Oakton Survives Scare From Spartans
West Springfield's Hayden Angulo can't knock down this pass, which falls into the hands of Trey Watts for a touchdown...
Photo By: Dave Bernhardt | VIEW GALLERY
Oakton linebacker Jack Tyler gets airborne to break up this pass intended to West Springfield's Andy Stallings...
Photo By: Dave Bernhardt | VIEW GALLERY
As the fan on the sidelines indicates, it's a touchdown for Oakton's Trey Watts...one of two on the night for the Cougar RB...
Photo By: Dave Bernhardt | VIEW GALLERY
OAKTON, VA -- Two of the top quarterbacks in Virginia squared off in a historic playoff showdown that saw 92 total points racked up in a packed Oakton Stadium. Chris Coyer from Oakton and West Springfield's Bryn Renner lit up the scoreboard, each amassing six total touchdowns. In an unbelievable offensive display from both teams, it was West Springfield failing to come from behind and falling to the Cougars 49-43.
"We met our goal of surviving and advancing," said Oakton head coach Joe Thompson after his team advanced to the next round of the playoffs where they will play #3 seed Chantilly.
Last week Renner and his Spartans put up a basketball-like box score destroying Woodson 72-47. With the hype being focused on the West Springfield gunslinger, it was Coyer who stole the spotlight with an amazing first half.
The defenses were on display in the first quarter with Cougars' linebacker, Jack Tyler, giving Renner all he could handle. With time running out in the first quarter, Coyer took advantage of a coverage defense and blazed down the field for a 65-yard rushing touchdown.
Down a touchdown, it was Renner who connected on a long pass, setting up a 33-yard field goal from John McConnell. It only took 16 seconds for Oakton to extend the lead to 14-3 with Coyer tallying his second rushing touchdown, this time from 50 yards out.
With the Cougars defense playing the pass, they were able to limit the chances of the potent Spartans' offensive attack. After stopping Renner once again, Coyer scored his first passing touchdown when he hooked up with halfback Trey Watts on a 46-yard strike.
Now down 21-3, Renner wouldn't be outdone as he came back and threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Andy Stallings to close the gap to 21-10.
Yet on the ensuing offensive possession for Oakton, it took Coyer only 17 seconds to find Watts again for a 67-yard touchdown pass. Oakton would end the half with what they thought was a comfortable halftime lead at 28-10, but that was hardly the case.
West Springfield received the second half kickoff and Renner and Stallings quickly scored with a 40-yard touchdown pass after a blown defensive assignment by the Oakton defense to trim the lead to 28-16.
Coyer continued to more than answer the call; and on the next possession he threw another touchdown, this time a 45-yard bomb to receiver Jay Young. Two minutes after that score, Coyer threw his fourth touchdown pass to Harris from the 10-yard line to grab what looked like a very comfortable 42-16 third quarter lead.
Down by 26 points, Renner began to prove why he is considered one of the best quarterbacks in the nation. He led the Spartans down the field and scored a three-yard rushing touchdown and trimmed the lead to 42-22.
With the momentum slowly starting to swing towards West Springfield, Oakton's Derek Gleich came up big for his team when he returned an attempted on-side kick for a touchdown and a seemingly insurmountable 49-22 lead.
With the entire fourth quarter remaining, Renner fought valiantly to bring the Spartans back from a huge deficit. He connected on an 11-yard touchdown pass to receiver Dan Collins and the lead was down to 49-29.
After a Coyer fumble, West Springfield struck again with Renner rushing for a four-yard touchdown and the lead was only 49-36 with nine minutes remaining in the game. After the Cougars recovered an onside kick, Coyer fumbled yet again and West Springfield scored on a 45-yard touchdown pass from Renner to receiver Fabrice Kambinga.
Suddenly, just in the blink of an eye, West Springfield back in the game, threatening to unseat #1 Oakton and advance to the region championship game.
With the lead down to 49-43, the Spartans would get one last chance to complete their incredulous comeback at the 1:23 mark of the 4th quarter. Unfortunately for Renner, he came up just short of his chance to advance in the playoffs as the Cougars' defense came up with a crucial stoppage on downs.
Oakton will have to try to survive again at home next Saturday against rival Chantilly, a team which the Cougars beat in the regular season matchup, 17-15.
