Football Summary: Loudoun County 42, Heritage 14

By Dan Sousa
VivaLoudoun Editor
Leesburg (Nov. 12, 2011) - Senior running back Antonio Rutherford accounted for 207 total yards Friday and four touchdowns and junior quarterback Jake Lokey threw for 201 yards and three scores to lead Loudoun County High School to its first football playoff victory since 1996, a convincing 42-14 win over Leesburg neighbor Heritage.

Loudoun County (9-2) will play at Briar Woods (10-1) on Friday in the Region II Division 4 finals. The defending state champion Falcons beat the Raiders in the final week of the regular season, 35-7, but the game was tied, 7-7, at the half.


On Friday, Rutherford rushed for 183 yards on 26 carries and scored on runs of 50, 9 and 64 yards and caught a 30-yard touchdown pass. Lokey -- an efficient 11 of 14 passing behind some fine blocking -- also hooked up with junior Brad Szoka for scores of 23 and 55 yards as Szoka finished with 100 yards receiving on 5 catches.

The Raider defense put pressure on Heritage senior quarterback Austin Nelson (24 of 44 for 220 yards) all night as he didn't find much comfort in the pocket. County blocked a Pride punt to set up the game's first score and Raider senior Ben Messina recovered two fumbles in the contest including a key turnover late in the first half on the County 10 as Heritage appeared poised to cut the Raiders lead, 21-7 lead, to seven at the half.

Nelson found Nicholas Wright on a 25-yard touchdown pass in the first half for the Pride's only offensive TD. Senior Marcus Finney, who caught 10 balls for 96 yards, scored in the second half on an 89-yard kickoff return.

Loudoun County 42, Heritage 14
H 7 0 7 0 - 14
LC 14 7 14 7 - 42

LC 1 Szoka 23 pass from Lokey (Hilgartner kick) 8:01
LC 1 ARutherford 50 run (Hilgartner kick) 6:08
H 1 Wright 25 pass from Nelson (Pyszka kick) 3:01
LC 2 ARutherford 9 run (Hilgartner kick) 11:53
LC 3 ARutherford 64 run (Hilgartner kick) 5:57
H 3 Finney 89 kickoff return (Pyszka kick) 5:44
LC 3 ARutherford 30 pass from Lokey (Hilgartner kick) 1:52
LC 4: Szoka 55 pass from Lokey (Hilgartner kick) 4:10

Rushing
Heritage: Nelson 7-25, Leonard 2-(-4), Finney 1-(-7). Totals 10-14
Loudoun County: ARutherford 26-183, Smith 5-20, Davis 2-5, Messina 1-(-1), TEAM 1-(-1). Totals 7-185

Receiving
Heritage: Finney 10-96, Wright 4-71, Taylor 5-28, Gerling 3-25, Leonard 2-0).
Loudoun County: Szoka 5-110, Stinger 1-46, ARutherford 2-24, MRutherford 2-13, Green 1-8.