Gameday Notebook: Northern Region Week 11
STERLING, VA - If it was "upset city" in Week 9 than it was Hollywood in Week 10 because no one could have scripted some of the games we had last Friday. And after what happened in Week 9, there is seemingly no way to predict what goes on in the Northern Region anymore. That's all excellent news for fans however because that means the playoffs will be completely unpredictable and crazy, or so we hope. Unfortunately, it seems there's more talk centered around whether or not the eight-team playoff structure is necessary, which is too bad because there are some great match-ups out there.
But before we get into talk of the playoffs, we're here to break down all of Week 10. So sit back and enjoy the final notebook of the regular season!
THE BARN IS BURNING!
As noted at the top, more upsets highlighted the final week of the regular season, yet these upsets were better than the ones we had last week. Not that they were bigger upsets, but they all ended in thrilling fashion. Herndon upset Oakton after electing to go for two points and the win after driving the length of the field to get the tying touchdown. With the gamble paying off for Herndon, Oakton was effectively knocked out of playoff contention while the Hornets finished their season on quite the high note (more on that later). Out at TC Williams meanwhile, a winning drive was thwarted after West Potomac's field goal attempt was blocked by the Titans in the waning seconds. Finally, out in Vienna, Marshall topped Madison on a last second drive of their own which enabled them to secure home-field advantage in the first round. If there were ever any upsets like these--or barnburners no less--in the coming weeks then expect one heck of a Second Season.
REWARDING GENERAL LEE
No, I'm not talking about that General Lee, or the car either. I'm talking about Robert E. Lee High School out in Springfield. Coach Everett of the Lancers went out and got himself in what is ranked as the second toughest schedule in the state (Robinson is #1). As a result, Lee took their lumps along the way but were rewarded with a playoff spot in the end. Sure they might be 2-8, but seven of those losses came against playoff teams and of those seven playoff teams they lost to, all but one play in Division 6.
FIGHTING HORNETS
If you look closely at Herndon's logo of a hornet, it has on a pair of boxing gloves. Yes, that's right, boxing gloves on an insect. But none of that was a joke during the past five weeks of the regular season. They put those boxing gloves to good use as they won four of their last five games to finish out the year 5-5 and 3-3 in the Concorde District. For those who know the Concorde, getting three wins in that district is no easy task. Yet it wasn't too long ago that winning two games overall would have seemed like an accomplishment. The Hornets were struggling mightily and were tabbed as a team in rebuilding mode, but fast-forward one month later and the Hornets have arrived. They knocked off two traditional Concorde powers in Robinson and Oakton as well as Division 5 playoff participant Yorktown. With a good young core returning for Herndon next year, look out for them in 2008 because they might be heavyweights.
BULLDOG RABIES
The Centreville Wildcats just can't get a break when they play Westfield. Just as Chantilly can seemingly never beat Centreville, Westfield always gets the upper hand on Centreville. The only time Westfield has lost to Centreville was in their first year of having a varsity program, and that was when Centreville was going for their fourth straight region title. Normally these two produce some classic games, but last Saturday night, Westfield torched Centreville by a score of 33-0.
