Gameday Notebook Week 3 - Loudoun County
Loudoun Valley's Onzy Elam found it tough going against a stingy Stone Bridge defense Friday night in Purcellville...
Photo by Dave Bernhardt \ Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Park View's Brandon Absher anchors a solid Patriot defense, and they will look to contain a hot Loudoun County Raiders team on Friday, led by their prolific quarterback, Joe Bushrod...
Photo by Jan Johnson \ Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA -- Half of the Dulles District teams...Loudoun County, Park View, Heritage, and Potomac Falls...had the weekend off, but there was still plenty of good football to be seen in the County...well, maybe for some. A few local teams continued to have their way with Non-District opponents, while a couple others continued to flounder, still looking for that 1st win of the 2008 campaign. But even for the latter, there were some bright spots in their games, and plenty to build on as District play begins for everyone this week.
Vikings Break The Seal...
The Loudoun Valley Vikings played host to the powerful Stone Bridge Bulldogs Friday night, and the Bulldogs barely broke a sweat, again, in this game, winning 64-13. Bulldog RB Daniel Allen was the big playmaker for the visitors, scoring 4 times...3 from the run, and once via the air...averaging 7.1 yards per carry. Senior All-Purpose back Michael Prince scored in this game, giving him 8 touchdowns on the season. Prince has scored in all 4 games, so far, for the Bulldogs, and now averages 2 TD's per game. The bright spots for the Vikings (0-3) included this being the 1st game they put scores on the board, breaking the scoreless seal. The 1st coming on a little trickeration, when Iain Mottice hit Onzy Elam for a 58-yard pass and catch for 6, from a fake punt. The Vikings scored again, late in the game, when Derek Zook hit Jake Cowne on a 4-yard strike. The road has been bumpy for the Vikings, and 1st year coach Danny McGrath, but let's be realistic...they haven't exactly played cupcakes. 2 of their 1st 3 match-ups were against a 2007 Division 6 runners-up and Division 5 champions, respectively.
Next: Loudoun Valley hosts Osbourn Park, Friday at 7:30pm
Stone Bridge hosts McLean, Friday at 7:30pm
Eagles Flying Towards Respectability...
The Freedom Eagles are starting to play some very good football, although their record (1-2) may not show it. But make no mistake...this Freedom team is nothing like the ill-fated teams from the past. Traveling to King George Friday night, nobody really knew what to expect out of this year's team yet. Having lost their opener to Broadway 48-7, then garnering their 1st win in 11 games over Brentsville, opinions were still mixed going into this match. The Eagles played good, hard-nosed football Friday night, only to come away with a heart-felt loss, 36-21. The Eagles owned the 1st quarter, leading after the whistle, 14-0, on a Luke Braatan to Brian Orr 28 yard touchdown connection, and a strange Mike McGovern 10 yard punt return for score (that's right...I said 10 yard punt return for a TD!). But King George roared right back in the 2nd, with a 16-yard touchdown pass, and then a safety shortly thereafter, cutting the margin to 14-8. The Freedom defense stayed tough in the half, and got into the scoring column on a Steve Marquina 25 yard fumble return to stretch the score to 21-8. But the game was all King George from there. The Foxes scored right before the half on an Antwane Lewis 58 yard run, and added 3 more scores in the 2nd half, blanking the Eagles the rest of the way. The Foxes' Jericho James ran rampant through the Freedom defense all night, gaining 306 yards on 46 carries, scoring 4 times. Senior QB Luke Braatan had a career night for the Eagles, connecting on 9 of 18 passes, for 205 yards and a touchdown. Freedom, in spite of their record, are starting to play some very good football, and if they start playing all 4 quarters, they will make life miserable for Dulles District contenders if they look past these Eagles.
Next: @ Dominion, Friday at 7:30pm
Who Needs 4 Quarters...?
The Broad Run Spartans only needed 24 minutes Friday night to gain yet another lopsided Non-District victory, this time over Brentsville, in a 53-13 drubbing at home. This was actually the score at the half, as no team scored in the 3rd and 4th quarters. If you had any Spartan players in your high school football fantasy league, you were probably hating your picks after this one, as coach Mike Burnett was able to use many players in this game, seeing 7 different Spartans score, using 10 different ball carriers, and 7 different receivers. Junior RB\LB David Weaver continued to be "Mr. Everything" for Broad Run, as he accounted for 2 of the Spartan scores, and helped set up another on a 28-yard interception return. The Spartans have now outscored their opponents 138-33, with their last 2 games going over 50 points. Coach Burnett has had ample opportunity to play 2nd and 3rd tier players long into all 3 games, and has been pleased with what he has seen. Going into Dulles District play this week, the Spartans are confident in how deep their bench is, and how many weapons they can hit a team with. The undefeated Briar Woods Falcons invade Spartan Stadium this Friday, and it will be Broad Run's annual Pink Aid night, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pink Aid t-shirts will be on sale at the game, and proceeds will benefit the Susan G. Korman Foundation.
Next: Home vs. Briar Woods, Friday at 7:30pm
Falcons Soar to 3-0...
Briar Woods is another team dominating Non-District foes, outscoring their rivals 112-16. Friday night was a young Hedgesville (WV) team's turn, and the Falcons would unleash the dogs, in the 57-3 romp. QB Austin Frattali had another big night, throwing for 179 yards, on 7-11 attempts, and 3 touchdowns. Frattali is really settling in nicely at the QB position, and gains more and more confidence each week. Friday he hit 5 different receivers, and hitting Jake Ashton, Jeremy Gray, and Brett LeFebrve for the scores. Gray also turned in a nifty 97-yard kick return for a touchdown to start the 2nd half of play. All great numbers and effort by steady Falcon offense and special teams, but it was the defensive numbers that stood out most in this game. The Falcons held Brentsville to -10 total yards of offense on the night. This after limiting Manassas Park to a mere 23 total yards the week before. Needless to say, Dulles District teams had better devise a game plan for this tough defensive unit, or we might see the Falcons hoisting the 2008 crown.
Next: @ Broad Run, Friday at 7:30pm
A Clash Of Titans Leaves a Bad Taste...
The Dominion Titans moved their Friday night game against Tuscarora (MD) to Saturday night, to culminate the Taste of Titan Territory...their annual neighborhood block party...and the change of schedule had no effect on the visitors. This was a clash of 2 Titans teams (both share the same mascot), and it would be the Maryland team that went away victorious on this night, 39-14, leaving the Dominion faithful with a bad taste in their mouths (sorry.... bad pun reference!). The bigger and faster Tuscarora ran all over the home team's defense all night, amassing 280 yards on the ground and 5 rushing touchdowns, to include scoring runs of 37, 39, 55, and 82 yards. The Titans (MD) scored the games first 5 touchdowns, before Dominion got on the board in the 3rd quarter. Senior QB Chris Taylor hit Aaron Good on a nice 31-yard pass and catch for their 1st score on the night, and Deandre Reaves capped the scoring on the night with a 4-yard scamper late in the game. Reaves, coming off a tough night against Millbrook last week, was able to get loose for 146 yards on 27 carries. Reaves is averaging 112 yards per game, but his offense isn't helping. After this game, the offense has rushed for a total of -6 yards in 3 games.
Next: @ Home vs. Freedom, Friday at 7:30pm
District play starts for all Loudoun County teams this week, and there are 2 big ones right out of the shoot. Of the 4 undefeated Dulles teams, only 2 will emerge with a perfect record, as the Heritage Pride visits the Potomac Falls Panthers, and Briar Woods travels to Broad Run. Both games will be hard hitting affairs, and will be broadcast LIVE on the Gameday Radio Network, on www.gamedaymagazine.com. If you like great high school football, and you don't feel like staying in on Friday night to listen in on the radio or internet, either of these 2 choices will be fun to watch in person.
The Park View Patriots will host the Loudoun County Raiders in the Dulles opener for both teams, and it will be a special night at the Sterling school. Honored before the game will be legendary former coach Ed Scott. Scott coached the Patriots for 15 seasons, and led them to their state title in 1988. Under Scott, Park View garnered 7 District titles, and 2 Regional championships.
Here is the schedule of Loudoun County games on the Gameday Radio Network Friday night:
McLean @ Stone Bridge
Pregame Show: 7:15pm
Kick-Off: 7:30pm
Announcers: Sean Griffen and Glen Wooten
Loudoun County @ Park View
Pregame Show: 7:00pm
Kick-Off: 7:30pm
Announcers: Bruce Bornarth and Chris Starke
Briar Woods @ Broad Run
Pregame Show: 7:00pm
Kick-Off: 7:30pm
Announcers: Andy Hayes and John Murphy
Heritage @ Potomac Falls
Pregame Show: 7:15pm
Kick-Off: 7:30pm
Announcers: Tom Whipple, Paul Cadwell, and Rob Fulcer
