Panthers Take 1st Ever Playoff Victory 26-17
The Potomac Falls defense pounded James Wood's runners all night Friday to secure the 1st play-off victory in school history. The Panthers will now get a rematch with the Broad Run Spartans for the Regional title.
Photo by Barry NeNicola \ Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Senior TE Chris Pelto had a big night for the Panthers, catching 6 passes on the night to keep drives alive for the Potomac Falls offense.
Photo by Barry NeNicola \ Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Senior WR Chad McMichael garnered Velocity Sports Performance Player of the Game honors for the Panthers in their 1st ever playoff appearence. McMichael gatherd in 9 passes on the night...6 in the 2nd half to help set up 2 4th quarter touchdowns to seal the victory.
Photo by Barry NeNicola \ Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
STERLING, VA - It took 11 years for the Potomac Falls Panthers to garner their 1st ever Region II playoff appearance, and they made the best of that entry on Friday night, coming from behind to down the visiting James Wood Colonels 26-17, in front of a capacity crowd in Sterling.
The play was slow going on the night, with wet field conditions, making toe-holds a slippery experience. Defense was the key on this night, as both squads clamped down on the other's run game, causing both quarterbacks to go through the air for a measure of progress down the field.
Neither team could get on the board in the 1st quarter, but the Panthers were able to finally cap a long drive, that started late in the 1st, with an Asa Fox 24 yard field goal shortly after the 2nd quarter began. But on the ensuing Colonels' possession, QB Trae Tinsman engineered a 17 play, 70 yard drive of his own, culminating with his 24 yard connection to TE Danny Cooper, who was left wide open in the endzone, to make the score 7-3 in favor of the visitors from Winchester.
Both teams traded a couple of possessions after the score, with neither being able to outplay the other's defense. So it was only fitting that the defense would be key late in the half.
With 2:00 remaining, and James Wood looking to get back into Potomac Falls territory, Tinsman dropped back to pass, and never saw a blitzing Chris Pelto coming from the opposite side of the line. Pelto blindsided the Colonels' QB, causing the ball to fall to the turf, only to be scooped up by DL Zach Duffin, who raced 47 yards for the go ahead Panthers score, and Potomac Falls would enjoy a 10-7 halftime lead.
The 3rd frame was much like the 1st, with neither team able to get much of an offense generated on the wet turf. The Panthers were able to muster a 37 yard Fox field goal, however, to make the score after 3 complete quarters, 13-7
But unlike the 3 previous stanzas, the 4th quarter saw a flurry of action. Much like their lone score to this point, Tinsman again mastered a long drive, this time starting from his own 20 yard line. 12 plays later he found Cooper again, this time from 10 yards out, and the Colonels were back on top, 14-13, after the Andrew Lloyd extra point.
After stopping yet another Panther offensive drive, Tinsman was able to get Lloyd close enough to put 3 more points on the board, with a 40 yard field goal, and the 300+ James Wood faithful that made the long trek to Sterling could smell a victory.
But Michael Baker, and his Panthers, would get the last say in this outcome...
With the score 17-13 in favor of their Winchester rivals, Baker took over. Grinding and pounding the ball right at the James Wood defense, wearing them down on long sustained drives. At the midway point of the 4th quarter, Baker capped a 10 play drive with a bull-like 6 yard run into the endzone, but the PAT sailed right. Potomac Falls was back on top, 19-17, with 6 minutes left to play.
The 2 teams traded possessions after the score, with James Wood handling the ball twice. But the Colonels couldn't muster much progress against the swarming, oftentimes blitzing, Panther defense. And with 1:30 remaining, Baker put the icing on the Potomac Falls cake, with a 1 yard plunge for score, after a 5 play drive that started at midfield. The Panthers could now breath easier, and the party would soon begin for the Panther Faithful, as James Wood could only watch the clock tick away on their season. Final score: Potomac Falls 26, James Wood 17.
Greg Woodlief was stellar in the wet conditions on the night. Completing 15 of 28 passes for 223 yards, and was able to manage the game very well, chewing up the clock in their favor. This was key, as the Colonels did what only 1 team has done this season...hold the Panther running game to under 100 yards (72 yards on 22 total carries).
The Panthers will now face the team that gave them their only loss on the season...the Broad Run Spartans...in Ashburn next Friday night. The Spartans upended the Loudoun County Raiders in their 1st round match-up, 47-28. Game time is set for 7:30, and will be broadcast live, worldwide, on the Gameday Radio Network. Pregame show is scheduled for 7:00.
VELOCITY SPORTS PERFORMANCE PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Chad McMichael - Sr. WR, Potomac Falls
McMichael was key in the Panthers passing game tonight. Hauling in 9 passes (6 in the 2nd half), for 131 yards.
Brock Lockhart - Jr. RB, James Wood
Lockhart was the Colonel's workhorse on the ground, and on defense. He carried the ball 16 times for 78 yards, and recorded 9 tackles on the night.
