Football: Patriots Pound Warriors in Region II D3 Semifinal

By Andy States
Special to VivaLoudoun via the Times-Mirror

Sterling (Nov. 22, 2009) - Park View football coach Andy Hill’s fantasy football team goes by the moniker of ‘Never Punt.’ That should not come as any surprise to anyone witness to the Patriots’ 35-0 shutout of the visiting Western Albemarle Warriors in the Region II Division 3 semifinals Friday.

The Patriots’ offense reeled off upwards of 400 yards, scored three touchdowns of 63 yards or longer, and even converted a fake punt on a fourth-and-seven play from their own four-yard line – and that was all just in the first half.


“We knew we had to get up on them fast,” Park View senior lineman Robert Hayes said. “We had to get their hopes down, because they looked like a front-running team. They’re a good executing team. Their offense is unstoppable. We pulled it out.”

Tommy Sedeski triggered the explosive opening half for Park View (8-3), rushing 63 yards on the second play from scrimmage for the Patriots’ initial touchdown.

“As soon as he called that play and we were walking to the line of scrimmage I was like, ‘I’m going to house this,’” Sedeski said. “That’s just the way we have to think. If we play with confidence we’re going to play better.”

Later in the first quarter, Eric Palma barreled in from a yard out to cap a 55-yard touchdown drive and extend the lead to 14-0.

Western Albemarle (10-2) responded by driving down to the Park View 24-yard line, but a Hayes sack on fourth down kept the momentum on the Patriots’ side. One play later, quarterback Brandon Lee connected with JR Shooks on a 67-yard touchdown pass, the first of Lee’s three scoring passes on the night.

“We knew teams would come after the run in the playoffs because that’s what we did all season,” Lee said. “We really worked on our passing game and it came through.”

Lee hooked up with Nathan Santana on a 71-yard score in the second quarter, and capped the night’s scoring with a six-yard pass to Jonathan Wooten with just over two minutes remaining in the first half.

From that point it was on the defense to preserve the shutout. While the visitors were able to move the ball with greater efficiency in the second half, the Patriots kept the Warriors out of the end zone. Park View intercepted four passes – including two in the end zone and three in the red zone – to seal its third consecutive shutout. The Patriots have not surrendered a point since a 24-10 loss to Briar Woods on Oct. 23.

“Our defense is really becoming the heart of our team,” Hill said. “I don’t know that we’re a shutout-type defense every week, but basically the balls put in the end zone, we got them this week.

“Keeping that shutout was real big for us. I told our kids, ‘They’re going to score a couple touchdowns.’ I’ll take the shutout, but I was more happy about how resilient the kids were.”

The Patriots will get the opportunity to continue the streak at Handley in the regional final – an opportunity the team will savor. The Judges (11-0) defeated Goochland 30-20 in their semifinal game. The region title game will be contested Nov. 27 or Nov. 28 in Winchester.

“I’m so excited. Me being a senior and everything, I’ve never done anything like this,” Hayes said. “This is my first playoff game in anything. And to do it with this group of people is a memory for life.”

Added Sedeski: “It’s unbelievable practicing on Thanksgiving. That’s one of the best feelings in the world. Not many teams get a chance to do that.”


Park View 35, Western Albemarle 0

First quarter
PV: Sedeski 63 run (Flamenco kick) 11:38
PV: Palma 1 run (Flamenco kick) 2:52
PV: Shooks 67 pass from Lee (Flamenco kick) 0:54

Second quarter
PV: Santana 71 pass from Lee (Flamenco kick) 6:07
PV: Wooten 6 pass from Lee (Flamenco kick) 2:01

Individual leaders

Rushing: WA–Losco (3 for 27 yards), Davis (2 for 27 yards); PV–Lee (11 for 84 yards), Sedeski (5 for 68 yards), Beale (15 for 66 yards)

Passing: WA–Schuler (10 of 31 for 111 yards); PV–Lee (7 of 11 for 173 yards, 3 TD)

Receiving: WA–Ward (3 for 26 yards), Drapanas (2 for 46 yards), Losco (2 for 18 yards); PV–Shooks (3 for 81 yards, TD), Santana (1 for 71 yards, TD), Lee (1 for 23 yards)

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