Damascus Wins Battle of Unbeaten Powers
By Adam Chasen
DAMASCUS, MD - Over 4,000 in attendance witnessed yet another classic Friday night football clash between arguably the two most storied programs in Montgomery County, Damascus and Seneca Valley. The two programs have combined for 13 State Titles in the last 18 years and both entered this year's game with identical 3-0 records. Only 3 total points were scored in the first half, but the home Damascus Hornets outscored the Seneca Valley Screamin' Eagles 22-13 in the second, to pull out a 22-16 victory that went down to the game's final minute.
Both defenses controlled the first half, playing physical and matching the intensity of the electric crowd. Late in the third quarter, it appeared Damascus had made the first big play of the game when quarterback Connor Frazier bought time by scrambling on his own 40 yard line. While escaping the pocket, he unleashed a deep pass to Tyler Patton that was caught inside the Seneca 5-yard line, but Frazier had crossed the line of scrimmage before the pass, foiling the games first scoring opportunity.
In the middle stages of the 2nd quarter, Seneca Valley was able to put a drive together on the back of their workhorse running back Ed Cunningham, (25 carries 138 yards 1TD) but could not punch the ball in and settled for a field goal. Damascus, who had lost three straight times to Seneca Valley, all by 1 point, saw themselves down 3-0 going into the half.
After a three-and-out to open up the second half for Damascus, Seneca quickly added to their lead. Highlighted by a 48-yard run and a 6-yard touchdown plunge, both by Ed Cunningham, the visitors took a 10-0 lead.
On the very next drive, the Damascus offense would find itself in a 4th and 5 situation on Seneca's 45-yard line, when a defender jumped offside to give the Hornets a fresh set of downs. Damascus had an opportunity to get back into the game, and a deep play action connection from Frazier to senior wide receiver Joel Ross, did just that. The 48-yard strike, setup a first and goal from the one, that was taken into the end zone on the next play to make the score 10-7.
"We said (in the huddle) we need to get this executed right here, if we get this we can get a drive and score a touchdown," explained Joel Ross about the play call.
Ross, who has been a breakout star for Damascus, has had to step-up in place of highly regarded senior cornerback and receiver Brandon Phelps (UVA commit) due to injury early this season. But with the return of Phelps, Ross has more than proven his explosiveness and need to be used by Coach Eric Wallich and the Hornets.
"I want to have a breakout year, a couple games back I had a couple big touchdowns, and I just wanted to come out and have a good game," added Ross.
The momentum had quickly shifted and it this time it was Brandon Phelps turn to make a play, picking off a pass from Tanner Vallely, and returning it to the Seneca 6-yard line. Frazier made a nifty stutter step move around a frozen defender and scored on the first offensive play to give Damascus their first lead of the game at 14-10. Vallely and starting quarterback Max Nicholson both saw time at the position on the night.
"He (Nicholson) had a couple opportunities we felt like he should have made, maybe a little rust. We had to sit him down talk to him a little bit...We put Tanner in, gave him a couple looks. He played very well last week, let's just see if we can make something happen...but Damascus is a great ball club, my hats off to them," Seneca Valley Head Coach Fred Kim told me after the game.
Seneca Valley was not done, and put an efficient drive together to retake the lead on a 15-yard run by running back James Jones-Williams, to retake the lead 16-14 with 9:30 left to play.
Frazier took over on the next drive; putting together a masterful 4th quarter comeback to put his team ahead for the second time this season. Two weeks ago, the 3-year starting quarterback led the Hornets to victory late against rival Quince Orchard, and Friday night he would do it again. The dual-threat QB, was 4 for 4 passing on the final scoring drive, and scampered into the end zone from 10-yards out for his second rushing touchdown of the night.
After a successful 2-point conversion, the lead was 22-16 in Damascus's favor when Seneca took over possession. Starting on their own 36-yard line with only 2:30 left to play, there was little time to waste. Seneca quickly drove down the field mixing up the play-calling between run and pass.
Reaching the 20-yard line with just over a minute to play, Nicholson pumped to his left and aired out a pass to the end zone. The ball nearly reached the hands of receiver Michael Doe, but just before the Seneca completion could be made, Joel Ross playing defense, soared to the ball and intercepted the pass keeping his feet in bounds on the side of the end zone.
With just a minute left and Seneca out of timeouts the Damascus sideline erupted.
"I backpedalled and I saw them do a hitch and go, as soon as I saw that ball go up in the air, I knew I was going to get that interception," said Ross.
Damascus now at 4-0 on the season has already beaten Quince Orchard, a team they had lost to six straight years, and now has also broken the three game streak against Seneca Valley. The senior trio of Frazier, Ross, and Phelps looks to like a force to be reckoned with. Plenty of other talent surrounds these three, but it remains to be seen if anyone can match their late game heroics in the county and most likely in the state as well.
