Potomac Panthers

Prince William County Notebook- 5th Edition

WOODBRIDGE, VA - Can you believe we're half way through the regular season? Like the old saying goes, time flies when you're having fun. Between calling a game, hosting a show and writing this notebook each week this season is going by way too quick.

The first half of the season for the majority of the teams in the county has gone quite well. Battlefield and Woodbridge have been playing at a high level and some believe they are destined to meet in the Division 6 Northwest Region finals. Potomac has shown that despite losing the core of their state runner-up team they will be able to contend for a playoff spot. The Hylton Bulldogs are back to being a stout opponent capable of winning on any given Friday night. Sophomore sensation Dominique Terrell has immense potential and has helped make Osbourn Park a legitimate contender in the Cedar Run district. Coach Steve Schultze's Osbourn Eagles have a bright future ahead of them and have played well so far this season.

The new coaches in the county have had their fair share of struggles. Gar-Field's Tom Gryder has done a respectable job in his first season as a head coach leading the Indians to a 2-3 record. Gryder took over after spending the past four years as an assistant at Woodbridge. Stonewall's Mike Dougherty and Manassas Park's David Coccoli are still working towards their first victories at their new schools.

Like we do each week in the notebook, it is now time to take a look at the week that was in Prince William County.

BOBCATS HOLD OFF YELLOW JACKETS

The 'PWC Notebook Game to Watch' lived up to its billing as Battlefield (5-0, 2-0) defeated Osbourn Park (3-2, 2-1) 25-17 in the biggest Cedar Run District match-up of the year thus far. Adrian Ingram has already cemented himself as the favorite to win Player of the Year in the district after Friday night's performance.

Ingram continues to be the workhorse for the Bobcat offense as he ran the ball 31 times for 181 yards and a touchdown. Ingram also returned a fumble 65 yards for a touchdown and intercepted a pass late in the fourth quarter to guarantee victory for Battlefield.

Dominique Terrell continues to rack up yards week in and week out as he racked up 197 yards of total offense. Terrell connected with fellow sophomore Gary Jackson on a 42-yard touchdown pass and ran for a 66-yard score. Terrell is going to be something special. Let me rephrase that ... he already is.

BENNETT CARRIES THE LOAD

Sophomore Samuel Bennett carried the ball 33 times for 128 yards and a score to lead the Potomac Panthers (4-1) to an important non district win by defeating the Osbourn Eagles 28-14. The Panthers return four offensive linemen from last year's team and have been very affective in the running game this season. The line is anchored by Senior guard Denham Brown an all region performer in 2007.

The Osbourn Eagles had a tough time moving the ball early as they only ran a total of eleven plays in the first half. RB Casey Lucas got the Eagles on the board early in the 3rd quarter with a 2 yard score. Potomac's Desmond Spates scored from 48 yards out on the next drive to push the Panther lead to 21-6. The Eagles were unable to do much after that on offense and fell to 2-3 on the season.

ADJEI LEADS INDIANS TO IMPORTANT WIN

Gar-Field's senior leader on defense played a big part in the Indian's 25-15 win over Freedom. Ernest Adjei returned a fumble 33 yards for a score and sacked Lamar Howard in the end zone for a safety. The Indians recorded two safeties in the game, the first coming off of a bad snap on a punt attempt. Freedom's punter William Constanza fell on the ball in the end zone to keep Gar-Field (2-3) from scoring a touchdown.

Junior RB Bryce Miller sat out the entire first half with an ankle injury but took the field in the second half after the Indians were only able to gain 42 total yards of offense in the first two quarters. Miller finished the game with 87 yards rushing with the bulk of it coming on a 48 yard touchdown run. Freedom's RB had a solid game as well as Deon Jones scored both of the Eagles (2-3) touchdowns from 14 and 4 yards respectively.

This was the first of two meetings between the schools so this was considered a non- district match-up. The two teams will meet again on October 24th at Freedom. Coach John Robinette has already matched last year's win total and has made strides in his second year at the helm.

OTHER SCORES

Hylton 48
Culpeper 0

Quantico 36
Kenston Forest 18

Buckingham County 24
Manassas Park 14

Millbrook 33
Brentsville 23

E.C. Glass 10
Forest Park 7

Liberty 41
Stonewall Jackson 0

PWC NOTEBOOK GAME TO WATCH

Potomac (4-1) vs. #2 Woodbridge (5-0)

Each week the Washington Post writes about the high school football game of the week in the area and mentions a few other games to watch. Well this week each of the three games featured involve Prince William County teams. Prince William stand up!

So needless to say, I had to put some extra thought into the 'PWC Notebook Game to Watch.' Liberty travels to Battlefield in what should be a great game, the Osbourn Eagles head into Warrenton to take on the undefeated Fauquier Falcons, but for me neither of these solid games compare to the huge match-up on the east end of the county.

Both Potomac and Woodbridge made it to the state championship game last season and have had some great battles over the years. Friday night should be no different. Woodbridge has dropped two in a row to the Panthers but won the three meetings before that. The entire east end of the county should turn out on Friday night to watch this huge Cardinal District game, which will be the first district game for both teams.

Last season the Vikings gave Coach Lilly his toughest test of the regular season in a 17-5 game that Woodbridge played at less than full strength. Potomac has won four straight games this season after losing badly to Battlefield in week one. Lilly has won 27 games in just two and a half years on the job and is without a doubt one of the best coaches in the area.

If the Panthers are going to win this game they will have to do something that no team has done this year. Stop Rocket Williams. How about just slow down DeAntwan "Rocket" Williams? The talented senior running back has racked up 902 yards and 16 touchdowns in five games which averages out to a little over 180 yards and 3 touchdowns each game. No wonder Mr. Williams has 16 D-1 offers. Potomac only returned two starters from last season and have shown improvement each week since week one. This unit will have to take a big step forward this Friday night. The rivalry between these two teams should keep it close but I see Woodbridge winning this one.

Gameday Prediction: Woodbridge 30, Potomac 17

OTHER GAMES IN PRINCE WILLIAM THIS WEEK

Liberty (4-1)
Battlefield (5-0)
Prediction: Battlefield 28, Liberty 20

Osbourn (2-3)
Fauquier (5-0)
Prediction: Osbourn 34, Fauquier 28

Hylton (3-2)
Gar-Field (2-3)
Prediction: Hylton 27, Gar-Field 14

Freedom (1-4)
Forest Park (2-3)
Prediction: Forest Park 20, Freedom 17

Osbourn Park (3-2)
Culpeper (0-5)
Prediction: Osbourn Park 49, Culpeper 0

Brentsville (1-3)
James Wood (5-1)
Prediction: James Wood 35, Brentsville 13

Manassas Park (0-5)
George Mason (1-4)
Prediction: Manassas Park 14, George Mason 6

Loudon Valley (0-5)
Stonewall Jackson (0-5)
Prediction: Stonewall 21, Loudoun Valley 7

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