Football: Tuesday, er Thursday, Afternoon Quarterback - Week 4

(Sept. 22, 2011) - It may only be September but this week's prep football schedule in Loudoun has a November-like feel to it as old and new rivalries highlight a week of highly competitive match-ups.

You have your #BattleOfTheBurn with Stone Bridge (2-1) hosting Broad Run (4-0) in game that pits two of the top programs in Loudoun and the state in recent years against each other. The schools are just 2.3 miles apart and programs are built upon players who were teammates with each other in the Ashburn Youth Football League. The game is non-district but the bragging rights will last for years!

And you have your #BattleOfTheBurg with 2nd-year Leesburg school Tuscarora (1-0, 3-0) hosting Loudoun County (1-0, 3-0). Some of the Huskies started their football careers at County before Tuscarora opened and the game has huge Dulles District implications.

The Schedule also feature some other interesting toss-ups: Heritage (2-0, 3-1), already having won as many games this year as the past two years combined, takes a 3-game winning streak to Park View (1-1, 1-3), a team that exploded for 49 points on Friday in a win at home over Woodgrove. Dominion (0-2, 0-3) will travel to Woodgrove (0-2, 2-2) in a game with two teams looking for first Dulles District win. Briar Woods (2-0, 2-1) rolls into Potomac Falls (1-1, 1-3) after two big district wins.

Finally, Freedom (0-4) looks to end its winless start while hosting Wakefield (0-3) .

Fri. Sept. 23 Schedule
Dulles District
Briar Woods at Potomac Falls
Dominion at Woodgrove
Heritage at Park View
Loudoun County at Tuscarora

Liberty District
Fairfax at South Lakes
Langley at Marshall
Madison at McLean

Non-District - Cedar Run and Liberty teams
Broad Run at Stone Bridge
Wakefield at Freedom
Stuart at TJ
Battlefield at Patrick Henry
Osbourn Park at Osbourn
Stonewall Jackson at Brentsville

Other Region II Contests
Fauquier at Millbrook
Fluvanna at Kettle Run
Charlottesville at Liberty
Moorefield WV at Warren County
Louisa at Monticello
Powhatan at Greensville
Spotswood at Western Albemarle
Sherando at Jefferson WV
James Wood at Skyline

Other Northern Region Contests
Herndon at Centreville
Chantilly at West Springfield
Oakton at Annandale
Westfield at Robinson
Falls Church at Edison
Hayfield at Yorktown
Washington-Lee at Mount Vernon
West Potomac at Lake Braddock
Woodson at Lee
T.C.Williams at South County

Other Northwest Region Contests
Forest Park at Hylton
Potomac at Freedom-Prince William
Gar-Field at Woodbridge
Orange at Albemarle
Stafford at Colonial Forge
Mountain View at Massaponax
Riverbend at North Stafford
William Fleming at R.J. Reynolds NC
Bassett at Franklin County
Martinsville at Halifax County
Lake Taylor at GW-Danville

Fri. Sept. 16 Results
Dulles District
Briar Woods 48, Dominion 0
The Skinny: Angry Birds alert! Briar Woods has been on fire since season-opening loss to Broad Run. Read the story here.

Heritage 39, Potomac Falls 31
The Skinny: Pride win shootout in one of the most entertaining games this year. Read the story here.

Tuscarora 28, Loudoun Valley 14
The Skinny: Huskies win first ever Dulles District game! Valley now 0-2 in Dulles since return to district. Read the story here.

Park View 49, Woodgrove 18
The Skinny: Big play Pats storm back for first win on season. Read the story here.

Liberty District
Stone Bridge 50, South Lakes 14
The Skinny: Only Stone Bridge could have people concerned about their offense ... while scoring 50! Read the story here.

Non-District
Broad Run 29, Forest Park 14
The Skinny: After 14 straight quarters the Broad Run defense finally gave up some points ... they were afraid of being marked down as not "sharing well with others" on their report cards. Read the story here.

Loudoun County 28, Sherando 0
The Skinny: Wow! The Raiders are for Real with a capital R. Good news for Sherando -- they saved a ton of money on fireworks ... Read the story here.

Hylton 60, Freedom 6
The Skinny: OK Eagle fans ... forget last week and Hylton ... THIS is your week! Good luck against Wakefield ... we are betting you chalk up the W!

Football: Tuesday Afternoon Quarterback - Week 3

(Sept. 15, 2011) - Since it took a full four days for the last Friday's high school football schedule to get  completed, we feel pretty good about being only 48 hours late on Tuesday Afternoon Quarterback.

The wet conditions spread the schedule out with two games on Friday, five games on Saturday and a final game on Monday afternoon. VivaLoudoun editor Dan Sousa was able to take in five of those eight games to see seven of the 12 Loudoun teams in action and here are his thoughts:

*Loudoun County has something building with some tremendous speed, depth at RB and a fan base truly energized. They packed Tuscarora on Friday in the largest Raiders crowd I have seen in the seven years of coverage.
*You realized the impact of Woodgrove opening on Loudoun Valley -- Valley is about half the size of what is was two years ago -- when you look the number of players and size of players on the Vikings bench. I'm used to a Valley team full of kids that look they could pick up the bus and turn it around if they needed to get out of a tight spot.
*Turf. Turf. Turf. Every school should have turf!
*Broad Run's defense looked shaky on the first series of the season vs. Park View and has been basically lights out since!
*Spartan QB Connor Jessop can fly around the pocket, directing blockers, motioning to WRs, giving team managers the answers to their homework and asking out a cheerleader to Homecoming all at the same time.
*More football games should be played on Saturday's during the day!
*Stone Bridge DL Jonathan Allen gets held (or tackled) by opposing offensive linemen on just about every play -- we are talking, it's a sack, holding penalty or a no call.
*South Lakes coaches were on hand to see Chantilly beat Stone Bridge and they think that the Chargers have stirred up an angry hornet's nest for them this Friday when they travel to Ashburn for a Liberty District opener.
*I don't condone Chantilly's fans semi-storming the field after the game but I admire their passion (all purple body paint in Fairfax must have sold out!) and wish that more Stone Bridge students had made the trip to Westfield to support their team. Come on, its too early in the semester for homework!
*Heritage's head football coach Steve Williams and defensive coordinator Choppy Burke would make the great leads to a reality TV show! (I need a cameo!)
*Spotted on the sidelines at the Dominion-Heritage game ... two long-time Loudoun football coaches: Wes Driskill ( Potomac Falls and Heritage) and Jerry Smith (Broad Run).
*Somebody at the game called me "Carl Lukat" ... as in Loudoun Times-Mirror sports editor Carl Lukat ... I took it as a compliment!
*Freedom's band can rock a Beyonce song like nobody's business ... at least according to the Gar-Field sideline
*After the lightning delay at Freedom, the (cranky) head official was complaining that the volunteer chain crew was running too slow up and down the sidelines ... the Eagles fathers took it in stride ... now if I had been on the sticks I would have told the officials they could .... er ... stick ... wait, is this still a family website ... never mind!

Football: Tuesday Afternoon Quarterback

(Sept. 6, 2011) - Back by popular demand - protesters have been outside of our VivaLoudoun compound all day asking for this update -- is our Tuesday Afternoon Quarterback.

Friday's Games
Broad Run 14, Briar Woods 0
The Skinny: This game turned on two huge plays ... including Broad Run going for it on 4th down from their own 15 yard line in the third quarter with a 7-0 lead. Yes, that was not a typo as Spartan coach Matt Griffis was playing the complete Riverboat Gambler by allowing QB/punter Connor Jessop to audible on the 4th down play. Jessop's pass near the Falcons sideline was incomplete which should have given BWoods the ball and amazing momentum ... but a 15-yard unsportsmanlike flag was thrown on the Falcons on the play. Even stranger, word on the field was that the call was for a member of the Briar Woods sidelines accidentally bumping into an official as he ran near the home bench on the play. A call you do not see every day for sure. The drive, now still alive, continued all the way to the end zone as the Spartans went up 14-0 on Jessop's 10-yard determined run as the third quarter expired.


The second big play came in the first half with the game scoreless and Briar Woods putting together its best drive of the night. It appeared that the Falcons might get at least three points to go ahead but Dorian Jenkins, for the second straight week, came up with a big interception in the end zone. Putting points on the board might have been the confidence builder the Falcons needed in their season-opener.


Broad Run's defense stifled the Falcons running attack on the night and the Spartans were able to hold the ball for almost three of four quarters. The Spartans had a balanced attack with almost equal passing and rushing yardage while Briar Woods threw almost twice as much as they ran the ball.


Briar Woods still has the talent to go 9-1 and make a serious run at repeating their state title. Broad Run has shown that they have the making of a special team and will get a chance this week to test the AAA waters for the first time.


Up Next: Briar Woods hosts Park View in Dulles District opener; Broad Run hosts Prince William Division 6 power Woodbridge.

Heritage 36, Hedgesville 19
The Skinny: The Pride have put all memories of last year's 1-9 season behind them with the 2-0 opening. Austin Nelson threw for 250 yards on 12 of 18 passing and had TDs of 30 and 32 yards to playmaker Marcus Finney plus a TD throw to Brady Gerling. Finney also returned a kickoff 75 yards for a TD. Juan Narvaez had a big night running for Heritage with 130 yards on 21 attempts.


Up Next: Heritage returns to the Dulles District for the first time since 2008 with a district opener at Dominion, which had a bye week.

James Wood 19, Loudoun Valley 6
The Skinny: James Wood makes it 2-0 vs. Loudoun teams by knocking off Vikes, who had opened the year with a win over Fauquier. Valley wasn't able to generate much offense with only a late Danny White TD pass to Wesley Robinson breaking the shutout. Donald Devine led Valley in rushing with 48 yards on six carries. White was 8 of 17 for 70 yards. Valley hurt its cause with two fumbles lost, including on the kickoff after James Wood had marched 73 yards on 16 plays on the game's first drive. They turned that turnover into three more points to lead 10-0 before Valley's offense had even stepped on the field.


Up Next: Valley marks the return to Dulles District play for the first time since 2004 with a rivalry game at Loudoun County -- renewing Loudoun's oldest series.


Kettle Run 45, Potomac Falls 0
The Skinny: The Panthers have yet to score this season after running into a hot Kettle Run team Friday. PFalls has been out-scored, 86-0, to open the year but look to bounce back with Dulles District play opening Friday.


Up Next: Panthers host Woodgrove Friday.

Liberty 37, Park View 10
The Skinny: Liberty continued its winning ways against Dulles District teams with a win over the Pats on a night when Park View honored its newest Hall of Fame class. The Patriots are now 0-2 after opening the year with a loss at Broad Run. The Eagles did all of their TD damage on the ground as Aristotle Howard rushed for 128 yards and two scores (35, 6) on 18 carries. Anthony Budd added 69 yards and two TDs (15, 5) and Mike Lee finished with 90 yards and a touchdown (16) on just six touches.


Up Next: It just doesn't get easier for the Patriots as they travel to open district play at defending state champion Briar Woods.

Osbourn Park 41, Freedom 0
The Skinny: Freedom is another team with a killer schedule and also another offense searching for its first score after two weeks. OP QB Neil Rosenberg threw for 143 yards and two touchdowns, both to Damon Nicholson, who also scored a TD on the ground. Jeremy Ball ran for 73 yards and a TD as well. OP led 31-0 at the half.


Up Next: Freedom's tough schedule continues with Gar-Field, a tough Prince William program, coming to South Riding Friday.

Woodgrove 36, Brentsville 6
The Skinny: In year two the Huskies have already matched last year's win total with a quick 2-0 start. The offense has been in mid-season form for Woodgrove with Atem Ntantang motoring for 110 yards and three TDs on just 15 carries. It was 7-0 at the half but Ntantang found the end zone twice in the third quarter to make it 22-0 Wolverines. The Tigers did not score until it was 36-0. Tyler Workman only needed to throw three times in the vicotry. Karl Austin had 69 yards rushing and a score on six attempts.


Up Next: Woodgrove's first ever Dulles District game -- last year the Wolverines did not play a full district slate -- at Potomac Falls this Friday.

Thursday's Game
Stone Bridge 3, Robinson 0
The Skinny: No Randy May was not coaching this game for the Bulldogs but Stone Bridge and Robinson battled all night in a contest that appeared headed for a scoreless overtime game - until Stone Bridge brought in back-up RB Stephen Trivieri, a senior transfer from Canada, and handed him the ball 13 straight times, running the same play 12 times in a row as they drove down to the 1 to set up Ben Lambourne's game-winning chip shot FG. The Bulldogs defense, which gave up only 56 points in 10 regular season games last year, appears capable, behind the play of JR lineman Jonathan Allen and SR LB Aaron Palmer, of holding opponents to even less points this season. The Bulldogs will look for improvement in their passing game under new QB Ryan Burns.


Up Next: Stone Bridge travels to face another Concorde District power, Chantilly.


Hey fans: What were your thoughts on the action last week? Leave us a comment ... but only if the comment is positive or constructive! We are looking for analysis not rants!

Football: Tuesday Afternoon Quarterback

(Aug. 30, 2011) - Welcome to the debut of Tuesday Afternoon Quarterback ... VivaLoudoun's weekly wrap up of the high school football games from the previous weekend.

Here are some questions and answers about your weekly feature.
Q. My business found a stack of cash and would like to sponsor this weekly feature. How can we do that?
A. Call Viva Loudoun editor Dan Sousa at 703.509.8826 or email him (dan.sousa@vivaloudoun.com) if you want to help us out and reach our fans. We expect 2 million plus page views this school year!
Q. Most publications have a Monday Morning Quarterback. Why do you wait until Tuesday?
A. If we said we spend most of the weekend adjusting our fantasy football line-up, it would be too close to the truth and pathetic, but honestly, with 12 high schools it takes time to gather all the facts on the weekend.
Q. My school isn't represented as much as the other schools ... is it because you hate our mascot?
A. Ha. We can only print what is provided by each program and some programs have almost NFL-level of media relations quality and others have FBI Witness Relocation level of information!
Q. Can I contribute to the coverage of TAQ?
A. Yes! The more input ... the better! Just email us, Tweet us, Facebook us, etc.
Q. What is a TAQ?
A. Thought you would never ask ... Tuesday Afternoon Quarterback. A bit too TAQ-y?

Tuesday Afternoon Quarterback - Aug. 30, 2011 (Week One!)
Broad Run 51, Park View 7
The Skinny: This was a 7-7 game almost midway through the first half, thanks to the Patriots controlling the clock early and moving the ball well. Broad Run made some adjustments and shut down Park View the rest of the game. Offensively, the Spartans had nearly a season worth of big plays as Derril Thomas picked up 174 yards rushing on just eight carries with TDs of 78, 40 and 51 and Dorian Jenkins piled up 185 yards receiving on just four catches with TDs of 51 and 80. On the Verzion FiOS1 postgame interview Spartan head coach Matt Griffis gave big props to his offensive line which allowed Connor Jessop time to throw for 226 yards on 6 of 9 including the two TDs to Jenkins and a 25-yard score to Michael Stratton. Ryan McCarter was everywhere for Park View and had eight receptions for 100 yards. PV quarterback Alec Dombkowski was 13 of 19 for 146 yards and two interceptions. One of those was key as Jenkins picked off a throw in the end zone to stop the Patriots long first drive on the night. Later Jenkins had a fumble recovery in the Red Zone to add to his big Broad Run night. Caleb Lindsey also had an INT for the Spartans and anchored the defense from the LB spot. Patriot RB Khalil Brooks had a nice kickoff return (one man from breaking it) to start the night and was especially strong in the first half behind some nice Pats run blocking for 60 yards on 17 carries.

Up Next: Doesn't get any easier for Park View as they host a Liberty team which shut out Potomac Falls Fri. 41-0. Broad Run faces Briar Woods in what was called last year the Backyard Brawl and this year is the Battle for a Better Cause as the much-anticipated game will help benefit the recovery of BR grad Ryan Diviney. VivaLoudoun will be on hand in "Downtown Brambleton" Friday for full coverage.

Handley 31, Dominion 3
The Skinny: The post-Deandre Reaves era for the Titans got off to a rough start as Dominion's only score was a 31-yard first quarter field goal by Keanu May. The Titans defense played well to start and the Judges didn't tie it up with their own field goal until 6:35 remained in the first half. The Titans, however, committed five turnovers in the contest and the Judges scored 28 unanswered points to finish. Handley rushed for more than 200 yards in the win. Titan RB Dashaun Wesley was held to 23 yards on seven carries.

Up Next: Dominion looks to regroup with a bye this week.

James Wood 24, Heritage 21
The Skinny: Pride lose a heartbreaker on the road as Heritage, trailing 24-21, had first-and-goal from the 1 with less than three minutes to score but couldn't punch it in the end zone. Back-to-back runs were stopped and then Pride QB Austin Nelson (who had a big night with 244 yards on 21 of 27 passing, 3 TDs, and rushed for 76 yards) was sacked and the Pride with no timeouts left had to hurry off a FG attempt from 27 yards as the finals seconds ticked off ... with the kick going wide left. Trailing 10-7 late in the first half, Heritage appeared to go ahead on a Nelson TD run but the ball was fumbled and recovered by JW in the end zone. Earlier to start the game, after a big 68-yard kickoff return by Marcus Finney for the Pride, JW intercepted the ball in the end zone. Nelson's scoring passes went to Drew Burkhard (20 yards), Ryan Taylor (5 yards) and Finney (20 yards). Burkhard had 88 yards receiving on five catches. Besides Nelson, the rest of the Pride running attack was held to 23 yards on 15 attempts.


Up Next: Heritage hosts West Virginia school Hedgesville, which opened the year with a 38-6 win over Washington.

Liberty 41, Potomac Falls 0
The Skinny: Liberty amassed 361 total yards of offense on the ground on 39 carries including 216 yards rushing on just nine carries by Aristotle Howard  (who upon scoring shouted: "Courage is a mean with regard to fear and confidence" ... OK, we tease, that was the OTHER Aristotle who said that!). The JR Howard finished with four rushing TDs and a receiving score as well. The Liberty defense intercepted PFalls four times and recovered a fumble for five total turnovers. The Panthes have now dropped 10 straight games with their last win coming in the 2010 season opener.

Up Next: The Panthers host Kettle Run, a team they lost to by a narrow 7-0 score last year but Kettle Run,  a school now in its fourth year since opening, crushed Brentsville, 59-0, to open the season.

Loudoun County 42, Freedom 0
The Skinny: The Raiders rolled to this non-district win with a huge 35-0 first half lead before a running clock second half. County QB Jake Lokey went 5 of 9 for 118 yards and threw TD passes of 46 and 30 yards to Brad Szoka (90 yards on 4 receptions). Marcus Rutherford rushed for 74 yards for the Raiders on 16 attempts and scored from 4 yards out. Deron Davis added 58 yards on 7 attempts and scored on a 13-yard run. Zack Green scored on a 17-yard fumble return for the Raiders. 

Up Next: Loudoun County has a bye though the Raider surely must wish they could play again this week after the hot start. Freedom, new to AAA this season, faces its first AAA opponent of the year with a trip to Osbourn Park. It will be the Yellow Jackets season opener.

Loudoun Valley 17, Fauquier 7
The Skinny: The Vikings, which won a AAA playoff game last season, celebrated their return down to AA with a win over Fauquier. Valley did all of its scoring in the first half and didn't allow the Falcons on the scoreboard until 6:16 remained in the game. The Vikes got short TD runs from Nick Martin and Danny White. QB Neil Frazier led Valley in rushing with 67 yards on 17 carries and Bryce Wince picked up 35 on 11 attempts. White at QB was just 1 of 6 for 13 yards with Boston College recruit Harrison Jackson making the lone grab. Cody Locklear kicked a 21-yard FG for Valley. The Vikes picked up three Fauquier passes including an INT by White. Fauquier was 8-3 last season before falling in the first round of the playoffs.

Up Next: Loudoun Valley travels to Jame Wood, which edged Heritage Friday, 24-21.


Tuscarora 27, Millbrook 10
The Skinny: The second-year Huskies opened with a strong win over a Pioneer program which is always tough. It was all ground control early for Tuscarora which then scored its first TD on a 34-yard Chad Carerra to Alden Carpenter throw with 1:35 left in the first. Millbrook drove to the Tuscarora 10 but had to settle for a FG to make it 7-3. The Huskies next drive ended with Carerra sneaking it in from the 1, but MB responded with its own TD drive to make it 14-10 ... where the scored stayed until the final quarter. With Tuscarora in the Red Zone, Millbrook's Boomer Kaczmarzewski picked off Carerra and returned the ball past midfield only to fumble it and have Tuscarora recover. A 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty on the MB sideline after the play added to the Huskies momentum and they put the ball in the end zone on three straight runs by surprise transfer Warren Miles (slated as a possible two-way starter for Stone Bridge this year but switched programs just the week before this first game) put the ball in end zone. Tuscarora's last TD was set up by a muffed MB punt which gave the Huskies the ball on the Pioneer 6. Huskies coach Mike Burnett called the win the biggest in the school's young history to the NVDaily after the game.
Up Next: Tuscarora has the week off which should give Miles most time to get familiar with the team's playbook


Woodgrove 37, Jefferson County 19
The Skinny: Woodgrove went on the road to West Virginia and opened the year with a win. Despite falling behind 7-0, Woodgrove came back strong in the second quarter with touchdown runs by Karl Austin and Tyler Workman sandwiched around a 32-yard Josh Sweet interception return for a score. Austin finished with 101 yards on 21 carries and had two more scores, both in the third quarter after Jefferson had trimmed the lead to 23-19. Workman at QB for Woodgrove was 4 of 11 for 48 yards. Robert Warfel added a FG for the Wolverines.

Up Next: Woodgrove hosts a Brentsville squad that lost big in Week One.