Washington's Late TD Lifts Eagles Past Chantilly
Photos By: Marc Gold / Gameday Magazine
There were plenty of big plays in Friday's Halloween game featuring Edison and Chantilly, but Stephon Robertson's touchdown run in the 4th quarter brought the Eagles back to within 4 points. Robertson and the Eagles won the game on the final drive with 17 seconds left. | VIEW GALLERY
Edison's Levi Barber proved to be the difference in this game, connecting with his talented receivers when it mattered most. Barber's touchdown pass in the final seconds lifted Edison past Chantilly 20-17....
Photos By: Marc Gold / Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Chantilly's Torrian Pace had a monster game on Halloween night, scoring twice and breaking several long runs. His 60 yard scamper in the 3rd quarter helped setup his second touchdown that put Chantilly up 17-7. Unfortunately Chantilly couldn't hold on to the lead, and fell to 7-3 with the loss......
Photos By: Marc Gold / Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
CHANTILLY, VA - First of all, the "Curse of #10" lives! Just when the Chantilly Chargers appeared to be ready to break the curse, the Edison Eagles kept it alive with a touchdown pass from Levi Barber to Christian Washington in the corner of the endzone with less than 17 seconds left.
The play, which was setup by some nifty passing and running plays from the Eagles, was a perfectly executed pass and catch from Barber to Washington, and with the late heroics, Edison finished the regular season 10-0 and as the top seed in the Division 5 Northern Region playoffs.
It was the Eagles who jumped out first, as they scored early on Chantilly in the 1st quarter when tailback Angus Harper scored from two yards out to give Edison a 7-0 lead.
The Chargers then answered with a Torrian Pace touchdown down the left sideline to tie the game 7-7.
Right as the half was about to expire, Chantilly would break the 7-7 deadlock when they added a field goal with 5 seconds left in the second quarter by Scott Pushell to take a 10-7 lead going into the half.
Out of the intermission, the Chargers went down the field with determination and grit, handing the ball to Torrian Pace, then to fullback Kevin McGrath. On 3rd and 9, Pace then scampered 60 yards down the far sideline to set Chantilly up with a 1st and Goal from the 4-yard line.
Three plays later, Pace found the goal-line on a handoff, and the Chargers appeared on their way to another win over Edison leading 17-7. But just as Edison has done all year long, they turned to their playmakers to get back in the game.
With under five minutes left in the 4th quarter, Edison had the ball driving deep inside Charger territory. Starting tailback Angus Harper had left the game with an injury, and the Eagles turned to senior Stephon Robertson to carry the mail and boy did he deliver!
Robertson took a handoff from Barber and cut it back against the grain, racing past Charger defenders to pull the Eagles within four points pending the extra point. Chantilly's A.J Johnson then blocked the ensuing PAT to keep the score 17-13 in the Charger's favor.
On the next drive, the Charger offense stalled and Edison took the ball back with less than three minutes on the clock for one final drive.
Barber methodically threw the ball to Corey and Christian Washington, and just like that, the Eagles were deep inside Chantilly territory. After a few penalties, the Eagles were forced to convert on 1st and 22, then 1st and 32, but they managed to get back to the 11 yard line to set up a 4th and 5.
With 17 second left on the clock, Barber dropped back and threw a corner route to Christian Washington who leaped over the Charger cornerback to haul in the game-winning catch.
The Chargers were stunned, and the Eagles celebrated like kids trick-or-treating on Halloween night.
The win gave Edison their first 10-0 regular season finish in school history, as well as the top seed in the Northern Region playoffs starting next week in Division 5. That has a huge significance because the Eagles will now host the regional championship should they advance that far.
Chantilly fell to 7-3 on the season with the loss, and now must rebound emotionally after a tough defeat. They will face Annandale, who was victorious over South County on Friday night, in the first round of the Division 6 playoffs.
*Check back for Video Highlights and A Video Game Rewind Tomorrow Morning, In addition to photos from tonight's game.......
