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VivaLoudoun Editor
Leesburg (Sept. 10, 2011) - The Loudoun County High School football, disappointed at not making the playoffs in 2010, started with a new attitude last November and the nine months of hard work has paid off in a 2-0 start as the Raiders ran past Loudoun Valley Friday, 32-19, in a Dulles District opener moved to Tuscarora High School's turf field because of wet conditions at County.
The game was played before a large crowd, especially on the Raiders side as they filled the home stands to watch the renewal of Loudoun's oldest rivalry between the area's two oldest high schools with Loudoun County opening in 1954 and Loudoun Valley in 1962. The two teams hadn't played since 2006 when then AAA Valley, with a larger student enrollment, crushed AA County, 42-0. The opening of Woodgrove High School in Purcellville last year as reduced Valley's enrollment to numbers below County and allowed the Vikes to return to the AA Dulles District.
"This started back in November last year and it has been nine months of hard work in the weight room and speed training. We told them you either have to buy into this or not buy into it but we need 100 percent from you," said Loudoun County coach Todd Hill. "They have put so much time into it and this team has an attitude that I have not since since I have been here."
On Friday the Raiders (1-0 in district, 2-0 overall) had six rushers combine for 240 yards and four of them found the end zone including senior tailbacks Brock Badman (12-112) and Antonio Rutherford (20-95), junior fullback Deron Davis and junior quarterback Jake Lokey. And County did all of the running behind a strong line surge.
"Last year we knew we weren't ready for the season, strength-wise," said senior captain Ben Messina. "We worked out butts off in the offseason."
The Vikings (0-1, 1-2) countered with a huge performance by senior Donald Devine who sprinted for 221 yards on 23 carries and had runs of 65 and 68 yards, the latter at TD run on the first play of the second half.
County's defense came up big with a big interception and a block punt in the win. For the second straight week, Valley fell quickly behind in the contest as the Raiders took the opening kickoff and marched 74 yards on 14 plays for a score. County was 4-for-4 on third down on the drive with Davis scoring from 10 yards on 3rd-and-short with 5:35 left in the first quarter.
Valley missed a big opportunity on its first offensive possession as Boston College recruit Harrison Jackson was able to get behind the Raider secondary on 3rd-and-4 but a a ball for him was underthrown. On the next snap, Messina raced in and blocked a punt attempt to give County the ball at the Vikes 39.
It took just one play to make it 13-0 as Rutherford got around the left edge and swiftly found the end zone.
After the kickoff the Vikes had a wild possession that included an interception by County junior Michael Anderson nullified by a pass interference call and then a bustout 65-yard run by Devine, who was dragged down inside the 5 by senior Zack Green's touchdown-saving tackle. On 3rd-and-goal, Jackson showed why he has the ACC scholarship offer as he made a beautiful catch in the corner of the end zone but was ruled out of bounds even though he appeared to drag a toe in before touching the pylon.
The Raider defense then stuffed a run on fourth down to hold.
Anderson did get an interception in the second quarter and two plays later junior Brad Szoka made a nice 1-handed grab on a crossing pattern near the Viking sideline, eluded two tacklers and took the ball 82 yards to make it 20-0 County. Lokey finished the night 5 of 9 for 142 yards passing.
That deficit was too much for Valley to overcome even though their play improved with nice TD catches by Jackson from Neil Frazier on a 32-yard jump ball pass in the second quarter and a 23-yard score by Wesley Robinson on a throw by Danny White in the fourth quarter.
"We've had a habit of (falling behind)," said Loudoun Valley coach Danny McGrath. "I thought we were resilient in fighting back."
Messina had the biggest play of the second half as he took a short swing pass on 2nd-and-18 from the Raider 32 and scampered 43 yards to set up the next County score. That play came after Devine's long run had put Valley within a score at 20-13 with just about the entire second half to play. Messina also had a big fourth down sack at the end of the third quarter, with the Raiders leading 32-13, to stop a Viking drive at the County 29.
County has a tough non-district game next at Sherando while Valley hosts Tuscarora in Dulles District play.
"As seniors this is our most important season. This is our last shot at doing something great," said Badman.
Loudoun Valley 0 7 6 6 - 19
Loudoun County 13 7 12 0 - 32
1: LC Davis 10 run (Garcia kick) 5:35
1: LC Rutherford 39 run (kick failed) 4:00
2: LC Szoka 82 pass from Lokey (Garcia kick) 9:03
2: LV Jackson 32 pass from Frazier (Locklear kick) 1:06
3: LV Devine 68 run (run failed) 11:41
3: LC Lokey 1 run (kick failed) 7:03
3: LC Badman 19 run (pass pailed) 5:28
4: LV Robinson 23 pass from White (pass failed) 10:34
Rushing
LV: Devine: 23-221, Grayson 5-9, White 3-2, Frazier 5-(-32), Team 1-(-7).
LC: Badman 12-112, Rutherford 20-95, Davis 5-17, Szoka 2-11, Messina 1-2, Lokey 2-(-7).
Passing
LV: Frazier 7-13-0, 109 yards; White 4-10-1, 47 yards
LC: Lokey 5-10-0, 142 yards
Receiving
LV: Robinson 6-70, Harrison 4-69, Cypher 1-17.
LC: Szoka 2-87, Messina 1-43, Rutherford 1-8, Phillips 1-4.
If you look at the highlight film of the game on Valley's first throw in the endzone Jackson's toe was in bounds like you said in the above article. My question is why didn't the refs get together and discuss what they thought they saw on the play. I would like for the refs to get a call right instead of guessing going forward. Better yet let us have the commmissioner of refs look at the play and make a comment. Use this play as a learning tool so that we don't make these mistakes come playoff time.
ReplyDeleteThe same could be said from the touchdown he caught where he clearly pushed off in the end zone. Maybe they should have reviewed that one also?
ReplyDeleteRefs are an element of the game. You have to take the bad calls with the good ones. I was at that game and yes i thought he was in as well. The raiders were also called for pass interference that nullified a pick, look at the film and you will see that both heads were turned to the ball and their feet were tangled up that is not interfrence. The reciever for Valley also pushed off for the td catch, they didnt call that either. Both teams had bad calls that could have changed the game considerably.
ReplyDeleteBad mouthing refs and saying they lost you the game is poor sportsmanship.