By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Editor, Washington D.C.
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NORTHERN REGION WEEK 8: BY THE NUMBERS
-6 – Last week against McLean, South Lakes allowed -6 yards rushing on 21 carries. But 85 first-half penalty yards kept it competitive for four quarters.
1-4 – Fairfax is 1-4 when scoring first this season, but 2-0 when letting the opposition get the jump.
0-16 – Washington-Lee is 0-16 this decade against its final two opponents, No. 3 Edison and Yorktown. In those games, it has been outscored by a total of 452 points.
208 – In a 33-point second quarter that included a defensive touchdown, Edison ran four offensive plays for 208 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 57-6 win over Stuart..
5- Woodson defensive back Sam Burt has five interceptions against Marshall in the last two seasons.
38- Wakefield and Yorktown allowed a combined 38 unanswered, second-half points last week in critical losses. They face off in Week 8 starving for victory.
Concorde District
Robinson (3-4, 1-2) at No. 2 Oakton (7-0, 3-0) — Friday, October 17, 7:30 p.m.
— Def. — trap game – (chrap’ geym) — n., sing. — 1. The week before a gridiron game between expected-to-be 8-0 teams, a contest that may be overlooked and unexpectedly ruin an otherwise perfect season. See also: UNLV 23, Arizona State 20 (OT)
— Ex: No. 2 Oakton’s Week 8 game against perennial playoff participant Robinson a week before its trip to No. 4 Westfield.
— Syn. — Sleeper
Robinson needs two wins in its final three games — at Oakton, versus Herndon, at Fairfax — to avoid its first sub.-500 season in decades.
No. 6 Chantilly (5-2, 2-2) at Fairfax (3-4, 1-3) — Friday, October 17, 7:30 p.m.
The Chargers returned to the Concorde win column last week against the Rams and did not need to complete a pass to do it. Their running game is that good.
The Rebels — again — scored first last week against the Bulldogs and — again — lost. They are 1-4 when putting up the first points, but 2-0 when allowing the opponent to strike first blood. And odd stat considering this is one of the most hard-nosed teams around.
Chantilly has won the last four games in this series by an average score of 35-5.
No. 4 Westfield (7-0, 3-0) at No. 7 Herndon (5-2, 2-1) — Saturday, October 18, 7:30 p.m.
Entering the season, the modest number of returning starters would make it hard to believe that the Hornets could equal their win total from last year in only seven weeks.
And entering the season, the minute number of returning starters would make it tough to fathom the still-unbeaten Bulldogs staring down their fifth undefeated regular season in the last seven years.
This Homecoming game – by the way, Westfield as a Homecoming opponent? – will assuredly be closer than the last six meetings and will determine who owns sole possession of second place in the district through eight weeks. The Bulldogs are 6-0 all-time against the Hornets, with a 178-14 scoring advantage. Four of those six wins have been shutouts, including the last two.
Liberty District
No. 1 Stone Bridge (7-0, 4-0) at Madison (4-3, 3-1) — Friday, October 17, 7:30 p.m.
How good are the Bulldogs? Coach Mickey Thompson was less-than-pleased with Stone Bridge in last week’s 38-0 win over border-line-playoff-participant Langley,
I mean, sure, it was the first time this year they didn’t post 40 points.
This match-up doesn’t have the appeal of last season’s game, in which both teams entered at 7-0, an eventual, 27-7 Bulldog win.
No. 8 W.T. Woodson (5-2, 4-0) at Marshall (3-4, 1-3) — Friday, October 17, 7:30 p.m.
Although the Cavaliers have not lost to the Statesmen since this game’s participants were in Pampers, this series has been one of the most hotly-contested in the last three seasons.
A three-point Woodson win in 2005 was followed by one-point, overtime Cavalier road win in 2006 in a game decided by a missed Statesmen extra point. Last year, through a monsoon, Woodson receiver Max Waizenegger caught three touchdown passes and defensive back Sam Burt had two interceptions.
Burt, in 2006, picked off Marshall three times, totaling five interceptions in two games. So Harold Sweet, Jordan Stalcup, J.T. Biddison, or whomever lines up under center for the Baby Blues, avoid throwing in the same zip code as No. 8.
South Lakes (2-5, 1-3) at Langley (3-4, 2-2) — Friday, October 17, 7:30 p.m.
The healthier the Seahawks are, the more dangerous they become. A 14-point road win over McLean fails to do South Lakes’ dominance justice. It held the Highlanders to -6 rushing yards on 21 carries.
The win would have assuredly been visibly more one-sided if not for 85 first-half penalty yards.
Last week, the Saxons gave Stone Bridge its biggest test to date, but was still shut out. Quarterback Patrick Kelly was effective, rolling up 168 yards and completing 13 passes. But the Bulldogs forced three interceptions and held the Saxons to 13 rushing yards on 20 carries.
If South Lakes can repeat its dominating linebacker and interior line play in the running game of last week, Langley’s vice grip in this series may loosen. The Saxons have won the last four games by a combined 131-20.
Jefferson (2-5, 1-3) at McLean (0-7, 0-4) — Friday, October 17, 7:30 p.m.
The Colonials snapped a five-game skid last week with a one-side win over playoff contender Marshall. As a result, if the playoffs started today, Jefferson would qualify.
The Highlanders were held to negative rushing yards against the Seahawks, but moved the ball quite effectively through the air. They will need a balanced attack to get a victory this week. This is McLean’s most viable opportunity to notch a win this season, as they close against Madison and Langley.
National District
No. 3 Edison (7-0, 4-0) at Falls Church (0-7, 0-4) — Friday, October 17, 7:30 p.m.
The last time the Eagles lost to the Jaguars it was two weeks after Mark McGwire hit his 70th home run in early October 1998.
And cleared of any malicious intent in a recent VHSL investigation, third-ranked Edison is free to continue its all-around tear through the National District. Last week, running backs Stephon Robertson and Angus Harper combined for six carries, 174 yards and three touchdowns in a 57-6 home win over Stuart. Junior Christian Washington caught a 69-yard touchdown pass and returned an interception 37 yards for six in the win.
A Week 10 match-up with No. 6 Chantilly is likely all that stands between Vaughn Lewis‘ bunch and a one-seed entering the Division 5 playoffs. Edison has scored fewer than 35 points just once this year.
But the Jaguars can move the ball, as well. Despite carrying 21 times for 1 yard last week as a team, Falls Church posted 40 points and quarterback Sam Gerima threw for five scores in a 69-40 loss to Mount Vernon.
Washington-Lee (4-3, 2-1) at Stuart (1-6, 0-3) — Friday, October 17, 7:30 p.m.
Since scoring 34 points at Yorktown in Week 4, its second-highest offensive output since 1999, Stuart has managed only six points in three games. If it is to derail streaking Washington-Lee, more points are paramount.
A 20-point comeback last week lands the Generals in control of their own playoff destiny. But the Raiders are the only team left on their schedule that is below .500. Washington-Lee closes the year against No. 3 Edison and at Yorktown, teams it is 0-16 against this decade with an average loss of 35-7.
Yorktown (4-3, 2-1) at Wakefield (2-5, 1-2) — Friday, October 17, 7:30 p.m.
The Warriors come in off a crushing road loss at Washington-Lee. Wakefield led 20-0 late in the second quarter before allowing 21 unanswered points. Kicker Rodrick Likonko‘s would-be, game-winning field goal as time expired flipped directly over the abbreviated upright and was ruled wide.
Now, instead of being in control of its own destiny and a likely No. 6 or No. 7 seed in Division 5, the Warriors are on the outside of the playoff picture looking in and in need of a win.
But expect little sympathy from Yorktown, who has played Wakefield within a single score just once in the last seven years – all Patriot wins. The Pats allowed 20 unanswered, second-half points of their own last week in a less-dramatic, 26-14 home loss to Herndon.
Having already left one valuable win on the table this month, don’t expect Yorktown to give up another without a fight.
Patriot District
No. 5 West Springfield (5-2, 4-0) at T.C. Williams (2-5, 2-3) — Saturday, October 18, 7:30 p.m.
Despite six home games this season and a new, true home field, the Titans are yet to christen T.C. Williams Stadium with a win. They are 0-5 at home, but 2-0 on the road.
The Spartans hope that trend continues as they enter this road game riding a five-game winning streak, during with they are averaging just under 50 points per game. West Springfield can not get caught with its focus on Lake Braddock next week, as the Titans sprung a road upset on those same Bruins two weeks ago.
In the last three years, the Spartans are averaging 45.3 points per game in this series.
No. 10 West Potomac (5-2, 2-2) at No. 8 South County (4-3, 3-1) — Friday, October 17, 7:30 p.m.
The set-up for this game is eerily similar to last season.
Last year, the Wolverines started 5-0, before falling in consecutive weeks to West Springfield and Lake Braddock, which slipped their record to 5-2 overall, 2-2 in the Patriot District. The Stallions’ record, likewise, is identical to what it was entering the West Potomac game in 2007 at 4-3.
If you’re curious, the Wolverines defeated the Stallions, 14-7, at home in Week 8. Running back Daniel Baker lived up to his nickname, “making” both West Potomac touchdowns. The Wolverines are the only Patriot District team the Stallions have not beaten all-time.
The match-up to watch: South County fullback J.B. Bullock — maybe the best short-yardage back in the district — against the West Potomac linebackers.
Annandale (4-3, 3-1) at Lake Braddock (4-3, 2-2) — Friday, October 17, 7:30 p.m.
Last season, the Bruins snapped a four-year losing streak to the Atoms thanks almost solely to running back Michael Harrison‘s 325 rushing yards despite the torrential rains. And they played through the weather at Annandale – remember that night?
The Lake Braddock rebounded nicely since a surprise home loss to T.C. Williams ran its district record to 0-2. But the Bruins host West Springfield next week on Senior Night. Please see definition in the Robinson at No. 2 Oakton preview.
The Atoms, meanwhile, are 3-1 in district play, but the three teams they have beaten have a combined four wins. Power Points, as always, are at a premium and Annandale has yet to beat a team with a record better than 2-5.
A win at Lake Braddock would do wonders for its playoff hopes. The loser of this game may have signed its postseason death certificate.
Lee (1-6, 0-4) at Hayfield (1-6, 0-4) — Friday, October 17, 7:30 p.m.
The Lancers have faced four straight teams with winning records, all of whom are in the Division 6 playoff hunt. But in the last two games, Lee has appeared hungover from the after-effects of the first two, heart-wrenching district losses to West Potomac and South County.
The Hawks hung with T.C. Williams last week before falling at home. Their last two opponents are South County and Lake Braddock, teams tied for the No. 8 seed in Division 6 if the playoffs were to start today. Both the Stallions and Bruins will have a lot to play for, so the Hawks must bring it against a Lancer team that is more gifted than their record would suggest.
Lee has won three straight in this series, including 34-28 last year, which was its first win of the season.
Non-District Games
Centreville (1-6, 0-4) at Mount Vernon (5-2, 3-1) — Friday, October 17, 7:30 p.m.
Although the records are extremely disparate, the Wildcats hold a significant edge in performance against common opponents.
Both teams faced T.C. Williams and West Potomac in the first three weeks of the season.
The Wildcats earned their only with against the Titans, 36-7, while the Majors needed an overtime touchdown run by senior Kyle Ricks to win, 23-20.
Against West Potomac, Centreville lost by just seven points at home. Mount Vernon, meanwhile, fell to the Wolverines on the road by a more-lopsided 26-7.
Mount Vernon’s only National District loss came to No. 3 Edison. It is unbeaten since that game.
Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com
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