Playoff Preview: Mt. Vernon vs Stone Bridge
Group AAA, Northern Region Division 5 Semifinals
Friday, November 14 - 7:30 p.m.
Stone Bridge High School - Ashburn, Va.
ASHBURN, VA - Given the way the Stone Bridge Bulldogs have marched through the season, winning all 11 games by an average of over 42 points per game and establishing themselves as a strong, repeat champion contender, many may see their regional semi-final match-up with Mount Vernon as Goliath vs. supreme underdog David. Coach Tom Glynn and his Majors would not see it that way. They have playoff hunger and championship aspirations of their own and the confidence to make the Bulldogs the first of many upset victims.
The match-up will be a clash of huge, Division I caliber linemen and dynamic skill position players on both sides of the ball. In the second season, every inch becomes more contested, every mistake is amplified, and every decision critical. And with the weather threatening to throw in another element of chance, both teams and coaching staffs will need their best efforts in order to win a chance to play in the regional championship next Friday.
Coach Glynn is in his fourth year of "rebuilding" the Mount Vernon football program, kind of like Coach Lou Holtz said he was still rebuilding the Notre Dame program when the Irish won the national championship. Gamesmanship aside, Glynn has the Majors playing with a lot of confidence and poise and brings a 7 game win streak into Ashburn. The question is: will it be enough to upset the Bulldog juggernaut?
Stone Bridge has put together a win streak of its own. The Bulldogs have not tasted defeat since losing to Robison 42-14 in week two - of the 2007 campaign. In fact, they have swallowed the bitter pill only 9 times since 2002. And the 70 victories during that stretch came along with five district championships, four regional banners, and two appearances in the state finals. Oh yes, and last year's state championship.
Coach Glynn may hope to exploit Stone Bridge's unfamiliarity with adversity as a potential weakness. He'd better, because there are not many others on Coach Mickey Thompson's squad.
KEY MATCHUPS:
Presented By: Fuddruckers of Ashburn
Mount Vernon Rushing Attack vs. Stone Bridge Defense
The running game accounts for over 80% of the Majors yards from scrimmage this season, with Senior QB Brian Green leading the way with 465 yards on 85 carries (5.5 yds/carry) and 10 TDs. In the backfield, the Majors have spread the carries around like butter. Senior Kyle Ricks has 404 yards on 72 carries (5.6 yds/carry) and 5 TDs. Senior Brandon O'Clisham rushed for 377 yards on 44 carries (8.6 yds/carry) and 5 TDs. Senior Robert Coleman added 247 yards on 19 carries (13 yds/carry) and 2 TDs, and Junior Theo Gee has 337 yards on 64 carries (5.3 yds/carry) with 6 TDs. The only good news here for Stone Bridge is that the Majors can only hand the ball to one back at a time, but there is depth in this stable.
Much of the success and preference for the running game for Mount Vernon begins with their offensive line where they returned 4 senior starters: Zach Quigley (6' 4" 310 lbs), Chris Crockett (6' 3" 315 lbs), Josh Edmonds (6' 5" 264 lbs), and James Garren (6' 2" 241 lbs). This beef up front has enabled a dynamic and productive attack, scoring nearly 30 points per game. During the last 7, that average goes up to 34 points per game.
The Majors will need every pound of beef and ounce of talent from their offensive playmakers, because the Stone Bridge defense may be the stuff of legend. ACC schools will pay the freight for 5 of the Bulldogs' front 7 to play Division I ball next season. The Bulldogs have allowed 88 points this season, an average of only 8 per game, and they have shut out three opponents. Only the West Springfield Spartans, who face Oakton this week in the Division 6 Northern Region semi-finals, scored more than 2 touchdowns on the Bulldog defense in the season. In last week's quarterfinal, the Thomas Jefferson Colonials were held to 16 rushing plays which resulted in a negative 89 yards.
The Bulldog defense has had troubles with late season injuries, losing senior linebackers Travis Hannam (ankle) and Jimmy Bradford (shoulder) in the Woodson game. With 18 players tallying at least 15 tackles on the season, however, the Bulldogs have the depth to keep opposing offenses going backwards.
Stone Bridge Offense vs. Mount Vernon Defense
When Mount Vernon has the ball, the match-up may seem like a clash of titans. When Stone Bridge takes over on offense, however, question marks begin to pop up on both sides.
The biggest question mark for Stone Bridge - at least in the papers - may be a red herring. Bulldog Senior QB Patrick Thompson has battled injuries all year, including a finger injury to his throwing hand early and a high ankle sprain against the Colonials on October 24, but he may return to action against the Majors. In 9 games this year, Thompson - who has committed to the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest - has Division I numbers at the high school level: 95 completions in 153 attempts for 1714 yards, 22 TDs, and only 5 INTs. The Bulldogs will want the coach's son calling the signals during their quest for another championship, but depending on how the game goes, Thompson's action may be limited to getting him back in game conditions as the Bulldogs continue to rely on reliable back-ups John Bladel (Senior, 13/26 for 242 yards and 3 TDs/2INTs) and Kyle Gouveia (Soph. 6/8 for 82 yards and 1 TD).
Whoever is playing QB, they will shine by getting the ball to Senior playmakers Daniel Allen and Michael Prince. Allen has 1170 rushing yards on 139 carries for a 8.4 yds/carry average, and he has also tallied an astounding 20 touchdowns on the season. Prince is a dual threat - 479 yds on 30 carries (16 yds/carry) on the ground and 581 yards on 25 pass receptions. Also, he adds 10 rushing TDs and 8 receiving. Together they account for 38 (54%) of the Bulldogs' 71 TDs on the season.
So, the question marks mainly fall on the Mount Vernon defense. They will leverage much of the size and skill that powers their offense on the defensive side of the ball, but that may be their undoing. Working both sides leads to fatigue, which may explain how the Majors have allowed almost 20 points per game this season. They are used to winning shoot-outs. However, scoring in bunches will not come easily against the Stone Bridge Defense, so the Mount Vernon defense must make some stops and force some mistakes. For the Majors to have a chance, they will need to keep the dangerous Stone Bridge offense off the field and contain scoring opportunities. The Stone Bridge offense is accustomed to dictating tempo and tactics - the Majors may need to gamble to get them off balance early. The Bulldogs are not accustomed to 3 and outs or stalled drives (or adversity in general for that matter).
Intangibles
Special team play could always play a deciding role in a contest like this one, but in the end the game may come down to a few mental intangibles. Can Stone Bridge avoid beating themselves with another 10 penalties like they had last week against Jefferson? Can Mount Vernon draw first blood by scoring early and keeping the Bulldogs off the scoreboard, putting Stone Bride in the unfamiliar position of playing from behind? Who can maintain poise, discipline and confidence, and who will allow doubt and frustration get the better of them? All are fitting questions for playoff football.
2008 RESULTS
Stone Bridge Bulldogs (11-0, 7-0 Liberty District)
8/29/2008 West Springfield W 42-28
9/5/2008 Robinson W 49-7
9/12/2008 at Marshall W 63-0
9/19/2008 at Loudoun Valley W 64-13
9/26/2008 Mclean W 51-13
10/3/2008 at South Lakes W 51-6
10/10/2008 Langley W 38-0
10/17/2008 at Madison W 35-0
10/24/2008 at Thomas Jefferson W 70-7
10/31/2008 W T Woodson W 42-14
11/7/2008 Thomas Jefferson W 58-7
Mount Vernon Majors (9-2, 6-1 National District)
8/29/2008 at T C Williams W 23-20
9/5/2008 at West Potomac L 7-26
9/12/2008 Thomas Jefferson W 38-0
9/19/2008 Edison L 21-47
9/26/2008 at Washington Lee W 12-10
10/3/2008 at Stuart W 49-0
10/10/2008 Falls Church W 69-40
10/17/2008 Centreville W 36-26
10/24/2008 at Yorktown W 22-20
10/31/2008 at Wakefield W 31-20
11/7/2008 Washington Lee W 17-10
KEYS TO VICTORY
Stone Bridge
- Dictate the tempo of the game by rushing Allen & Prince
- Force the Majors to pass and to make mistakes
- Focus and finish every play
Mount Vernon
- Take risks to upset Stone Bridge's rhythm and tempo
- Play mistake free ball while forcing mistakes
- Make the first punch and don't let up
Analysis
Given that Jefferson - the only common opponent between these teams - did not provide a challenge to either, handicapping this game is more difficult than one may imagine. Both teams are laden with senior talent who know how to win. Both have solid coaching. Both have playoff experience. In the end, however, Stone Bridge seems to have a little bit more of it all.
In many ways the regular season has been a grand processional to a repeat Stone Bridge championship. However, the regular season is over. Mount Vernon has also put together an impressive regular season and comes into Ashburn expecting victory. They have the linemen to match Stone Bridge and boast talent at the skill positions as well. Stone Bridge has basked under expansive media coverage all season while Mount Vernon has had to fight their way through in relative obscurity.
Stone Bridge is too experienced and well-coached to be looking past this game, but one wonders how a team can keep its edge when its games have largely been won before halftime. Will the Bulldogs feel the urgency to get into playoff gear (no offense, Colonials), or will they take one between the eyes like Goliath?
Unfortunately for Mount Vernon, their best hope may rest in Stone Bridge beating themselves or failing to take their game to the next level. Otherwise, the Bulldogs are just too deep for the Majors. Led by their experienced seniors, Mount Vernon may be able to find success on offense where others have failed against the vaunted Stone Bridge defense. However, many of those players must take the field on defense, too, and Stone Bridge will likely wear them down, pounding, blocking and powering their way to victory with their superior depth. The Majors have 53 players on their varsity roster. Stone Bridge boasts 88. Their depth and experience will likely prove too much, perhaps for any team in their division in the state.
Prediction
Mount Vernon will come in free of the pressure of expectations, which should make the game exciting. But, Stone Bridge will ultimately live up to those placed on them. Expect the score to be closer than Bulldog fans are used to in the first half, but ultimately the Bulldogs will pull away to win 38-14.
