The T.C. Williams Titans logged their first win of the season this past weekend, giving the regions nine area high schools an overall winning record.

The Titans knocked off Lake Braddock 20-3 on the road to buoy the nine area schools to a 5-4 record during this most recent weekend of action.

T.C. Williams 20, Lake Braddock 3
After an overtime 23-20 loss to Mount Vernon to commence their season, T.C. Williams dropped consecutive contests to Centreville, Oakton and Annandale to weigh-in at 0-4 approximately one week ago.

However, this past weekend, T.C. got into the winners bracket with their most complete effort of the season, a memorable 20-3 victory at Lake Braddock.

We came to play this past Saturday night versus Lake Braddock. Our kids gave a great effort and they believed going into this contest that they could win it, said second-year Titan head coach Dennis Randolph.

The contest, initially scheduled for September 26, was delayed by one day due to weather and field conditions.

In logging their initial win of the season, T.C. took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when senior QB Zach Goehler connected with junior wide receiver Cortez Taylor on a beautiful 81-yard scoring completion.

Coach Randolph commented, Zach [a Wisconsin native, who transferred to T.C. 14 months ago] laid it out there about 40-45 yards in the air. Cortez hauled it in and went the rest of the way.

In the second quarter, Patriot District rival Lake Braddock trimmed their deficit to 7-3 via a field goal.

However, moments later, Goehler bootlegged a three-yard scoring run to propel the Titans to a 14-3 advantage, which is where the game stood at halftime as well as at the end of the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, T.C. standout senior running back Abu Kamara gave the Titans some insurance points via a stellar 52-yard scoring run.

Stated Kamara, The TD run was a scissors play. It was meant to go inside, but I took it outside. I ran hard. I had to break some Lake Braddock tackles and stay on my feet.

On the evening, freshman snapper Aaron Tovsky, senior holder James Collier and senior kicker Bryan Franks successfully combined on two of three PAT boots.

Also on the evening, the stout Titan defense was led by defensive linemen Rashad Quarles, Jay Whitmire, Mike Flowers and DaJuan Douglas; linebackers Dominique Copeland, Devon Menefee, Brandon Burke and Saul Matturi; as well as by defensive backs Cortez Taylor, Tony Richardson and the platoon situation of either Robert Carter or Darnell Roy.

Versus Lake Braddock, Quarles registered seven tackles and two sacks; Douglas recorded six tackles and one sack; Burke registered 10 tackles and one sack; Taylor intercepted one Bruin pass and Roy, intermittently alternating with Carter, also picked off one Bruin pass.

Tonight, we were plus-two in the turnover battle, said coach Randolph, who also coached previously at Edison and South Lakes.

Regarding the defensive game plan versus Lake Braddock, Quarles commented, We wanted to pinch their runs tonight and we wanted to make the correct reads. My responsibility tonight was [shadowing] their QB.

It meant a whole lot to win this game tonight, said a pleased Kamara.

We were all extremely happy and cheerful after this win, added Quarles.

Kamara also further commented, Were going to continue to work hard and play hard during the remainder of the season. Kamara has three rushing TDs on the season; two vs. Mount Vernon and one vs. Lake Braddock. The 58, 180-pounder missed games two, three and four due to injury.

The Titans will square off with Patriot District rival South County on October 4 in a very important contest.

Coach Randolph commented on the keys to the match up, We need to show up. We need to be excited, give a good effort, move the ball [on offense] and play real good defense.

St. Stephens/St. Agnes 10
Randolph Macon Academy 6
Undefeated St. Stephens/St. Agnes logged their fourth win of the 08 season with a surprisingly narrow 10-6 victory versus an undermanned Randolph Macon Academy in a non-IAC contest.

The Red, White and Green Saints, coached by veteran Dave Holm (also the schools AD), took a 7-0 lead when senior Alex Edwards scored in the first quarter from five yards out.

The game remained 7-0 at intermission.

In the third quarter, RMA scored, but missed their ensuing PAT, which gave SSSA a narrow 7-6 lead.

In the same quarter, senior Chazzo Habliston booted a 35-yard field goal to account for his fourth point of the contest as well as the final margin of 10-6.
The Saints, 6-4 overall one season ago, have now won two thirds of their total number of victories in last years campaign.

Edison 36, Wakefield 6
Edison, also undefeated at 5-0 and ranked 17th in the entire area by the Washington Post, scored early and often in soundly defeating National District rival Wakefield by the score of 36-6.

On the evening, junior Angus Harper recorded two touchdowns; junior Christian Washington scored one TD and added a successful two-point conversion run; senior Stephon Robertson added one touchdown and senior Donnell Epps also cracked the end zone once.

Senior placekicker Mehdi Charfi was successful on four of four PATs.

Edison head coach Vaughn Lewis has now won 102 games in his outstanding high school coaching career. The Herndon H.S. alumnus is also the father of Stafford Indian head coach Chad Lewis.

Mount Vernon 12, Washington-Lee 10
The Mount Vernon Majors were tested by National District rivals Washington-Lee in a game played in North Arlington, but ultimately prevailed 12-10.

The Majors, coached by veteran Tom Glynn, played the Generals in a near-steady rain. With the victory, Mount Vernon improved to 3-2 overall in 08.

Mount Vernon senior QB Brian Green got the visitors on the board first with an electrifying 15-yard run. However, the conversion attempt was no good and Washington-Lee proceeded to lead 7-6 at the half.

In the second half, another fleet-footed touchdown run by Green was enough to propel the Majors to a hard-earned 12-10 victory.

Prior to Greens second score of the contest, Mount Vernon senior defender Kyle Ricks recovered a fumble that proved very significant, paving the way for the scoring sequence.

We played very good defense tonight, said a pleased head coach Glynn, who was drenched due to the rain.

West Potomac 17, Hayfield 7
The West Potomac Wolverines also extended their perfect 08 mark to 5-0 with a hard-fought 17-7 win versus Patriot District rival Hayfield. The Hawks, coached by Billy Pugh, now weigh in at 1-4 on the current season.

Hayfield scored first and led 7-0 at halftime.

The Wolverines, playing at home, responded with a third-quarter touchdown as well as a fourth-quarter touchdown. They added a late 20-yard field goal to prevail.

West Potomac, which won eight games last season under Hendersons leadership, is looking to equal or exceed last years mark in the current season.

Ireton 15, Flint Hill 35
Not faring so well this past weekend, Independent Ireton hit the road and was simply outplayed by the Flint Hill Huskies, dropping a 35-15 contest.

The Cardinals, coached by Tony Verducci in his second season, merely trailed 10-7 heading into the second quarter.

The Huskies, however, scored the games next 25 consecutive points, spanning the second, third and fourth quarters, to prevail. A late Ireton TD pass and two-point conversion made the score more respectable.

OConnell transfer Doug Howard,  who now plays for the powerhouse Huskies, added two TD grabs and two interceptions, which made Iretons bus ride back to Alexandria even more painful.

After an impressive win on the road versus Archbishop Carroll to open the season, the Cardinals now weigh in at 1-4 overall, a disappointment after finishing the 07 se
ason with an excellent 9-3 record – one of the best in school history.

Were playing hard, but unfortunately at times were not always playing well, said up-beat head coach Verducci, husband of Ireton swim/dive coach Peggy Verducci.

Verducci played at the Naval Academy several decades ago and USNA defeated nationally ranked Wake Forest moments after the Ireton bus pulled into Cambridge Road on September 27.

Episcopal 0, Collegiate 21
Episcopal, which soundly defeated Flint Hill and Potomac School to commence the season, dropped a startling 21-0 decision to Richmond-area private school powerhouse Collegiate.

The Maroon now weigh in at 2-1 on the season, having started their season 14 days after the public schools by virtue of the fact that they are a boarding school.
The Maroon, coached by veteran Mark Gowin, who is also the school’s AD, will attempt to rebound this upcoming weekend.

Thomas Jefferson 15, Madison 42
In a Liberty District matchup, Madison (Vienna) defeated West-Alexandria Thomas Jefferson  42-15.

The Colonials, coached by veteran Tim Puvogel, have now dropped four straight after an exciting season opening 28-27 win versus Falls Church in overtime.

Jefferson senior QB Ben Daly accounted for one of the Colonials TDs via his feet and the other TD via his arm.

Jefferson, which logged only one win in 07, is capable of getting its second win this season when they square off versus National District member Wakefield this upcoming weekend.