highlanders fared no better against the Bulldog second team defense, and were forced to punt. The Bulldogs took over on their own 7, and Mike Stancik, Daniel Allen and Marcus Lewis put together a drive of 14 rushes and 93 yards, ending with Stancik rambling in from the five. Chad Grendell's first extra point attempt of the night was good, the Bulldogs led 56-0, and the first half came to an end.
The second half saw Stone Bridge start where they left off. After an onside kick attempt was covered by Mike Barta, Stancik, Allen and Lewis again carried the load before Lewis made a fine 28-yard run for the score. Grendell's kick was wide, and the Bulldogs led 62-0.
McLean went three-and-out, but a fumble by Stone Bridge gave the ball back to the Highlanders at the Bulldogs 45. McLean finally found something to cheer about when Pascoe found Conner White for a 37-yard touchdown. The conversion pass failed, and the scoring ended there with Stone Bridge leading 62-6.
Neither team threatened to score again, but Joey Hoellerer added one more Bulldog highlight to the film by nabbing a fifth interception for the Stone Bridge defense.
Overall, it was another short night for the starters, who look to next week's game against W.T. Woodson to provide considerably more action. The Bulldogs rumble on, still undefeated all-time in Liberty District competition.
Prepared by, Dave and Suzy Barta
spbarta@aol.com
