Football: Sherando turns the tables on Loudoun County

By Carl Lukat
Loudoun Times-Mirror Sports Editor

Leesburg (Sept. 17, 2010) - When Loudoun County and Sherando squared off in Stephens City during week three of the 2009 football season, the Raiders came away with a clutch 13-10 victory after Calle Brown drilled a 42-yard field goal with a little more than a minute left in regulation.

Sherando returned the favor Sept. 16 in Leesburg, scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 2:38 left on its way to a 21-14 victory over the host Raiders.


After County took a 14-13 lead Thursday night with 7:42 remaining in regulation, Tre Porter returned the ensuing kickoff 54 yards to the Raiders' 35-yard line. Five plays later, Joseph Ojo scored his second rushing touchdown of the game from two yards out to give the Warriors the lead for good.

The Raiders moved the ball effectively on their last drive -- gaining 41 yards on five plays to set up a first down on the Warriors' 21. But a false start penalty and an incompletion were followed by Sherando's Brady Cook interception in the end zone to seal the victory.

"You are not going to beat a good team if you are not good in all three facets," County coach Todd Hill said. "We showed tonight that special teams really hurt us. You can't make those type of mistakes and beat a good football team like Sherando. We have to learn from this."

Sherando improved to 4-0 this season, while County slipped to 2-1. Ojo paced the Warriors with 238 rushing yards on 31 carries, including his two touchdowns.

Raiders junior QB Marcus Crews completed 19 of 34 passing attempts for 149 yards. Crews connected with seniors Garrett Kranias and Worth Mays on touchdown passes.

The schedule does not get any easier for County as they travel to Bealeton Sept. 24 to face a strong Liberty squad.

"I don't want to just compete with these kids, I expect to win," Hill responded when asked if he's pleased with how the Raiders -- who return just three starters from last year's 8-3 team -- competed against a quality Sherando squad. "We have to get back to work and get ready for Liberty."


Sherando 21, Loudoun County 14

First Quarter
S: Ojo 80 run (Haines kick), 7:29
LC: Kranias 23 pass from Crews (Cruz kick), 4:18

Fourth Quarter
S: D. Porter 24 pass from Brisco (run failed), 11:07
LC: Mays 10 pass from Crews (Cruz kick), 4:45
S: Ojo 2 run (Brisco run), 2:38


Individual Leaders

Passing: LC-Crews (19 of 34 for 149 yards, 2 TD, Int.); S-Brisco (3 of 6 for 46 yards, TD), Tunison (4 of 9 for 41 yards)

Rushing: LC-Green (8 for 26 yards), Messina (6 for 24 yards), Crews (11 for 17 yards); S-Ojo (31 for 238 yards, 2 TD)

Receiving: LC-Kranias (8 for 58 yards, TD), Szoka (5 for 35 yards), Mays (4 for 39 yards, TD); S-D. Porter (3 for 62 yards, TD)

Carl Lukat is the Dean of sportswriters in Loudoun ... follow all his coverage at www.loudountimes.com!