Stone Bridge vs Edison Regional Title Preview
ASHBURN, VA - It's déjà vu all over again ... again. For the third straight year, the Stone Bridge Bulldogs (11-1) will host the Thomas Edison Eagles (10-2) in the Virginia AAA Division 5 Northern Region championship game Friday at 1:30 p.m. The winner of this contest will host a state semifinal game Saturday, December 1 against the winner of the Eastern Region title game featuring defending state champion Phoebus and Indian River.
It's fairly certain that players, coaches and fans alike have had this year's Northern Region title contest circled on their calendars for almost a year, and with good cause. Stone Bridge and Edison, who split the previous two region title games (Stone Bridge won 29-21 in 2005 and Edison returned the favor with a 31-17 victory last year) have been tearing up opponents this season. Both squads boast prolific offenses that average close to 400 yards and 40 points per game, and both have stout defenses that are holding opponents to just under 14 points per contest.
The top two teams in the region feature some of the top talent in the region, and all eyes will be on a pair of Virginia Tech commitments in Stone Bridge senior RB/WR/S Jeron Gouveia and Edison senior QB Ben Barber.
Gouveia, who was named the 2007 Liberty District Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, comes into the game with 672 rushing yards and 14 TDs, 438 receiving yards and 5 TDs, and four interceptions.
Barber is by far the best individual player the Bulldogs will have seen this year. After racking up over 1,000 yards and 12 TDs as a receiver last season, Barber was moved to quarterback this year and has continued to dominate. He earned 2007 National District Offensive Player of the Year after registering 941 yards and 18 TDs on the ground and 1,215 yards and 14 TDs through the air.
It won't just be the Gouviea-Barber show Friday, however, as both teams have several other athletes with big-play abilities.
Stone Bridge has proven it can win games both on the ground and through the air this year. Junior quarterback Patrick Thompson has commanded the offense in his first season under center, throwing for 1,746 yards and a school-record 22 touchdowns while being intercepted just six times. He has added 148 yards and five more scores on the ground.
Thompson's favorite target has been Ryan Moody, who has hauled in 51 passes for a school-record 937 yards and 14 TDs. As if Moody wasn't enough, opposing secondaries have also had their hands full with Gouveia (16 catches for 438 yards and 5 TDs) and Matt Irwin (16-287-3).
The Bulldog ground attack has enjoyed excellent balance and depth behind Kareem Alexander (836 yards, 12 TDs), Gouveia (672 yards, 14 TDs) and Irwin (436 yards, 4 TDs). Alexander missed last week's 49-29 region semifinal win over Marshall with an ankle injury, but Irwin stepped up in his absence, scoring on a 71-yard run and finishing with 113 yards on just four carries.
And, if that three-pronged rushing attack wasn't enough, the Bulldogs have gotten an added lift from the return of Daniel Allen, who missed the first eight games of the year with a high ankle sprain. He has been solid since returning to the field, gaining 164 yards and two scores on the ground and adding a 43-yard touchdown off a screen pass in the last four games.
The Stone Bridge defense has been stout all season long, and turnovers have often provided the offense with a short field. The Bulldogs have grabbed 21 interceptions, led by Kevin Elliott (five picks) and Gouveia and Stancik (four each), and also have 12 fumble recoveries.
As with many evenly matched contests, this game could very well come down to special teams. Bulldog senior Ronnie Shaban has been money on extra points (64-of-65), and he has also booted four field goals, including a pair of 48-yarders. His booming kickoffs into the end zone have limited opponents' return opportunities as well.
In addition to Barber, the Edison ground game features Akeen Perry and Kevin Carter, who average over eight yards per carry each. The two have combined for 1,545 yards and 19 TDs on the ground. Four other Eagles have over 100 yards rushing on the year.
Barber has two excellent receiving threats in Drew Baldwin (27 catches for 400 yards, 5 TDs) and Corey Washington (16-389-7). Washington caught a pair of passes for 52 yards and also had four interceptions in last week's 45-26 region semifinal win over Madison.
Both teams appear to be healthy, unlike last year's contest in which Stone Bridge was without the services of Jeron Gouveia, who missed the contest with a knee injury, and fellow standouts Terence Glenn and Devon Brown, who were sidelined with cramps late in the second quarter.
This should be a battle for the ages. While the explosive offensives may take the spotlight leading up to the game, it may come down to which defense can limit the big play and/or force a big turnover.
