Stone Bridge Defense Played With Mean Bite
ASHBURN, VA - We all know the saying - offense wins you games and defense wins you championships. It's true at every level, and it's true in every sport. While the Stone Bridge football team made headline after headline with its prolific offense, it was the defensive unit that came up with one crucial play after another - most notably in the postseason - to help propel the Bulldogs to their first-ever state championship title.
To put the play of the defense in perspective, we need to go back to the start of the season. One couldn't fault Stone Bridge fans for being a bit worried after the Bulldogs gave up a combined 77 points and 901 total yards to Division 6 opponents (and eventual region semifinalists) West Springfield and Robinson in the first two weeks. However, that seemed to light a fire under the Stone Bridge defense, and the Bulldogs went on to allow just 47 (yes, 47) total points and just over 2,000 total yards of offense over the final eight regular-season games (that's an average of 5.9 points and 250 yards for you mathematically challenged).
Looking even further inside the numbers, the Bulldog 'D' held five of those last eight regular-season opponents to 23 rushing yards or fewer (McLean and South Lakes managed minus-32 yards combined on the ground in consecutive weeks), and Stone Bridge limited three opponents to 55 or fewer total yards.
In the playoffs, when the competition got tougher and the pressure got higher each week, the Bulldog 'D' took its play to yet another level. Stone Bridge allowed 80 points in five games (16 points per game), which may seem pedestrian until you stop and consider this - 42 of those points came during mop-up time in blowouts of Lee (42-13) and Marshall (49-29), meaning the Bulldogs gave up a combined 38 points to Edison (27-14), Phoebus (38-24) and Potomac (38-0), three of the top offensive teams in the state.
What was more impressive was the Bulldogs' ability to shut down the primary playmakers of each of their final three postseason opponents. Edison's Ben Barber, one of the most talented and elusive players in the state, came into the region championship game with more than 2,100 yards and 32 touchdowns to his credit. However, Stone Bridge held the Virginia Tech commit to 106 passing yards and 56 rushing yards - and more significantly out of the end zone - in a 27-14 victory.
In the state semifinals, top-ranked and defending state champion Phoebus came to Ashburn boasting another potent offense behind running back Shawne Alston, who entered the game with 1,659 yards and 26 touchdowns. All the Bulldogs did was make Alston a non-factor, limiting him to just 19 yards on nine carries.
The Bulldogs did spot the Phantoms 21 points and 273 yards of offense in the first half before simply shutting down the visitors after intermission, allowing a mere 45 yards and one first down in the second half.
Stone Bridge put together a season-saving defensive stand in the opening minute of the second half, forcing a field goal after Phoebus took over at the Bulldog six-yard line following an interception on the second play of the half. That effort gave the team and its fans renewed energy and set the tone for the remainder of the game.
On the ensuing possession, the Bulldogs put together a solid drive before an interception at the Phoebus 4 ruined a crucial scoring opportunity. Once again, the Stone Bridge defense came up big, forcing a fumble on the very next play to give the Bulldogs the ball back at the Phantom 7. Stone Bridge found the end zone four plays later to make it a 24-21 contest, and the comeback was on.
Phoebus looked to counter on its next possession, but Kevin Elliott's sliding interception deep inside Bulldog territory squashed the scoring chance. The turnover once again sparked the Stone Bridge offense, which went on a 13-play, 84-yard march for the go-ahead score. The defensive frenzy continued on Phoebus' next possession, as Stone Bridge forced another three-and-out, and a high punt snap sailed out of the end zone for a safety to give Stone Bridge a 30-24 advantage.
The Bulldogs converted the ensuing free kick into another touchdown, and a two-point conversion (fittingly to defensive end Zach Thompson) gave Stone Bridge a 38-24 lead. The icing on the cake came just moments later when the Bulldogs forced a fumble on Phoebus' next series, and Stone Bridge ran out the clock to seal the win.
And then there was Saturday's dominating performance against Potomac in the state championship. The Panthers featured perhaps the top running back tandem in the state in Darius Brent and Mulku Kalokoh, who came into the title contest with a combined 2,500 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground. But it was the undaunted Bulldog defense once again stepping up when it counted most, allowing just 198 yards of total offense (of which 91 came on two big plays -- a 32-yard scamper by Brent and a 59-yard pass from DeAirius Thomas to Donald Vaughn on a blown coverage).
The Panthers, who averaged just under 214 yards on the ground coming into the state title game, mustered just 55 rushing yards on 23 attempts (2.4 yards per carry), with Brent gaining just 56 yards and Kalokoh only 22. The Bulldog defense put heavy pressure on Thomas all afternoon, and he was limited to 12-of-26 passing for 132 yards and was picked off twice.
Stone Bridge held Potomac to just 2-of-9 on third-down attempts and 0-of-4 on fourth-down attempts, registered two sacks and numerous hurries, and limited the Panthers to just 18:41 in time of possession. Potomac's best scoring chances were two field goal attempts (heavy pressure up the middle kept Potomac from even attempting the first kick and the second try was wide left).
Throughout the season, head coach Mickey Thompson consistently said, "It's their offense versus our defense," and 14 out of 15 times, the Bulldogs won. Opponents hoping for a little relief next year won't get much if any; the majority of the starting defensive unit will be back in 2008.
