Stone Bridge Majors in Defense, Win 42-0
The Stone Bridge defense was able to limit Mount Vernon running back Theo Gee and his team from getting on the scoreboard in their semi-final playoff win...
Photo By: Marc Le Maitre | VIEW GALLERY
Stone Bridge's Nick Sheehan walks in for the Bulldog's fifth score on the night. Sheehan finished with five receptions and 71 yards...
Photo By: Marc Le Maitre | VIEW GALLERY
ASHBURN, VA -- The Stone Bridge Bulldogs scored three touchdowns in each half of their Northern Region, Division 5 semifinal game against the Mount Vernon Majors to easily secure a 42-0 victory on a mist-filled Friday evening in Ashburn.
The Bulldog offense was impressive as senior quarterback Patrick Thompson shined in his return from a high ankle sprain. Daniel Allen and Marcus Harris combined for more than 200 yards and three touchdowns to lead a Stone
Bridge ground attack that featured 12 different ball carriers.
But the real story of Friday's game was the play of the Bulldog defense. Stone Bridge limited Mount Vernon to just two first downs -- both in the final minute of the first half -- en route to shutting out the Majors.
"That is the one thing I was confident about coming into this game," Bulldog coach Mickey Thompson said. "I thought they would really struggle to get first downs. If you asked me before the game how many first downs they would
have, I would say two or three. And how many yards rushing, I would say under 50. That's how good we are on defense. You are going to need to have an athlete make a play on us in order to score."
Stone Bridge held Mount Vernon to 68 total yards, including just 18 rushing yards on 17 carries. The Bulldogs are surrendering a fraction under eight points per game this season.
"We are an experienced bunch," said senior linebacker Mike Olson, one of four Bulldog defenders already committed to a Division I college. "We've been playing together for a while, just a bunch of older guys ... our
defense just has that tenacity."
"They are awfully talented," Thompson said. "There is a lot of guys on that defensive line and at linebacker that can really play football."
Stone Bridge (12-0) will need its defense to be in prime form once again Nov. 21 when they travel to Alexandria to face Edison (12-0) in the Northern Region, Division 5 championship game. Edison advanced to the region final
with a 47-7 win against Madison on Friday night.
This meeting will be the fourth straight between the teams in the region title game. The Bulldogs have won two of the previous three games, each held at Stone Bridge.
"I want to play at home but I'm kind of glad we are playing away," Thompson said. "We need to get out of our comfort zone. I felt like today we came out expecting to win and we are just playing too comfortable."
"We have to be stressed. We have to go some place where people are on us and things are against us a little bit so we can rally and that kind of stuff. I'm hoping in this game against Edison that we pull it together and really
get intense."
Stone Bridge 42, Mount Vernon 0
First Quarter
SB: Harris 16-yard run (Shaban kick), :09
Second Quarter
SB: Allen 5-yard run (Shaban kick), 7:39
SB: Slay 1-yard run (Shaban kick), 4:52
Third Quarter
SB: Allen 1-yard run (Shaban kick), 10:38
SB: Sheehan 31-yard pass from Thompson (Shaban kick), 6:41
Fourth Quarter
SB: Moser 17-yard run (Shaban kick), 5:02
Bulldog leaders
Passing: Thompson (12 of 17 for 168 yards, TD, Int.)
Rushing: Allen (19 for 145 yards, 2 TD)
Receiving: Sheehan (5 for 71 yards, TD)
