By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Manager, Washington D.C.
**Check back with DigitalSports throughout the week for video recaps of nearly every game in the Northern Region!!
CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE FINAL SCORES IN THE NORTHERN REGION.
NORTHERN REGION WEEK 10: BY THE NUMBERS
168-12 – In the 2000s, Robinson has outscored Fairfax, 168-12, in four games.
70.3 – Since Jefferson joined the Liberty District in 2005, there is an average of 70.3 combined points per game in three meeting with South Lakes..
10-0 – No. 2 Oakton is seeking its first 10-0 regular season in history of the school, which spans five decades.
51.4 – No. 1 Stone Bridge is scoring 51.4 points per game this season, tops in the VHSL.
0.1. – The Division 6 No. 6 through No. 8 seeds, Herndon, Annandale and South County are separated by 1/10th of a point with one game left.
Non-District Games
No. 3 Edison (9-0, 6-0) at No. 4 Chantilly (7-2, 5-2) — Friday, October 31, 7:30 p.m. **Game will be covered by Angela Watts.
There’s a reason why non-district games are not listed at the bottom this week.
Whether the team will admit it or not, Edison has had this game circled
on the schedule since a Week 3 over South County. Having escaped a
somewhat tumultuous three-week out-of-conference stretch to open the
season, the Eagles were likely to reach this game with a goose egg in
the loss column.
Only No. 1 Stone Bridge has scored points or allowed fewer than No. 3 Edison.
Chantilly’s only losses are to No. 2 Oakton and No. 6 Westfield. Six of
its seven wins have come against teams with a 4-5 record or better, so
the sixth-ranked Chargers have been tested, and excelled. Last week,
they snapped a 12-year losing streak to Centreville with a 20-point
road over the toothpaste-blue Wildcats.
And what is not to love against Eagle linebacker Stephon Robertson
against Charger running back Torrian Pace… or Edison quarterback Levi
Barber against the talented pass rush… or the Eagle special teams
against the disciplined Charger kick coverage unit… or the Edison
running game, which has totaled 24 rushing touchdowns through nine
weeks, against the Chantilly rush defense, which allowed just 73
rushing yards last week… or…
Concorde District
Centreville (1-8, 0-5) at No. 6 Westfield (7-2, 3-2) — Friday, October 31, 7:30 p.m.
This series has not lived up to its anticipated competitiveness — Westfield has won the last six games in a row, the last two by a combined 60-7. But the bragging rights have not diminished despite the rivalry’s recent one-sidedness.
The Wildcats are mired in their worst season in recent memory and the Bulldogs are coming off consecutive losses for the first time since 2001.
Senior running back Jordon Anderson has not been held under 100 yards this season and has only been outrushed twice in nine games — Week 1 at South County (Aaron Andrews) and Week 7 at Fairfax (Chris Regensberg).
Robinson (4-5, 2-3) at Fairfax (4-5, 1-4) — Friday, October 31, 7:30 p.m.
Entering the season, no one figured this Week 10 meeting would be determining a .500 record for either team. Both teams are coming off dominant wins last week.
Robinson senior running back Alex Murray carried for 275 yards and 3 touchdowns last week in a 41-23 win over then-No. 4 Herndon. Fairfax overcame 121 penalty yards with a 10-carry, 200-yard, two-touchdown performance by Iogi Lewis in a 34-7 win over Falls Church.
This decade, in four Ram wins, Robinson has outscored Fairfax, 168-12, an average score of 43-3.
No. 8 Herndon (6-3, 3-2) at No. 2 Oakton (9-0, 5-0) — Friday, October 31, 7:30 p.m. **Game will be covered by Jimmy Thomas.
Speaking of back story.
Last year, Herndon beat Oakton, 35-34, with a last-minute two-conversion that the teams still disagree on. The controversial result eliminated the Cougars from playoff contention and completed their end-of-season free fall.
This year, No. 2 Oakton enters with its second 9-0 start in the program’s 41-year history. The Cougars have never been 10-0.
So, with storied history and a dash of personal vengeance on the line, albeit the definite Division 6 No. 1 seed and Concorde District champion, don’t expect Oakton to rest its starters and go lightly on No. 8 Herndon.
Liberty District
No. 7 W.T. Woodson (7-2, 6-0) at No. 1 Stone Bridge (9-0, 6-0) — Friday, October 31, 7:30 p.m. **Game will be covered by Dan Sousa.
Welcome to the Liberty District championship.
Last week, after its 28-14 home win over Langley, Cavalier coach Trey Taylor said candidly that if his boys didn’t come prepared for the Bulldogs, that Halloween could turn into Fright Night. It’d be more like Friday the 13th if No. 7 Woodson leaves its A-game in Fairfax.
No. 1 Stone Bridge equaled the school scoring record in Week 3 — 63-0 over Marshall — then broke it in Week 4 — 64-13 against Loudoun Valley — and broke it again last week — 70-7 over Jefferson. The Bulldogs, in terms of points per game, have the top-rated offense and defense in the Northern Region. Their offense is the highest-scoring in the state at any classification and the defense is ranked fifth.
Only Phoebus’ average margin of victory is broader than Stone Bridge’s, but Beach teams aren’t exactly known for rushing to pull starters from lopsided games.
The Bulldogs need to win and hope for a loss by No. 3 Edison — along with myriad factors — to have the top seed entering the Division 5 playoffs.
McLean (0-9, 0-6) at Langley (4-5, 3-3) — Friday, October 31, 7:30 p.m.
Saxon offensive lineman Garrett Moore tabbed the Rotary Cup as the game he most anticipated for this year when we spoke in the preseason. It’s an understandable sentiment considering the Saxon winning streak over the Highlanders stretches over a decade.
But with its loss to Woodson last week, Langley eliminated itself from playoff contention. So, the teams are playing for pride, bragging rights, ability to cut in line at Madison Deli, whatever.
Jefferson (2-7, 1-5) at South Lakes (2-7, 1-5) — Friday, October 31, 7:30 p.m.
Astonishing as it may seem, this game between squads with a combined 4-14 record has deeper playoff implications than any between two Division 5 opponents this week, assuming Wakefield doesn’t upset Mount Vernon and cause the Power Point apocalypse.
A 780 math SAT is providing minimal help in figuring out the opaque cloudiness surrounding this game’s consequences, but the Loudoun Prep Sports (LPS) Ratings Guru breaks it all down here. Control+F “Jefferson” like three times.
Trust me.
South Lakes coach John Ellenberger will be getting bombarded with text messages for his final score at, or around, 11 p.m. tonight.
At it’s surface, this game lacks the appeal it deserves. Since Jefferson joined the Liberty Distirict in 2005, these teams have put up a combined 70.3 points per game in their three meetings.
Madison (5-4, 4-2) at Marshall (4-5, 2-4) — Friday, October 31, 7:30 p.m.
Last year, the Statesmen ended a losing streak dating back to the last millenia with a 27-20 road win over the Warhawks, as the Baby Blues officially fitted themselves with a glass slipper. But that win cost them Chris Hurlbert for the postseason with a shoulder injury.
Both teams enter off wins that greatly assisted in their playoff aspirations. Madison is in.
So is Marshall, unless it loses and Jefferson wins. That is, unless Wakefield beats Mount Vernon. Then up to seven games’ results could have an impact on the final three seeds in Division 5.
National District
Yorktown (6-3, 4-1) at Washington-Lee (5-4, 3-2) — Friday, October 31, 7:30 p.m.
This game between the No. 5 and No. 6 seeds in Division 5 is one of the few Week 10 games in a vacuum, considering it has minimal playoff effect outside of the two participants. A Yorktown win would help West Potomac, should it lose to T.C. Williams, but that’s for another preview.
The Patriots have owned the Generals this decade, winning all eight meetings by a combined 267-87. Last year’s six-point Yorktown win was one of only three games within 26 points in the series. But look out for the Washington-Lee wildcat formation.
The winner will likely be the No. 5 seed and play at Madison next weekend, while the loser will be the No. 6 seed and likely travel down Route 1 to face Mount Vernon in a National District sequel.
Again, all of that changes if Wakefield can upset Mount Vernon or if Lee goes 300 on West Springfield.
Falls Church (0-9, 0-5) at Stuart (1-8, 0-5) — Friday, October 31, 7:30 p.m.
The Bell Game is annually the most significant game for these schools, which are less than five miles apart on Route 50. This year, the winner will find silver lining on what has been a tougher-than-expected season for both teams.
Although Stuart has the one combined win between the programs, Falls Church has had both the more productive offense and stingier defense.
Keys for the Raiders: Protect Chris Goslin and slow the Jaguar passing game with a turnover or two. Keys for the Jags: Spread the aerial wealth to keep the secondary guessing and protect the football.
The Jaguars have taken seven of the eight meetings this decade.
Wakefield (3-6, 2-3) at No. 10 Mount Vernon (7-2, 4-1) — Friday, October 31, 7:30 p.m.
Now, if the Warriors behave and fall to the Majors like the numbers say they should, all will be peaceful in the Division 5 playoff front. But anyone that has seen Wakefield on film for the last six weeks knows that the page with “behave” was ripped out of Keith Powell‘s dictionary and used to feed the two-headed backfield beast that Romeo Goffney and Isiah Cruz have become.
The Warriors are 3-3 over that span, but two loses to Yorktown and Washington-Lee were by a combined eight points. That minus-eight margin in those two games is only seven points worse than the Majors’ against the same teams.
But Wakefield has not seen an offensive line as big as Mount Vernon’s, which averages 6-feet, 4-inches and over 265 pounds per man.
If the Warriors can strike first — as they have in five of the last six games, including those last-minute losses to the Patriots and Generals — and jeopardize the Major running game, this could get interesting. But if Brendan O’Clisham and Kyle Ricks can get the ball rolling on the ground, Mount Vernon will wear down Wakefield.
Patriot District
No. 5 South County (6-3, 5-1) at No. 9 Annandale (6-3, 5-1) — Friday, October 31, 7:30 p.m.**Game will be covered by Phil Murphy.
No matter what the result this game breeds chaos among both Division 5 and Division 6 playoff fronts from top to bottom.
Speaking of evenly-matched: Both teams enter with the same overall and district records, with wins in five of their last six games and one popular score prediction tool has each team with a .500 chance of victory, chalking up a mock win for both the Stallions and Atoms. This match-up features two of the best, most-experienced coaches around in **** Adams and Pete Bendorf and both teams have proved a knack for showing up in big games in the last three seasons.
And that’s aside from the winner being assured at least a share of the Patriot District championship. If Annandale wins, it will be its third district banner in the last four seasons.
The last time these teams met on this field, the lone touchdown was a 42-yard South County fumble return in a 7-0 Stallion win.
Lee (3-6, 2-4) at No. 10 West Springfield (6-3, 5-1) — Friday, October 31, 7:30 p.m.
The last time the Lancers played the Spartans on this field, Lee running back Brandon Cameron had a career day in 40-34 Lee win. But that was against a West Springfield defense that allowed 40.4 points per game that year. This year, they allow a much better 25.1 points per.
And last week, West Springfield proved its offense is back to form with a 41-20 road win over Lake Braddock, as senior quarterback Bryn Renner went 19-for-28 passing for 327 yards and four touchdowns, three of which went Andy Stallings‘ way. But this Lee secondary is the real deal. And now with Donald Keldo added to its pass rush — yes, Donald Keldo — Renner won’t have as much time to sit in the pocket and pick pass defenses apart. Although, secretly, I think he enjoys that.
With a win, Lee would vault up to the sixth spot in Division 5 and avoid four-time running regional finalists Edison and Stone Bridge in the first round of the postseason. West Springfield currently holds the No. 4 spot in Division 6 and is unlikely to move unless they should fall.
Lake Braddock (4-5, 2-4) at Hayfield (1-8, 0-6) — Friday, October 31, 7:30 p.m.
Last season, Bruin quarterback Shane Halley carried five times for 209 yards and three touchdowns to clinch a first-round playoff home game for Lake Braddock in a 63-14 rout of Hayfield. But with no playoffs in sight and no Halley, one might wonder if the Bruins will have the same ****** instinct against the Hawks.
And the defense can’t sleep on Anton McCallum or the junior quarterback will hurt it. Also, Ray Rigans is seeing an expanded role and performing well. So, for the first time in a while, offensive depth is not an issue for the Hawks, who only fell by seven points on the road to South County last week.
On paper, Lake Braddock should prevail handily, but teams like Lee, Wakefield, Marshall and West Potomac are in Billy Pugh‘s corner big time tonight.
T.C. Williams (3-6, 3-3) at West Potomac (5-4, 3-3) — Friday, October 31, 7:30 p.m.
The Wolverines have lost four games in a row and, in the last month, have gone from a lock for a first-round home game to paying to watch a game if the postseason started today. Fortunately for West Potomac, they can win and hope, possibly sneaking into a No. 8 seed with a number of things having to fall into place.
But standing in its way is a Titan team that scored a 15-14 upset last season that forced the Wolverines to take to the road to face Lake Braddock in the first round. With less assurance than last season and a more distant drop off, there is a question whether West Potomac can muster up enough poise to put themselves in position for back-door playoff entry against T.C. Williams, who is 2-1 on the road this year.
Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com
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