Boys Soccer: Tuscarora Nets First State Tournament Victory

Radford Bound! (photos by Carl Lukat/Loudoun Times-Mirror)

By Carl Lukat, Loudoun Times-Mirror Sports Editor
Special to Viva Loudoun


Leesburg (June 6, 2012) - Just three days after claiming their first-ever region championship, the Tuscarora High School's boys soccer team conquered another of its lofty goals June 5. Junior Angel Ceron-Garcia netted a pair of early goals and freshman Sergio Resendiz tacked on two insurance goals as the host Huskies thumped Region I runner-up Tabb, 4-0, in the Virginia AA state quarterfinals.

The state tournament victory was the first for any athletic program at Tuscarora, a second-year school in Leesburg. The Huskies - who lost in the 2011 state quarterfinals on the road - improved to 20-2-2 in their second season, including a 7-0 mark in postseason play.

"It's a huge accomplishment for our school," Tuscarora coach Dave Gryder said before vocing his appreciation of the Huskies' boisterous home crowd. "With the crowd we had, it definitely brought the school together and definitely supported us."

Tuscarora will make its first trip to Radford University - the site of the state semifinals and final - just two wins shy of its ultimate goal. The Huskies will face state powerhouse Blacksburg (21-1) in the semifinals June 8 at 2 p.m.

Football: Heritage Earns Signature Win Against Tuscarora

Special to VivaLoudoun
By Carl Lukat
Times-Mirror Staff Writer

Leesburg (Nov. 10, 2011) - While Heritage High School's football program has enjoyed a revival this season, the Pride entered their regular season finale Nov. 4 at Leesburg rival Tuscarora with something to prove.

Heritage entered the game with a 6-3 record - doubling their combined win total from the previous two seasons - but none of those six victories have come against an opponent with a winning record.

"We have never been anything but honest with our kids," Pride coach Steve Williams said. "I basically told them in practice this week that when we play the good teams in the region, we have gotten our butts kicked ... We told our kids we are probably right now the top tier of the lower level group in the region and we want to make the jump. A win tonight helps us make that jump."

Heritage earned that elusive signature win Friday night. The Pride scored on their first offensive play of the game and rallied from a pair of second-half deficits to defeat the host Huskies 31-28.

Football: Heritage Wins Win One with Potomac Falls to Improve to 3-1 on Season, 2-0 in Dulles District

Special to VivaLoudoun
By Carl Lukat/Loudoun Times-Mirror Sports Editor

Leesburg (Sept. 18, 2011) - Potomac Falls High School and host Heritage treated spectators to one of the more entertaining games of the 2011 football season Sept. 16 in Leesburg. The teams combined for 70 points and more than 800 yards of offense. And the outcome was in question until the final minute of regulation as the lead changed hands six times.

When the dust finally settled, Heritage came away with a 39-31 victory to improve to 2-0 in the AA Dulles District and 3-1 overall this season. The Pride won a combined three games in the previous two seasons playing in the AAA Cedar Run District.

"It's been a tough last two years," said senior Austin Nelson, in his third season as the Pride's starting quarterback. "I wouldn't change anything. I've had fun with the guys. But it's awesome to do this in our senior year. Everyone is having fun, that's the main thing. That's how football should always be."

Football: Beat the LoCo Experts - Week One Picks Revealed!

(Aug. 27, 2010) - We call this contest the Beat the LoCo Experts because, frankly, we must be a little crazy to reveal our picks prior to the football games on Friday but that is what VivaLoudoun Editor Dan Sousa, Loudoun Times-Mirror Editor Carl Lukat, Clarke County Sports Editor Moe Murphy and local football guru Jason Rufner all are doing!

You can enter your picks for each game by emailing to dan.sousa@vivaloudoun.com. One fan who has the most right (ties will be broken by drawing names out of a large coffee mug) each week will win a VivaLoudoun t-shirt (assuming they ever get printed) and at the end of the season, the fan with the most correct will win $100 donated by the VivaLoudoun Fox.

We would love for some other experts to join us but haven't heard back from them yet (cough cough **WashPost** cough cough).

News: LoCo Elite 5 - Top 5 Rankings for Football and Volleyball

(Aug. 27, 2010) - The Loudoun Times-Mirror and VivaLoudoun.com are teaming up this fall to present the LoCo Elite 5 -- a top five rankings for football and volleyball among Loudoun's 12 public high schools.

Here is our preseason picks, with a word from VivaLoudoun editor Dan Sousa about each pick:

LoCo Elite 5 Foootball
1, Stone Bridge
If they filmed Friday Nights Lights in Loudoun, Stone Bridge would be Dillon High ... before East Dillon reopened
2, Broad Run
The Spartans seniors have never lost a regular season game since they entered the school!
3, Loudoun County
Todd Hill has the Raiders program turned around
4, Briar Woods
Charlie Pierce has had the Falcons competitive since the school went varsity in 2006
4, Loudoun Valley
The story everybody missed last year: Danny McGrath righting the Vikings ship
On the cusp: Dominion, Park View
Deandre! Deandre! Deandre! How much will Pats miss Andy Hill?

LoCo Elite 5 Volleyball
1, Loudoun County
Can the Raiders reload once again instead of rebuilding after three straight state titles
1, Stone Bridge
The Bulldogs field a starting line-up that could all end up playing college volleyball
3, Loudoun Valley
How competitive is this area ... Vikes defending AAA champs are third!
4, Heritage
Pride won't be under the radar long with talent on their team
5, Broad Run
New coach Betsy Scudder takes over Spartans program

Feedback: Fire away with your comments but keep it civil or else the VivaLoudoun Fox will pay your henhouse a visit ...

On the cusp: Too early to tell!


Visit APEX Gymnastics and thank them for supporting VivaLoudoun!

Baseball: Great Loudoun Lions Hunt Wins, Fun at Babe Ruth World Series

(Aug. 19, 2010) - Jason S. Rufner sat down with the Great Loudoun Lions, the host team for the Babe Ruth 14-Year-Old World Series which opens Saturday in Purcellville, and talked about expectations with staff and players in this article in the Loudoun Times-Mirror.

Bonus: Loudoun Times-Mirror took photos of all the players and turned them into playing cards ... follow this link to see the information for each player