Point After: Sifting Through The Wreckage
In my first Point After of the football season, we'll talk about the teams that had a good start to the season, but we'll focus on the teams that need to pick themselves off of the ground...
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Stone Bridge's Patrick Thompson played with a glove and a splint in week 1, and it appeared to only hinder a few passes. He'll have a tougher time this week if Robinson can shut down the running game and force him to beat them in the air.
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Robinson quarterback Timmy Meier is the only starting quarterback to beat the Stone Bridge Bulldogs, and he'll get another shot this week when his Rams take on the top ranked team in the region....
Photo By: Marc Gold / Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
ASHBURN, VA - The first week of the season is rarely a good indicator of how good a team will be by the end of the season. Penalties, lack of concentration, poor conditioning, you name it. They can all be factors in a slow start, but one thing became very clear after Friday night's games, this season should be very exciting.
The defending state champion Stone Bridge Bulldogs rolled along without much contest against West Springfield, and they did so by scoring three touchdowns on their first three plays of the year on offense. The final score ended up being more respectable than the 42-7 margin we had at halftime, but instead of focusing on the Bulldogs, a team that should run the table again deep into the state playoffs, let's focus on West Springfield.
The Spartans have never been known as a defensive juggernaut, only an offensive one. It became clear that talented quarterback Bryn Renner needs more help on both sides of the ball, and he probably won't find it until he heads to North Carolina next year.
Last year, West Springfield lost to Stone Bridge as well, but they played much better in that contest and led most of the first half. In Friday's game against the Bulldogs, they didn't sniff a lead, and looked out of sorts on defense. Head Coach Bill Renner has a special thing on offense with his son and tailback Brandon Bailey, who didn't get much going on ground until late, but the defense has to get better if this team is going to contend for another regional championship.
The best news is, it is only week 1, the bad news is Edison and Robinson are waiting in the wings to get their shot at the Spartans in the coming weeks. Ouch!
Across town, Briar Woods opened up with a very strong win over Millbrook, just like last season. The Falcons did it by playing great defense, returning two interceptions for touchdowns. Fullback Billy McDonald and tailback Ray Taliaferro helped the Falcons close it out at the end with a 96 yard time crunching touchdown drive.
Millbrook also lost this game last year, and then beat the Falcons in the post-season. These two will see each other again if you ask me, and the Pioneers are hoping it plays out the same way. Millbrook has talented players led by quarterback Andrew Oates, and despite the loss, they have a schedule that lines up pretty well for them late in the season. Last year's team went on to win every game the rest of the way until they hit the Sherando Warriors, and they could very well do the same again this season with the talent they have on the roster.
Down in Lorton, the Westfield Bulldogs opened their season with a low scoring 9-7 win over South County. I had to look at that score 5 times because I can't remember the last time Westfield scored just 9 points, because it has been a while. However, the focus should be on South County, who by all accounts showed some major improvements under head coach Pete Bendorf. The Stallions weren't favored to win, but according to our broadcast team, they could have very easily done so. With the way West Springfield's defense played on Friday, the Stallions jump right to the front in my mind as the only real contender Renner and the Spartans will have this year in the Patriot District.
While we frowned upon a 9 point scoring output and just a two point win over South County, I'm almost 100% positive head coach Tom Verbanic will tell us that a win is a win, and he is right.
The Bulldogs can't be compared to last year's team that finished 15-0. That bar was set awful high, and this year's Westfield team needs time to come together. The good sign is Westfield's defense continued to do what it has done in previous years, and that is hold opponents under 10 points per game .
Defensive Coordinator Kyle Simmons doesn't get much credit in the press, but he and his staff on that side of the ball deserve some free Moe's Burritos as they continue to get the most out of their players. Despite the narrow win, Westfield should be undefeated entering the Chantilly game in a few weeks.
Another team that impressed me this weekend was Potomac Falls, 39-30 winners over Martinsburg, WV. Some may say that is no big deal, but it is, and every team from Loudoun County that has taken it on the chin over the years from the Bulldogs should be proud of the Panthers.
Potomac Falls is just two years removed from a 7-3 season, and all indications are they played well on both offense and defense. I saw Martinsburg in person a week ago in their final scrimmage of the pre-season, and while they didn't look like world beaters, head coach Dave Walker still has a very solid team. This win could prove to be a big stepping stone for Potomac Falls.
The first week of the season is a bad indicator for how things may end up, but then again, it can also be great for building confidence and momentum. Here are five things I now expect to happen based on what I've seen this past week on the gridiron.
Stone Bridge Won't Get Tested Until The State Semi Finals; Bank On It!
Robinson will give Stone Bridge their best game, but they can't match up with the Bulldogs and the amount of speed and experience they have coming back. The Rams had the experience edge on Stone Bridge last year, and it is flipped around this year. Look for another big output from the Bulldogs on offense this coming Friday night. Week one showed me that there is no team in this area that has the playmakers and the size in the trenches to hang with these boys. It is scary to say this, but the 2008 Stone Bridge squad could be the best Mickey Thompson has ever coached, and that includes last year's state championship team.
The Outback Bowl Proved That Records And Poll Rankings Don't Matter:
The Oakton Cougars, fresh off a 55 point outburst against West Springfield in their last scrimmage, scored 21 points against rival Madison on Friday night. The Cougars did what they had to do to win, but it was far from the explosive offensive showing they were looking for. Madison played their hearts out, and nearly came away with a second straight win over Oakton if it weren't for a big miscue on special teams. Oakton's Chris Coyer and Trey Watts impressed our own Mitch Rogers and Bubba Purcell, but if I could look into a crystal ball, I would say this team is about even with the Chantilly's, Centreville's, and Robinson's of the world this year in the Concorde. I could be wrong too, as the first week could mean nothing!
West Springfield Could Drop Its First Three Games, Then Rebound:
You think I'm crazy for predicting this, but it is quite possible the Spartans could get better over the next two weeks and still be 0-3 to start the season. The reason is the schedule, and who lies ahead with Edison and Robinson up next. Edison blew out their first opponent, and Robinson beat a solid Lake Braddock team in its opener. West Springfield has to shore up its defense quickly, or they will be fighting an uphill battle the rest of the way. Even if they start 0-3, my guess is they will finish no worse than 7-3 or 6-4 and will be a scary team in the Northern Region playoffs.
Falcons, Spartans Will Be The Game Of The Year In The Dulles District:
Without question, the true battle of Ashburn will take place in about 4 weeks when Briar Woods and Broad Run square up. The Spartans won easily against Wakefield, but they weren't too sharp on offense for over a half. Their talent level is high and that should help them fight through the kinks in the coming weeks, but make no mistake about it, the Falcons will be the best team they play all year long. Briar Woods will match up physically with Broad Run toe to toe, and I'm already looking forward to this one.
Liberty's 81-0 Output Is A Tough Situation For Both Parties:
If you glanced at this score like I did, you probably thought to yourself, how could Liberty hang 81 on the first year program Kettle Run, in their first ever football game in school history? The answer is simple, and at the same time, very complex. I haven't watched the film yet, but the radio broadcast shows that Liberty scored the first 9 times they touched the ball on offense. Kettle Run does not have any seniors, and Eagle head coach Tommy Buzzo was faced with a terrible situation that no coach envy's. If you take out your starters and call the dogs off, do you let your 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th team kids try to score? The scorebook doesn't show that kind of stat, but as a coach, you also worry about embarrassing the other team by just running the same play 50 times in a row, or worse, taking a knee. I've never met a coach who likes being way ahead because there is always a risk that it is going to look poorly to the other staff, or to the public. I know Tommy Buzzo and I also know new Kettle Run athletic director Paul Frye. They are both good friends and I can assure you there will be no hard feelings about this outcome. It is what it is. However, I do think Kettle Run will remember the saying 81-0 like Texans remember the Alamo, and retribution is always a big motivator.
GAMEDAY RADIO NETWORK
Live Games This Week:
Monday September 1st, 2008
Chantilly vs. Langley (5pm Kickoff)
Pregame show starts at 4:45pm
Andy Hayes (Play By Play)
Grant Paulsen (Color Commentary)
Heritage @ South Lakes (6pm Kickoff)
Pregame show starts at 5:45pm
Paul Cadwell (Play By Play)
Rob Fulcer (Color Commentary)
Justin Hite (Color Commentary)
Park View @ Herndon (7pm Start)
Pregame Show Starts at 6:45pm
Bruce Bornarth (Play By Play)
Justin Waddle (Color Commentary)
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 5th, 2008
ROBINSON @ STONE BRIDGE
- Andy Hayes (Play By Play)
- Sean Griffin (Color Commentary)
- Glen Wooten (Sideline Reporter)
EDISON @ WEST SPRINGFIELD
- Grant Paulsen (Play By Play)
- Derek LeComte (Color Commentary)
JEFFERSON, WV @ PARK VIEW
- Bruce Bornarth (Play By Play)
- Justin Hite (Color Commentary)
ANNANDALE @ OAKTON
- Bubba Purcell (Play By Play)
- Mitch Rogers (Color Commentary)
R.E LEE @ WESTFIELD
- Tom Whipple (Play By Play)
- Scott Boccia (Color Commentary)
BALLOU @ BROAD RUN
- Bob Vlasic (Play By Play)
- John Murphy (Color Commentary)
NORTH HAGERSTOWN @ HERITAGE
- Chris Starke (Play By Play)
- Paul Cadwell (Color Commentary)
SHERANDO @ MUSSLEMAN, WV
- Derek Goode (Play By Play)
- Rick Ours (Color Commentary)
SEPTEMBER 6th, 2008
CENTREVILLE @ T.C WILLIAMS
- Derek LeComte (Play By Play)
- Tom Whipple (Color Commentary)
