Defense Puts Chargers In State Final
Chantilly, VA - The Chantilly football team overcame numerous offensive miscues and rode two defensive touchdowns to a 17-7 victory over Varina in the Group AAA Division 6 state semifinals here on Saturday.
The Chargers (10-3 overall) took a 10-0 lead in the second quarter when senior linebacker Mike Pociask scored on a 46-yard fumble recovery, then senior linebacker Chris Kolta provided the game's final margin when he scored on a 45-yard interception return with 10 minutes, 1 second remaining in the fourth quarter.
Chantilly advances to face Northwest Region champion Osbourn (13-0), a 27-21 winner over Eastern Region champion Salem (12-1) in Saturday's other semifinal, in the state final next Saturday at 12:30 p.m. in Hampton.
The victory by the Chargers, which are making their first postseason appearance since winning the state championship in 1996, means the Northern Region will be represented in the Division 6 state final for the seventh consecutive year. The Central Region champion Blue Devils (11-2) saw their 11-game winning streak snapped and have now lost seven of nine state playoff games dating back to 1995.
Chantilly's defense set the tone from the game's beginning, continually pressuring Blue Devils quarterbacks Justin Thorpe and Davon Morgan and containing the tailback duo of Trevin Thomas and Rodney Roane, who entered with over 1,600 combined rushing yards. The Chargers' defense sacked Varina quarterbacks seven times, including three by all-region defensive end Zach Hally, in reverting back to the form it held in allowing just 40 points in the opening seven games of the season.
"We were a little worried about their speed, but we felt we did a good job of dealing with it," said Chantily senior all-region safety Austin Morris. "They're all extremely athletic, and I'm proud of our defense and how we played."
The Blue Devils' lone score came on an 8-yard touchdown run by Thorpe with 9:15 remaining in the third quarter to cut their deficit to 10-7. But the Chantilly defense came up big again and again late in the game, with junior cornerback Ryan Robertson knocking away two long pass attempts and the Chargers stopping Thorpe short on a 4th-down-and-1 at the Chantilly 21-yard line with 6:15 remaining in the game.
The win gives the Chargers a seven-game postseason winning streak dating back to their 1996 state title run, and sets up an all-Northern Virginia final next weekend against Osbourn, which is in Manassas.
Notes: Chantilly senior quarterback Nate Worek, who was forced out of the Chargers' victory over Westfield in the region final on Nov. 25, could return to the starting lineup next week. "We wanted to give him at least one more game," Morris said. "We're just excited for him to be able to get back on the field." ... Chantilly will be looking to become the ninth team from the Northern Region to win the Division 6 crown dating back to 1994. ... The seven points scored by Varina marks the first time the Blue Streaks have been held under 21 points since a 9-7 victory over Thomas Dale on Sept. 15.
