Eagles Soar Over Oakton, 18-14
The Edison Eagles flew into Vienna Friday night to do battle with the Oakton Cougars. Edison came from behind in the 4th quarter to secure the 18-14 win.
Photo By Marc Gold \ Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Edison's senior RB Angus Harper was kept in check most of the night by the Oakton Cougars, but his 55 yard touchdown catch sealed the win Friday in Vienna.
Photo By Marc Gold \ Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Levi Barber returned to the field Friday night, after an injury 2-weeks ago, and led his team to the 18-14 victory over Oakton. Barber completed 11 of 22 passes for 199 yards.
Photo By Marc Gold \ Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
VIENNA, VA - Respectability and confidence were at stake Friday night for both the Oakton Cougars and the Edison Eagles, as they prepared to do battle against each other in Vienna. Both teams came into the night with 3-1 records, and each needed a win before going into the teeth of their respective district schedules. The Eagles sputtered a bit to start their season, but were riding a 3-game win streak. The Cougars have played well enough, and were a 50-yard fumble return for a game-wining touchdown away from being 4-0. So question marks were written all over each program, and both needed to answer to their skeptics.
In the 1st half, it appeared that the Cougars were the better team. Oakton took the 1st possession of the game, and proceeded to march 80 yards, on 13 plays, for the 1st score of the game. Junior Luke Willis took the inside hand-off from QB Jimmy Boone, darted off tackle, and squeezed into the end zone for the early touchdown. But Edison came right back on the ensuing kick-off. Marvin Willis gathered the ball on his 10-yard line, and darted around defenders all the way to the 50-yard line, before the Cougars' Andrew Leonard tripped him up before taking it to the house. On their 2nd play from scrimmage, QB Levi Barber, back from an injury he sustained 2-weeks ago, hit senior WR Chris Washington with a simple hitch pass, and Washington raced by would-be tacklers for the supposed tying touchdown. But the play was called back by a penalty, and from there the drive stalled, as the Oakton defense clamped down on prolific RB Angus Harper, and blitzed Barber often and recording two sacks for big losses. The quarter ended with Oakton on top, 7-0
In the 2nd frame, the Cougars started to wither a bit under costly penalties that stalled drives of their own. Edison appeared to get their act together, and midway through the quarter, began to march down the field on an impressive mix of sweeps to Harper, short passes to Washington and WR Eric Fontenette, and Barber's ability to scramble out of defensive pressure. But once inside of the red-zone, the Oakton defense held yet again, and the Eagles had to settle for a Bill Arnez 29-yard field goal, narrowing the margin to 7-3. Then on their next possession, and as time was starting to wind down towards halftime, Oakton's Jimmy Boone faded back to pass, and hit a streaking Matt Chandler down the seam for a 39-yard score, increasing the lead at the half to 14-3.
In the half, Oakton moved the ball fairly well against the Eagle defense, but costly penalties kept them from getting close enough to blow the game open early. Conversely, Edison seemed to have problems with the Oakton defense, as Harper, who had amassed five touchdowns, and almost 500 yards rushing coming into the night, and big-play maker Washington were held in check by the Cougars' swarming attack.
Halftime adjustments by coaches are always key in big games such as this, and it was apparent from the start of the 2nd half that the Eagles certainly did their homework in the locker room, as they were a different team in this stanza. Edison's defense shut down the Oakton running game, and when Boone was forced to pass, receivers were covered well. Penalties continued to plague the Cougars, as well, and because of the mix, Edison saw the ball more often in this half, and it paid off. Although no team scored in the 3rd quarter, the Eagles were getting bigger and bigger chunks of yardage on offense, and their confidence was starting to mount.
With the defense continuing to shut down the Oakton offense, Barber started to go to work in the 4th quarter. Utilizing his legs to scramble out of danger, Barber started to hit his short passes, which opened up the run a little more. Harper started to chew up yards around end, and Edison was rolling by mid-quarter. But a costly 4th-and-one non-conversion attempt put the ball back in Oakton's hands. With the Eagle defense forcing another 3rd-and-long, Boone dropped back to pass, and disaster struck. Edison's Jerrell Haywood stepped in front of an Oakton receiver at the Oakton 29-yard line, snagged the ball out of the air, and raced down the sidelines for touchdown. Now down 14-9, Edison head coach Vaughn Lewis called for the 2-point conversion to narrow the Oakton lead to three points, and Barber squeaked in behind center for the score.
After another stalled Oakton drive, Edison got the ball back with under 3-minutes left in regulation. On 3rd-and-nine from their own 45-yard line, Barber faded back to pass, looked down field for a receiver, and seeing none, checked down to Harper who was all alone on the wheel route, dumped it off, and Harper did the rest. With defenders closing in, Harper kicked it in another gear, and sprinted down the sidelines for the 55-yard go-ahead touchdown.
With the score now 18-14 in favor of the Eagles, Oakton had one chance to sustain a drive to try and get into the end zone for the game winner. But Chris Washington sealed the victory for the Eagles, picking off Boone at the Edison 25-yard line, and Edison was able to run out the clock, and steal the victory away from the Cougars.
Oakton (2-2) will now get ready for Concorde District play as they host the Westfield Bulldogs next Friday at 7:30pm. Edison (4-1\2-0) will re-enter National District competition next Friday night, hosting rival Yorktown at 7:30pm
PLAYMAKERS OF THE GAME
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Angus Harper - Senior RB, Edison
Although Harper was held in check most of the night by a stingy Oakton defense (18 yards on 13 carries), it was his 55-yard touchdown catch 52 of which came after the catch) that was the difference on Friday night.
Matt Chandler - Senior WR, Oakton
Chandler did all he could do on Friday night for his Cougars. Five catches and a 39-yard touchdown grab, and totaling 71 yards of QB Jimmy Boone's 119 yards on the night.
