Ferrara's 167yds, 4TD's Lead To 41-14 Ram Win
FAIRFAX, VA - The Stone Bridge Bulldogs suffered a rare regular season defeat Friday night, falling to a talented Robinson Rams team 41-14. The non-playoff loss was the first for Stone Bridge since losing to Oakton in the second game of the 2005 campaign.
Robinson used superior outside speed to scorch the Bulldogs for 391 yards of rushing, while clamping down on Stone Bridge's main weapon, Jeron Gouveia, with numerous double teams.
The Bulldogs opened the game with the ball, and a 41-yard run by Kareem Alexander put them in great position inside the Ram 25, but the drive stalled there when Patrick Thompson was unable to find a receiver on fourth-and-nine. Robinson took over but went three-and-out, punting to the Bulldog 44. Stone Bridge likewise could not tally a first down, and a fine punt by Thompson backed the Rams up to their own 15.
During the next series, Robinson found numerous holes in the Stone Bridge defense, and quickly moved down the field. Rushing seven times for 85 yards, the Rams scored first when Peter Ferrara shot in from the six. The extra point made it 7-0 Robinson.
Stone Bridge again had trouble establishing a drive, but another long punt by Thompson forced Robinson to start from its own 12. The Bulldog defense stiffened this time, and the Rams eventually punted from their own 16. Starting from near midfield, the Bulldogs simply could not dent the Robinson defense, and Thompson's third punt pinned the Rams inside the twenty.
The Stone Bridge defense was again up to the task and seemed to have the Rams' number, eventually driving them back to their own 5. A short punt gave the Bulldogs an excellent opportunity at the Ram 28, and this time they did not waste the chance. Two straight passes from Thompson to Ryan Moody, the second a 14-yard TD toss, put Stone Bridge on the board. Ronnie Shaban's PAT kick was good, and the teams entered the locker rooms tied at the half.
Coming out after halftime, the Bulldogs kicked off and attempted one of their normally dependable on-side kicks, but the ball only progressed nine yards and the Rams had excellent field position near midfield.
Similar to the first quarter, Robinson seemed to have their way with the Bulldog defense, particularly to the outside. Ferrara and Wynton Fox alternated rushes, and in five plays the Rams scored, taking the lead again 14-7.
Stone Bridge moved to the passing game, and a 34-yard strike from Thompson to Mike Stancik gave the Bulldogs life at the Ram 38. However, after a completion to Moody, the ball was stripped and Robinson recovered at the 25 and the drive was killed.
Robinson once more was tearing off large chunks of real estate with the rushing game, when Ferrara slipped behind the secondary and caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from Timmy Meier. The extra point made it 21-7, and Robinson looked in control.
On its next series Stone Bridge was completely stymied, losing six yards before going three-and-out. The Rams took over on the Bulldog 39, and had a commanding lead when Ferrara scored his third rushing touchdown four minutes later from the six.
Stone Bridge seemed to bounce back in the next series. On third-and-three, Thompson hit Matt Irwin across the middle, and Irwin raced 66 yards for the TD. Shaban's PAT made it 28-14 Rams, but the Bulldogs felt they were within striking distance.
The Bulldog defense rose up on the Rams' next possession, and Stone Bridge found itself with the ball on its own 44. But the Robinson defense had ideas of their own, and sacked Thompson on successive plays to drive Stone Bridge back to the 23. Then on fourth-and-31, the Bulldogs tried to catch Robinson sleeping, and Thompson pulled up to pass, but was unable to find an open receiver and was sacked again. Two plays later Ferrara romped into the end-zone for the fourth time and with 6:27 left, the Bulldogs were in dire straits, trailing 34-14.
Forced to pass, Thompson found Moody again, this time for 56 yards to the Ram 18. But the Robinson secondary was lying in wait, and Thompson was picked off at the Ram 3, effectively ending the Bulldogs' night. During their last possession, Robinson QB Meier made a nice fake into the line before racing around the left side for the final score of the game.
The only bright spot for the Bulldogs was the passing statistics, particularly to Moody and Irwin. Gouveia was shut down offensively, many times with double coverage. The speed of Robinson was evident in the rushing game, as the Rams tallied over 400 yards of offense, nearly all of it on the ground.
Just as in 2005, the Bulldogs will find out what they are made of after a loss to a Division 6 power. They host Marshall next Friday, and experience would say to expect that a very unpleasant Stone Bridge squad will take the field.
Prepared by, Dave and Suzy Barta
spbarta@aol.com
