Gameday Notebook - Loudoun County Week 2
The Panther's Michael Baker is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with, going into Dulles District play next week...
Photo by Mark Gold \ Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Park View back-up QB Sawyer Hackett engineered a thrilling come-from-behind victory at Handley on Saturday, edging the Judges 17-14, and the Patriots win their 1st game of the season.
Photo by Jeff Schryver \ Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Senior WR Jeremy Gray scored 1 of the 4 touchdowns on the night for Briar Woods. The Falcons beat the Cougars of Manassas Park 28-0, and after the bye week, will be poised for a big Dulles District showdown with Broad Run...
Photo by Jan Johnson \ Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
STERLING, VA -- After 3 weeks of football, we start to see the true measure of any particular team, and the direction they are heading...or DO we?!?
For the 1st 2 weeks of play, we thought we were seeing teams take control of their destiny, and some that were destined for a long season of disappointment. But then Week 3 of the season made us turn our heads in a different direction...Those we thought may be out of the race, are now back into the limelight, while those we felt were front-runners, all of a sudden have a shadow of doubt lingering overhead.
Don't Count Us Out Just Yet...
The Park View Patriots started the season 0-2, and seemed to be headed for a season of discontent. Traveling to Handley on Saturday afternoon became a must-win situation, and they had to beat a Judges team that sat at 2-0, and looked to be one of the top contenders for a Northwestern District title, behind the explosive Jeremiah Wilson. The Patriots played a tenacious defense, and kept Wilson in check most of the game, aided by some timely Handley turnovers. Wilson managed to score twice in the game, and amasses 135 yards on the ground for his 3rd straight 100 yard + game, but the Patriots clamped down on the remaining Handley offense, and didn't let Wilson get out of control. The key series came late in the 4th quarter, with the Patriots trailing 14-9. From their own 29 yard line, the Park View offense, kept at bay most of the day (all 9 points being scored by the defense to this point), began to click. Marching 69 yards, back-up QB Sawyer Hackett, who spelled an injured Brandon Lee, hit Drew Mason in the back of the end zone from 19 yards out, to go ahead 17-14. The defense held for the final 39 seconds, and the Patriots escaped with the win, and signs of life going into their "bye" week
This Week: Off
Next: Home vs. Loudoun County, Sept. 26 - 7:30pm
Time to Erase All Doubt...?
The Potomac Falls Panthers went into their home game with Jefferson (WV) Friday night with a 2-0 record, and some doubters. The latter being whether this Panther team is for real, or have they played patsies, to date. In strolls Jefferson. A team that many claim would be a Division 5 or 6 team in Northern VA, and coming off a thrilling OT victory at Park View the week before. The Panthers left no doubt in this game, drubbing the big Cougars team 31-14. RB Michael baker continues to be one of the more dominant runners in the area, carrying the ball 17 times, for 157 yards, and adding 26 yards in pass receptions. He scored once on the ground, and once through the air. If there are any doubters of the Panther program now, they really aren't paying much attention. You'd better believe every team in the Dulles District now are paying mind to Potomac Falls football!
This Week: Off
Next: Home vs. Heritage, Sept. 26 - 7:30pm
Cloud of Doubt Still Hangs Over Pride...
If Potomac Falls erased some doubt about their season possibilities, the Heritage Pride have yet to shed the same reservations. Aside from an impressive come-from-behind victory at AAA South Lakes, they pummeled a young North Hagerstown team, and now sitting at 2-0 going into Friday night, a hapless Brentsville Tigers team came into the Pride Den as their next prey. Having lost to the Freedom Eagles the week before, the Tigers are a team reeling this season, still searching for their identity. The Pride let Brentsville stay in the game for the 1st half, with the score 7-7 at the half. But the 2nd half was all Heritage, as they rolled to a 30-7 victory. Brian Rody was called on after QB Zach Gordon was felled by injury, and looked capable to lead the Pride should Gordon's injury keep him down for an extended period. Rody scored twice in the half, and RB Ross Madison was the workhorse, carrying the ball 31 times for 213 yards, and a TD. Should Gordon be down for some time, look for the Pride to employ a bruising running game. The Pride have a "bye" this week, to nurse themselves back to healthy, and will open Dulles District play at Potomac Falls on the 26th. This game will be a "tell-all" for both squads.
This Week: Off
Next: @ Potomac Falls, Sept. 26 - 7:30pm
The Winds of Raider Change...?
Just when we thought the Loudoun County Raiders came crashing back to earth when they were thumped by Handley last week at home, after soundly manhandling Mussleman the week before, the Raiders traveled to play perennial Northwestern District power James Wood. On paper, this game was to be a very long night for Raider fans...but obviously this team doesn't read our papers! Behind another impressive outing by QB Joe Bushrod, the Raiders handled the Colonels, and came away with a 23-20 non-district victory. Bushrod scored twice on the ground, and ended the night on 12-24 passing, and 248 yards. Michael Ayoub hauled in 5 passes for 150 yards.
This Week: Off
Next: @ Park View, Sept. 26 - 7:30pm
The Rest of the District...
The Briar Woods Falcons continued to roll over non-district opponents, this time at Manassas Park. Although the Cougars played the Falcons tough, Briar Woods ran their record to 2-0, with the 28-0 victory. QB Austin Frattalli had a big night, tossing for 155 yards on 9-15 attempts, and 2 TD's. Although Millbrook was a tough game, the Falcons are another team that haven't been, and won't be tested much by non-district foes, leaving questions as to how good this team really is until the start of Dulles District play next week at Broad Run.
Next: Home vs. Hedgesville, Friday - 7:30
Loudoun Valley had to travel to 2007 Division 6 runner up Woodbridge Friday night, and face off against one of the top running backs in the country, De'Antwan Williams. Nicknamed "The Rocket," Williams was set for take off, and it didn't take long for him to launch, as he took the 2nd ball from scrimmage, and jetted for a 64 yard score. This would be the theme on the night, as Williams abused the Valley defense for 5 touchdowns, on 19 carries for 197 yards. All in just 3 quarters, as he sat and watched the game for the 4th. Final score: Woodbridge 48 - Loudoun Valley 0. It doesn't get any easier for the Vikings this week, as the 2007 Division 5 champs come to town...
Next: Home vs. Stone Bridge, Friday - 7:30pm
The Dominion Titans continued to struggle this season, as they get thumped at Millbrook, 38-0. The Pioneers did a good job of containing standout RB Deandre Reaves, holding the sophomore to a mere 54 yards on 21 carries, proving that as Reaves goes, so goes the Titan offense. The defense didn't fare much better, as the Pioneers racked up 214 yards on the ground, led by Calvin Rodney with 127.
Next: Home vs. Tuscarora (MD), Saturday - 7:30pm
The Freedom Eagles and Broad Run Spartans each had a "bye" last week. The Eagles will travel to King George to face a winless Foxes team, while the Spartans host Brentsville. Both games are on Friday night, at 7:30 pm.
NOTE: With several Dulles District teams having a "Bye" this week, the Notebook will be a little slim next Tuesday...Just sayin'.......
