Football: Phoebus 15, Stone Bridge 10

Charlottesville (Dec. 12, 2009) - The Stone Bridge High School football team out-played Phoebus Saturday in the VHSL Division 5 state title game at UVa's Scott Stadium behind the record-breaking running of junior Marcus Harris and a stingy defense that didn't allow any scoring drives. The Bulldogs out-played the Phantoms in just about every aspect except for the most important aspect of all ... the final score as Phoebus turned an interception, 99-yard kickoff return and a safety into a 15-10 victory.

For Phoebus (15-0) it was a 30th straight win and a second straight state title and third in four years with the Phantoms last loss coming to Stone Bridge in the 2007 state semifinals.

For Stone Bridge (13-2) it was a frustrating end to a dream season as the Bulldogs controlled the clock (30:03 of possession to 17:57) and out-gained Phoebus, 221-87, behind Harris, who carried the ball a playoff record 47 times for 191 yards. Bulldog coach Mickey Thompson called it one of the toughest losses to take in his long career.

Phoebus turned three big plays into 15 points: Dontrell Jones returned an interception 65 yards while Stone Bridge appeared to be driving for a score on the first possession of the game to set up a 4-yard Colby Goodwyn score; the Phantoms sacked Stone Bridge quarterback Brain Rody in the end zone for a safety in the second quarter; and Goodwyn returned the second half kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown.

Stone Bridge responded to Goodwyn's big return with a 60-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 1-yard Harris run to cut the Phoebus lead to 15-10 midway through the third quarter. Stone Bridge could not put together another drive as the Phantoms defense held for the victory.

After Phoebus went up 9-0 in the second quarter and appeared to be heading for a bigger lead, Stone Bridge turned the game around on a Kyle Gouveia interception. That led to an Abdul Shaban 32-yard field goal to make it 9-3 at the half. Then Goodwyn raced almost untouched to start the third to make it 15-3.