Boys Basketball: Potomac Falls Quest for Third Straight State Title Runs Out of Gas Against Christiansburg

(March 7, 2012) - The Potomac Falls High School boys basketball team surprise run for a third straight VHSL Division 4 state title appeared to be on track in Tuesday's semifinals as the Panthers led Christiansburg, 39-32, late in the third quarter. The Blue Demons, however, went on a 19-0, and became the first team in three years to beat Potomac Falls at VCU's Siegel Center with a 66-52 victory.

Christiansburg (27-2) had been dominated by Potomac Falls (21-9) in last year's semifinals by a senior-laden Panther squad but the tables were turned Tuesday as the Blue Demons returned most of their starters from 2011 including Virginia Tech football recruit Brenden Motley, who was 0 for 11 from the field a year ago, but Tuesday the senior cored a game-high 20 points with seven rebounds and played tough defense on Panther 6-foot-7 senior star Greg Graves.

The only starter back from last year, Graves scored just one field goal in the first half and finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds and five block shots. The double-double for Graves ended a brilliant 4-year career that saw him become one of the only players in state history to score 1,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds.

Photo Gallery: Football - VHSL D4 State Title Game - Briar Woods vs. Christiansburg

(Jan. 14, 2012) - Photographer Steven Holland was at Briar Woods High School's VHSL Division 4 state title win in December over Christiansburg and has put up nearly 500 photos! View the full gallery here!

Football: Back-to-Back State Titles for Briar Woods as Falcons Win 28-26 Thriller over Christiansburg

By Dan Sousa

VivaLoudoun Editor

Lynchburg (Dec. 10, 2011) - The Briar Woods High School senior class found their football legs at the end of their sophomore season when the Falcons missed the playoffs but stared clicking with three straight wins to end that year. Since then, Briar Woods has won 27 out of 30 contests including back-to-back Dulles District and Region II titles and now back-to-back VHSL Division 4 state titles after Saturday's exciting 28-26 win over Christiansburg at Liberty University's Williams Stadium.

Stanford-bound DB/WR Alex Carter and JMU-bound lineman Justin Baker and the other 13 seniors finished their high school careers with wins as Briar Woods (14-1) held on to a furious Christiansburg (13-2) comeback in the final minutes led by Virginia Tech-bound QB/DB Brendon Motley.

Football Box: VHSL D4 Title Game - Briar Woods 28, Christiansburg 26

VHSL Division 4 State Title Football Game

Williams Stadium, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA

Briar Woods 28, Christiansburg 26

CB  6  7   0  13 - 26

BW 7  7 14   0 - 28

1: CB - Snell 74 run (kick failed) 5:51 (drive 3 plays, 80 yds, 1:27)

1: BW - Carter 16 pass from McSorley (Clements kick) 0:05 (8 pl, 77 yd, 3:20)

2: BW - Logan 2 pass from McSorley (Clements kick) 0:08 (10, 65, 2:30)

2: CB - Thompson 69 pass from Motley (Hamley kick) 0:00 (2, 69, 0:06)

3: BW - Colder 34 run (Clements kick) 9:15 (6, 74, 2:30)

3: BW - Logan 1 run (Clements kick) 3:48 (9, 45, 3:40)

4: CB - Snell 4 run (Hamley kick) 3:42 (16, 77, 5:31)

4 CB - Augustin 11 run (pass failed) 2:04 (2, 17, 0:43)

First Downs: BW 21, CB 14
Rush-Yards: BW 38-256, CB 37-196

Passing Yards: BW 123, CB 132

Passes Att-Comp-Int: BW 20-10-1, CB 20-9-0

Total offense: BW 58-379, CB 57-328

Punt Returns: BW 4-18, CB 0-0

Int. Returns: BW 0-0, CB 1-35

Fumbles-Lost: BW 2-1, CB 1-0

Penalties: BW 5-21, CB 1-17

Possession: BW 22:52, CB 25:08

3rd Downs: BW 5-10, CB 5-13

4th Down: BW 1-1, CB 1-2

Red Zone: BW 3-4, CB 2-2

Rushing Leaders
BW: Colder 27-186, Cashman 2-30, Carter 4-22, McSorley 1-12, Logan 3-7, Brown 1-4.

CB: Snell 11-93, Motley 14-35, Green-Gause 3-29, Johnson 6-23. Augustin 3-16.

Passing
BW: McSorley 10-20-1 123.

CB: Motley 9-20-0 132.

Receiving Leaders
BW: Gadsden 3-32, Carter 2-39, Ramos 2-29, Serigne 2-22, Logan 1-2.

CB: Thompson 2-85, Green-Gause 2-19 Augustin 2-8, Davis 1-13.

Tackles Leaders
BW: Rolin 6-1 7, Barta 5-1 6, Baker 4-1 5, Owens 3-2 5 (sack).

CB: Motley 8-5 13, Scott 4-3 7, Gamand 5-1 6, Green-Gause 3-3 6.

Football: Live! Blog From VHSL D4 State Title Game: Briar Woods vs. Christiansburg - Coverage Starts at 4 p.m.

This is the spot for our Live! Blog today from the VHSL Division 4 state title football game between Briar Woods High School and Christiansburg at Liberty University's Williams Stadium. Check back as our coverage by VivaLoudoun editor Dan Sousa (high school career as a fullback - one TD!) kicks off his coverage at 4 p.m. from a warm pressbox (sorry Falcon fans!) ...

Live! Blogging! VHSL Basketball Division 4 State Finals

We are Live! from the Siegel Center as the Loudoun County girls and Potomac Falls boys attempt to bring back two basketball state titles to Loudoun. VivaLoudoun editor Dan "set shot" Sousa is now online from courtside of the 7 p.m. contest.

Photo Gallery: Boys Basketball - VHSL D4 State Semifinals by Gary Sousa - Potomac Falls vs. Christiansburg

(Mar. 10, 2011) - It's a Bird. It's a Plane. It's ... Gary Sousa ... Superhero Photographer!

Yes that was Gary Sousa way up high in the catwalk at VCU Wednesday taking photos of the Potomac Falls boys win over Christiansburg in the VHSL Division 4 state semifinals. No word on if Spiderman the Musical is considering hiring Sousa to shoot it retooled Broadway opening ... but they could be so lucky!

As always, click on any photo to view the full gallery and if you purchase any shots ... it will make the VivaLoudoun Fox smile!

Photo Gallery: Boys Basketball - VHSL D4 State Semifinals by Jeff Scudder - Potomac Falls vs. Christiansburg

(Mar. 10, 2011) - Jeff "Shoot 'Em Up" Scudder was on hand as the Potomac Falls High School boys basketball team rolled to its 29th win on the season Wednesday and advanced to the VHSL D4 state finals for the second straight year. Click on any photo to enjoy the full gallery.

Boys Basketball: Potomac Falls 59, Christiansburg 44 - Full Box