Football: Falcons Fly Over Eagles in Bird Bowl

Bird Bowl History
2010
Briar Woods 35, Freedom 3
2009
Briar Woods 31, Freedom 0
2008
Briar Woods 61, Freedom 23
2007
Briar Woods 49, Freedom 14
2006
Briar Woods 7, Freedom 6
Freedom 38, Briar Woods 13
By Carl Lukat
Loudoun Times-Mirror Sports Editor

South Riding (Sept. 25, 2010) - The Briar Woods High School football team was dominant for a fourth straight year in the annual Bird Bowl against Freedom Friday night. The Falcons turned in another stout defensive effort and produced their highest-scoring output of the season Friday night to win easily 35-3.

Briar Woods owns a 5-1 advantage in the series between the Loudoun schools that opened in 2006. The Falcons have won each of the last four meetings by 30-plus points.

"This senior class has never lost to them," Briar Woods coach Charlie Pierce said. "That was important."

The Falcons totaled 339 yards of offense while holding the Eagles to 41 total yards in the penalty-filled game. Briar Woods (1-0 in the Dulles District, 3-2 overall) was whistled for 21 penalties for 210 yards. Freedom (0-1, 2-2) was penalized 12 times for 91 yards.


The Falcons were able to overcome their penalties with a balanced offense. Freshman QB Trace McSorley completed 15 of 20 passes for 179 and three touchdowns. McSorley connected with Cam Serigne, DeVontae O'Bannion and Scott Rolin for scores. Briar Woods rushed for 160 yards, led by sophomore JT Logan's 111 yards on just five carries.

Defensively, the Falcons racked up six sacks and totally shut down the Eagles' running game. Freedom's lone score surfaced late in the first half when senior Zack Shuster drilled a 47-yard field goal.

Briar Woods has allowed 32 points through its first five games, a paltry 6.4 average per game.

"We have a very athletic group of defensive players that are relentless," Pierce said. "They don't want to give up anything. We talked all week about how they were going to set the tone."

The Falcons hit the midway point of the regular season with three victories, a big improvement over a 1-4 start in 2009 that kept them out of the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Briar Woods' two losses this year are by a combined four points.

"We are four points away from being undefeated," Pierce said. "I couldn't be happier with this group of guys."

Freedom will look to snap a two-game losing streak at Dominion (2-2) on Oct. 1, while Briar Woods hosts two-time defending Division 4 state champion Broad Run (5-0). Both games kickoff at 7 p.m.

"It's going to be a battle," Pierce said of the showdown with Broad Run. "We are going to be defensively ready to go. We are going to prepare as a coaching staff, and from first player to last player, we are going to be ready to play the game."

Notes: Briar Woods senior standout RB/LB Michael Brownlee remains sidelined after breaking his leg on his first carry of the season Aug. 27 against Millbrook. Pierce said Brownlee is likely at least two weeks away from returning, pending the results of an x-ray scheduled for next week. Senior lineman Kendall Woods will likely opt for surgery and miss the rest of the season after dislocating his shoulder three times. Junior WR/DB Ryan Bumbray saw limited action Friday for the first time since injuring his ankle in the opener against Millbrook.


Briar Woods 35, Freedom 3

First Quarter
BW: Carter 5 run (Clements kick) 5:07
BW: O'Bannion 10 pass from McSorley (Clements kick) 1:49

Second Quarter
F: Shuster 47 field goal, 0:17

Third Quarter
BW: Logan 79 run (Clements kick) 8:51
BW: S. Rolin 21 pass from McSorley (Clements kick) 5:23

Fourth Quarter
BW: Serigne 1 pass from McSorley (Clements kick) 2:48


Individual Leaders

Rushing: BW-Logan (5 for 111 yards, TD), Carter (11 for 43 yards, TD); F-M. Gilmore (2 for 9 yards)

Passing: BW-McSorley (15 of 20 for 179 yards, 3 TD); F-Malacane (11 of 30 for 87 yards, Int.)

Receiving: BW-Serigne (5 for 33 yards, TD), Carter (4 for 61 yards), Hill (3 for 46 yards); F-Shuster (6 for 43 yards), Burns (2 for 32 yards)

Carl Lukat (Dean of Loudoun sports media) is the sports editor of the Loudoun Times-Mirror and proud dog owner. Read more of his stuff at www.loudountimes.com.