Six of the nine area high school football teams won for the second time this season, tying the 08 season high. In the eight weeks in which all nine teams have been in action, six have won on two occasions, five have won on three occasions, four have won on two occasions and three have won on just one occasion.
Specifically, West Potomac improved to 6-4 with a 34-22 win over T.C. Williams; Episcopal improved to 6-2 via a 31-0 shellacking of Bullis; Ireton improved to 4-6 with a 34-0 thumping of Sidwell Friends; Edison improved to 10-0 via a 20-17 win against Chantilly; Mount Vernon improved to 8-2 with a 31-20 win versus Wakefield and Jefferson improved to 4-6 via a 16-7 win over South Lakes. Not faring as well were St. Stephens/St. Agnes, who dropped a 43-28 contest to St. Albans and Hayfield, dropping a 43-14 contest to Lake Braddock.
West Potomac 34
T.C. Williams 22
In the most anticipated game of the week, West Potomac hosted the T.C. Titans on Seniors Night in south Alexandria.
The Wolverines, coached by veteran Eric Henderson, took a 7-0 lead and never looked back the remainder of the night.
On their opening possession of the game, West Potomac took their initial lead when senior QB Cole Walter connected with senior wide receiver Kristian Rodriguez on a 15-yard scoring strike.
Rodriguez commented, I ran up close to the slot and ran a post route. I caught Coles pass going from left to right. On the season, Rodriguez has caught 15 of Walters 31 TD passes.
Blocking on the play for Walter and the West Potomac offense were center Matt Campbell, guards Dan Carriker and Silas Agyemang and tackles Matt Cunningham and Sammy Ahmady.
On West Potomacs third offensive series of the contest, Walter was picked off deep on the right side by T.C. junior defensive back Cortez Taylor.
The 140-pound Taylor returned the interception 61 yards for T.C.s initial TD of the contest. The ensuing PAT snap was high and consequently T.C. senior holder James Collier was tackled before the kick could take place.
But West Potomac clung to a 7-6 lead and would increase it dramatically throughout the remainder of the game.
Spanning the second quarter, Walter threw for three more scoring passes: a 28-yarder to junior Will Rosenkranz, a 55-yarder to Rodriguez and an eight-yard strike to junior Shawn Lee.
Following the score to Lee, the Wolverines led 27-6.
A T.C. score as the second quarter wound down narrowed the Red, White and Blue Titans deficit to 27-14. On the T.C. scoring sequence, Titan senior QB Zach Goehler connected with sophomore Will Rossi on a 27-yard scoring strike. On the ensuing two-point conversion, James Collier scooted the three yards and punched it in at the right pylon.
In the second half, the Titans, coached by veteran Dennis Randolph, outscored West Potomac 8-7 to account for the final margin of 34-22.
Two-year starting QB Walter (57 TD passes spanning the past two seasons) commented after the game, We were more consistent tonight. We got our consistency on offense back last week versus Annandale [despite losing to the Atoms]. We got our running game going tonight as well and we brought some intensity to this contest given that it was Seniors Night.
Rodriguez, who also plays defensive back for the Wolverines, recorded an amazing three interceptions in the contest. On the season, Rodriguez has four picks, one fumble recovery and one punt return for a touchdown in addition to his 15 scores via the right arm of Walter.
Rodriguez also summed up his thoughts on the just concluded season, saying, This whole year we all felt like we were part of something big. We were like family this season. We worked hard for ourselves and we worked hard for the coaches.
Walter, Rodriguez and a number of other West Potomac seniors are weighing their college options and have not made final decisions regarding next season.
The Wolverines narrowly missed out on the playoffs this season.
West Potomac finished 6-4 overall with their victory versus the Titans (3-7 overall). The sixth, seventh and eighth Division 6 playoff slots were taken by: Annandale (seven wins), Herndon (six wins) and South County (six wins) respectively. With one more win on the season, West Potomac would have successfully punched their ticket to the playoffs but it was not to be.
Episcopal 31, Bullis 0
Episcopal defeated IAC foe Bullis 31-0 on the road Nov. 1 in convincing fashion.
The Maroon, coached by veteran Mark Gowin, generated all of their points throughout the first half, scoring 10 in the first quarter and 21 in a high-octane second quarter.
Senior running back Evan King scored three TDs with runs of 60, three and 10-yards; junior wide receiver Hunter de Butts snagged a 43-yard TD pass from senior QB Alex Helm and senior placekicker Sam Dashiell booted a 37-yard field goal and also added four of four PATs.
Bishop Ireton 34
Sidwell Friends 0
Ireton defeated Sidwell Friends (D.C.) 34-0 Nov. 1, also on the road in convincing fashion.
The Cardinals, coached by Tony Verducci in his second season, put 21 first half points on the board, scoring eight in the first quarter and 13 in the second quarter. Thirteen more were added in the third quarter.
Senior John Attiliis scored two TDs with four and two-yard runs; senior Ryan Espinosa scored via a 41-yard run and also recorded a safety from his linebacker position; junior Mark Holmes snagged a 54-yard TD pass from junior QB Oliver Noon and junior Mike Larrabee ripped off a 19-yard scoring run.
Edison 20, Chantilly 17
Powerhouse Edison knocked off Concorde District heavyweight Chantilly 20-17 Oct. 31 on the road.
The Eagles, coached by veteran Vaughn Lewis, trailed 10-7 at halftime and also trailed the Chargers 17-13 as the third quarter concluded.
Edison, ranked #11 in the latest Washington Post Poll, generated the lone score of the fourth quarter to prevail, a 12-yard scoring pass from junior QB Levi Barber to senior Corey Washington. Previous Edison scores were generated from junior Angus Harper, who had a two-yard run, and senior Stephon Robertson with a 35-yard run. In addition, senior placekicker Mehdi Charfi was successful on two of three PAT kicks.
Chantilly, the 06 Virginia Division 6 State runners-up, is coached by former Ireton head coach Mike Lalli.
Mount Vernon 31, Wakefield 20
Mount Vernon defeated National District rival Wakefield 31-20 on the road in South Arlington Oct. 31.
The Majors, coached by veteran Tom Glynn, led 15-7 at halftime and also led 23-7 at the end of the third quarter en route to the 11-point victory.
The Majors were paced offensively by senior QB Brian Green, who had scoring runs of 16 and 77 yards; senior Brandon OClisham, who caught a 51-yard scoring pass from Green; and senior Kyle Ricks, who added a two-yard scoring run. The Majors booted one PAT successfully and were successful on their two-point conversions no less than three times, which accounted for the 31 points.
Jefferson 16, South Lakes 7
Jefferson defeated Liberty District rival South Lakes 16-7 Oct. 31 on the road in Reston.
The Colonials, coached by veteran Tim Puvogel, led 6-0 after the conclusion of the first quarter and also led 13-7 at the half.
A fourth-quarter field goal by the Red, White and Blue Colonials were the lone points of the second half.
Generating points for Jefferson: wide receiver Dan Barnes with a six-yard pass from QB Ben Daly; Daly with a five-yard run and Evan Burch, who was successful on a 24-yard field goal.
St. Stephens/St. Agnes 28
St. Albans 43
St. Stephens/St. Agnes dropped to 5-4 overall on the season via a 43-28 loss to IAC rival St. Albans. The league contest was played November 1 in Alexandria.
In the high-octane first half, St. Albans jumped out to a 14-7 lead after the conclus
ion of the first quarter as well as a 30-14 lead at halftime.
The visiting Bulldogs put 13 points on the board in the third quarter, while the home team Saints, coached by veteran Dave Holm, put 14 points on the board in the fourth quarter.
Two Saints TDs were scored via the ground and two were scored in the air as junior QB Ryan Seher connected with senior Alex Edwards on a 24-yard scoring pass and with senior Robert Asmar for a 30-yard score. In addition, senior placekicker Chazzo Habliston was successful on four of four PAT kicks.
Hayfield 14, Lake Braddock 43
Hayfield dropped to 1-9 on the season, courtesy of a 43-14 loss to Patriot District rival Lake Braddock. The Hawks, coached by veteran Billy Pugh, have won one game this season – an early season victory over visiting Wakefield.
The Playoffs: Edison, Mount Vernon and Jefferson all qualified for the Division 5 playoffs; T.C. Williams and West Potomac did not qualify for the Division 6 playoffs and Hayfield did not qualify for the Division 5 playoffs.
