Bulldogs Continue To Roll With 54-12 Win
ASHBURN, VA - The Stone Bridge Bulldogs crushed the South Lakes Seahawks 54-12 Friday night to keep their unblemished Liberty District record intact. The Bulldogs used a punishing defense, backed up by an efficient offense, to ground the Seahawks the moment they showed any sign of life.
It didn't take long for the South Lakes squad to feel hopeful. On the second play from scrimmage, Seahawk QB Scott Reed lofted a pass down the left sideline for A.J. Prince. Bulldog Safety Jeron Gouveia leaped in front of Prince and deflected the pass, but the ball was tipped in the air backwards to Prince, who hauled it in and scampered to the end zone. The extra point was wide left, and with a minute gone in the game South Lake led 6-0.
A nice kick-off return by Matt Irwin gave Stone Bridge great field position on the Bulldog 45. On the second play from scrimmage, Kareem Alexander burst through the line, broke several tackles and rumbled to the Seahawk five before being dragged down. Three plays later Patrick Thompson carried it in, and Ronnie Shaban's PAT put Stone Bridge ahead 7-6.
After a touchback, South Lakes started on its own 20 and the first running play was stuffed by the Stone Bridge defense for a five yard loss. On the next play, the snap sailed over Reed's head and he quickly tracked the ball down in the end zone and booted it out the back for the safety. Another fine return by Irwin of the free kick let the Bulldogs start near mid-field and Stone Bridge went to the air. Seven straight passes by Thompson eventually ended with Ryan Moody using some fancy foot work to stay in bounds in the back of the end zone for the TD. Another Shaban extra point made the score 16-6 Bulldogs.
A facemask penalty during the ensuing kick-off gave South Lakes the ball at mid-field, but the Stone Bridge defense was ready. One completion to the Bulldog 35 was all the Seahawks could muster before turning the ball over on downs. A 20-yard run by Gouveia and several carries by Alexander brought the Stone Bridge drive to the South Lakes 22, and Alexander finished it off from there, zipping in for the touchdown.
On the kick-off, Shaban attempted an onside kick but the ball failed to travel ten yards and died at the 47. In a rare show of frustration, Shaban spiked the ball and was whistled for unsportsmanlike conduct. The fifteen yard penalty put South Lakes at the Bulldog 32 and opened the door for a Seahawk rally. That door was immediately slammed shut, however, and the Seahawks could not record a first down.
Starting from the 24, the Bulldogs nearly gave South Lakes new life again when Thompson was picked off and the ball carried to the nineteen. But on third and six, Mike Stancik chased down the Seahawk ball carrier from behind and dislodged the ball and Mike Olsen pounced on it for Stone Bridge. This time the Bulldogs stayed on the ground, grinding down to the Seahawk eight where Thompson rolled in for the score. Shaban's fourth PAT made it 30-6.
On the kick-off, the Seahawks' Thomas Mayo was stripped by Alexander and Noland Moser came up with the ball for Stone Bridge. On the next play, Thompson once again found Moody across the middle, who broke several tackles to score his second TD of the night. The extra point made it 37-6 with 3:31 left in the half.
An unsportsmanlike penalty on the kick-off again gave the Seahawks the ball at mid-field, and from there South Lakes stayed with the passing game. Working down to the Stone Bridge 12, on first-and-ten Reed lofted a pass into the end-zone where it was intercepted by Bulldog Kevin Elliott, who used a nifty move to keep his feet inbounds.
Stone Bridge took the kick-off after halftime, and the Bulldogs offense wasted no time. On fourth-and-two, Irwin took the counter and out-raced everyone 44 yards for the TD. The PAT put Stone Bridge up 44-6. The defense snuffed one more South Lakes drive, and the Bulldogs soon found themselves faced with fourth-and-seven at the Seahawk 27. From there, Shaban promptly nailed a 42-yard field goal.
South Lakes finally had something to cheer about in the fourth quarter when Mayo wrestled a pass from the Stone Bridge defenders and scored from 56 yards out. Another missed PAT kick left the score 47-12. The Bulldogs reserves answered the call, with Marcus Harris doing the legwork and eventually scoring from the two to end the scoring at 54-12.
On the night, Stone Bridge scored on nine of eleven drives. The Bulldog defense hammered the Seahawks on the ground, allowing a negative 15 yards on eighteen carries. Through the air, aside from the 44-yard and 56-yard touchdowns, Stone Bridge gave up only 44 yards. Thompson, Moody and Alexander all scored twice, while Shaban's kicking was perfect for the evening.
The Bulldogs move to 5-1, 3-0 in district, and travel to Langley next for the second anniversary of the Monsoon Bowl. At this point, most locals would welcome a similar rain event.
Prepared by, Dave and Suzy Barta
spbarta@aol.com
