Football: Stone Bridge Holds Off South Lakes' Challenge

Photos courtesy of Carl Lukat/Loudoun Times-Mirror

By Carl Lukat
Loudoun Times-Mirror Sports Editor

Ashburn (Nov. 20, 2010) - The Stone Bridge High School football team has not been tested often this year. Following a season-opening 7-3 win at Westfield, the Bulldogs margin of victory in their next 10 games ranged from 18 to 56 points.

So when South Lakes trimmed Stone Bridge's lead to 21-15 early in the fourth quarter Nov. 19 in the Northern Region, Division 5 semifinals, the host Bulldogs found themselves facing a rare test with their season on the line.

"If you haven't been preparing for a battle and all of a sudden you are in one, it's hard to get yourself ready," Stone Bridge coach Mickey Thompson said.

The Bulldogs proved to be up to the task. Stone Bridge intercepted three passes and scored 15 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to pull away late for a 36-15 win over a spirited Seahawk squad.

"I had that feeling at one point that we were actually in trouble," Thompson said. "So any time you can rebound from that, it's something to build off of. We did respond in the second half. We did respond when we were in trouble. So those are the positives, but we have to play better certainly."


The key drive of the game surfaced on Stone Bridge's first possession of the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs drove the ball 86 yards on 10 plays, chewing up a little more than five minutes off the clock.

Following eight consecutive running plays, a holding penalty left the Bulldogs in a passing situation facing second down and 19 at their own 39-yard line.

Senior quarterback Brian Rody hit senior Marcus Harris for a 10-yard gain, then connected with junior Stan Johnson on a fade pattern along the Bulldog sideline. Johnson's 51-yard catch and run for a score, coupled with Harris' run for a two-point coversion, gave the Bulldogs a 29-15 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

"That was a huge play for us," Thompson said of Rody's touchdown pass to Johnson. "I really think one of the things I'll take away from this is realizing we have to give Brian a little more chance to make plays ... I think Brian is ready. He's put his two years in. I think he's ready to be one of our major playmakers."

After senior Spenser Rositano intercepted his second pass of the quarter, Stone Bridge drove 60 yards in just over two minutes to put the game away. Harris capped the drive with a 6-yard run, his third touchdown of the game.

Stone Bridge (12-0) advances to the Northern Region, Division 5 title game with the 36-15 victory. The Bulldogs will host Hayfield in the region final Nov. 26 at 1:30 p.m. Hayfield defeated Washington-Lee 28-7 in the semifinals.

"I think this is kind of a wake up call and we'll see what it leads to," Thompson said. "Either we are going to go down from here or we are going to go up. We'll find out next week."

South Lakes concludes the season at 8-4 under first-year coach Andy Hill, who spent the previous five seasons at Park View.

"We want to see a shift in power," Hill said, referring to Stone Bridge's dominance in the Liberty District. "Everybody says that in our district but until our kids put in eight months of work in our weight room like the Stone Bridge kids do, there won't be a shift. It is kind of good for our program to have that taste and have it taken away. The difference is if we want to be who they are, then we have to do what they do."

Stone Bridge 36, South Lakes 15

First Quarter
SB: Harris 3 run (Jamison kick) 3:27
SB: Gouveia 62 interception return (Jamison kick) 1:55

Second Quarter
SL: Price 72 pass from Jones (Amber-Blowe kick) 3:18
SB: Harris 1 run (Jamison kick) 0:35

Third Quarter
SL: Price 39 pass from Jones (run failed) 4:46

Fourth Quarter
SL: Safety, 11:44
SB: Johnson 51 pass from Rody (Harris run) 6:04
SB: Harris 6 run (Jamison kick) 0:51

Read more of Carl "handwarmer" Lukat's great sportswriting online and in print at the Loudoun Times-Mirror