Baker, Woodlief Get Retribution For Panthers
Potomac Falls held off a late rally by Park View to win 28-20 and stay unbeaten and alive in the Dulles District title race at 6-0.
Photos By: Marc Gold / Gameday Magazine
Potomac Falls WR Chad McMichael scampers into the endzone, after a sideline circus catch, and shrugs his defender for a 48 yard pass and catch.
Photo By Marc Gold \ Gameday Magazine
Park View's Brandon Absher, and the Patriot running game, had to fight hard for every yard against the tough Potomac Falls defense. Here, the Panther's Matt Hoover brings down Absher after a short gain.
Photo By Marc Gold \ Gameday Magazine
STERLING, VA -The Potomac Falls Panthers kept their dream of a Dulles District championship a reality Friday evening with a 28-20 road win against Park View on the Patriots' homecoming night.
The Panthers (3-0 in the Dulles District, 6-0 overall) never trailed but could not shake the persistent Patriots until three minutes remained in the fourth quarter.
With 20 yards needed to convert a third down, Michael Baker sprinted and twisted for a 20-yard run to give the Panthers a fresh set of downs and diminish Park View's hopes of completing a comeback.
Baker was a workhorse in the win, rushing 22 times for 114 yards. Six of Baker's runs gave Potomac Falls a first down.
Quarterback Gregory Woodlief found success through the air, completing 12 of 18 for 203 yards and two touchdowns.
Woodlief ran for the game's opening score, but generally found rushing yards hard to come by as he netted just 17 yards on 15 carries.
Panther coach Scott Woodlief credited his offensive line, who were without suspended center Trevor Cottom.
"The offensive line worked really really hard tonight," coach Woodlief said. "All of the kids are playing really hard right now."
The Patriots' defense held the Panthers to their lowest point total of the season while creating 12 plays for zero or negative yardage.
"Robert Hayes is a monster. People are going to start knowing who he is," Park View coach Andy Hill said of his junior defensive lineman. "I thought this was [lineman] Kenny Smith's best game on defense. I'm real proud of our defense; they did a nice job."
The spirited intra-Sterling rivalry saw numerous penalties and a multitude of big plays. Ten snaps produced offensive gains of at least 15 yards.
Park View's Brandon Lee accounted for five of those big plays, including two long touchdown passes. He also used his considerable foot speed to cover 71 yards on the ground.
Lee broke contain late in the first quarter to register the Patriots' initial six points.
But Potomac Falls' experienced weaponry was ultimately too prolific for Park View.
Chad McMichael caught six passes for 87 yards and a touchdown, while Tarrell Owens grabbed four for 111 yards with a score.
Asa Fox's left foot banged through two first-half field goals to extend the Panthers' lead.
Park View saw their hopes of climbing back into the Dulles race take a severe hit as their record falls to 1-2, 2-4. They will visit Briar Woods in Brambleton Oct. 17.
That same night Potomac Falls welcomes Freedom in a prelude to the Panthers' highly anticipated showdown at Broad Run the following week.
