Football Top 10 — Week 4

No. 1 Westfield is One of Three Northern Region Teams to Remain Undefeated; Centreville Re-Joins the Top 10 for the First Time Since Our Preseason Poll

1. Westfield (4-0)
    Previous ranking: 1
    Last week: defeated Chantilly, 28-16
    Up next: at No. 7 Robinson, 7:30 p.m. Friday
2. West Potomac (4-0)
    Previous ranking: 3
    Last week: defeated Lee, 31-7
    Up next: at Hayfield, 7:30 p.m. Friday
3. Chantilly (3-1)
    Previous ranking: 2
    Last week: lost to Westfield, 28-16
    Up next: at Herndon, 7:30 p.m. Friday
4. Stone Bridge (3-1)
    Previous ranking: 4
    Last week: defeated Loudoun Valley, 49-7
    Up next: at McLean, 7:30 p.m. Friday
5. Madison (4-0)
    Previous ranking: 5
    Last week: defeated South Lakes, 40-6
    Up next: at Thomas Jefferson, 7:30 p.m. Friday
6. West Springfield (6-1)
    Previous ranking: 6
    Last week: defeated Hayfield, 47-7
    Up next: versus Annandale, 7:30 p.m. Friday
7. Robinson (3-1)
    Previous ranking: 7
    Last week: defeated Anacostia, 41-14
    Up next: versus No. 1 Westfield, 7:30 p.m. Friday
8. Edison (3-1)
    Previous ranking: 8
    Last week: defeated Mount Vernon, 48-28
    Up next: at Wakefield, 7:30 p.m.
9. Langley (3-1)
    Previous ranking: 10
    Last week: defeated Marshall, 21-14
    Up next: versus Oakton, 7:30 p.m. Friday
10. Centreville (3-1)
    Previous ranking: NR
    Last week: defeated Herndon, 24-0
    Up next: at Fairfax, 7:30 p.m. Friday

No. 1 Westfield 28, No. 2 Chantilly 16

Bulldogs Ride the Arm — and the Legs — of Standout Senior Quarterback Mike Glennon and Senior Tailback Brian Kennedy to a Big Victory on “Blackout” Thursday

The thousands of Westfield fans clad in a mixture of black T-shirts and black body-paint exploded in thunderous applause with less than two minutes remaining in No. 1 Westfield’s battle with No. 2 Chantilly Thursday night at Westfield.

It wasn’t just the touchdown that sent the Bulldogs’ home crowd into a frenzy on what the school designated as “Blackout Thursday” — it was the way it was scored.

Westfield (4-0) was already leading by five points when standout senior quarterback Mike Glennon, who has committed to N.C. State, darted around left end for a 24-yard touchdown run and what proved the final wrappings on a 28-16 victory over its biggest rival.

“When Coach [Tom] Verbanic called it he just told me to make the play happen,” said Glennon, who finished the night with 174 yards passing, 50 yards rushing and three touchdowns and was cheered like a rock star as he left the field, fans swarming long after the game had ended to congratulate him. “And, I mean, it was just a great feeling because no one really gives me credit for my running ability, but I think I’m starting to open some eyes in the region.” So, too, is the entire Bulldog team. After giving up a 64-yard touchdown run to Chantilly senior quarterback Austin Decker on the Chargers’ first play from scrimmage, Westfield’s defense clamped down.

Westfield’s students celebrate the Bulldogs’ 28-16 win over rival Chantilly.

But minus the three large pick-ups, the Bulldogs otherwise kept the Chargers’ offense in check, holding them to only 167 more yards. Decker accounted for most of them, rushing for 109 yards, on 11 carries and completing 7-of-17 passes for 99 yards.

“We wanted to come out strong, but obviously that first play didn’t work out too well for us,” said Westfield senior linebacker Cole Campbell. “But we came back strong and fought all game. The coaches had told us all week that they were going to score; they’re a great offense. But we kept our heads up and kept trucking.”

The Bulldogs countered Decker’s long touchdown run with a well-balanced, 16-play scoring drive of their own that was capped by a 1-yard pass from Glennon to senior wide receiver David Kruchko. It was that kind of long, time-consuming drive that proved the difference in the game.

	Chantilly (3-1) scored on its first possession of the second quarter to reclaim the lead at 13-7 on that 42-yard run by Pace, but Westfield came right back with an 11-play, 77-yard scoring drive that put it ahead, 14-13, at half time. That Bulldogs drive, which was highlighted by a 1-yard touchdown pass from Glennon to senior wide receiver Johnny Pickett, was prolonged by a 15-yard roughing the passer call on 3rd-and-10 from the 11 yard line that otherwise would have forced Westfield attempt a field goal. The two teams combined for 17 total penalties on the night. “We made too many mistakes,” Chantilly Coach Michael Lalli said. “We had way too many penalties, and we didn’t do a very good job of stopping their running game. Which, if you can’t stop their running game … you’re in trouble. Their passing game is obviously very talented.
Chantilly senior Torrian Pace fights off a Westfield defender.

“We
didn’t perform as well as we could have, but it’s just one game. We’ve
still got six more and we’re in a good situation to be able to make the
playoffs, and that’s what you have to strive for at this point.”

Westfield’s first possession of the second half ran a full 8 minutes, 17 seconds off the game-clock. The 17-play drive was dominated by the Bulldogs’ offensive line, and culminated in what proved the game-winning, 12-yard scoring run by tailback Brian Kennedy. The senior speedster finished with a team-high 106 yards rushing on 15 carries.

Blocking up front for Westfield was the combination of senior tight ends Ross Lavin and Billy Samson, junior guards Tyler Delph and Tyler Barfield, senior center Kevin Stewart, senior tackles Greg Bush and Charlie Hutchison and junior tackle Jacob Ryder.

“We knew in order to win that we needed to run the ball,” said Pickett, who finished with a game-high nine catches for 102 yards and a touchdown. “Everybody thinks we’re a passing team, but we’re really a running team, too.”

After Chantilly junior Scott Puschell booted a 25-yard field goal, Westfield closed out the night with Glennon’s long scoring run. “When they scored on their first play I knew it was going to be a long night,” said Kennedy, who is also a sensational linebacker for the Bulldogs. “But our defense stepped it up and came together, and our offense really got rolling. “This just feels great. I’m glad I could be a part of this here at Westfield. We have big crowds and we play in big games. That’s who we are and what we do.” Westfield’s students lined up behind the fence after Glennon’s touchdown run and appeared primed to storm the field, but school officials kept them at bay. Still, their presence — Westfield Director of Student Activities Francis Dall estimated the crowd neared 8,000 — was both noticed and appreciated.

Westfield senior Brian Kennedy ran for 106 yards against Chantilly.

“We had great support by the fans,” Campbell said. “They were a big part of this win. I’m going to congratulate them all weekend, too.”

To see a complete photo gallery from Thursday’s game taken by professional
photographer Jesse Neider, go to
http://www.shutterfly.com/pro/1179855540834/JesseNeider/ChantillyatWestfield

Football Top 10 — Week 3

No. 1 Westfield and No. 2 Chantilly Are Set to Clash in Week 4; Langley is Lone Newcomer to Rankings

1. Westfield (3-0)
    Previous ranking: 1
    Last week: defeated Hayfield, 41-0
   Up next: versus No. 2 Chantilly, 7 p.m. Thursday
2. Chantilly (3-0)
    Previous ranking: 2
    Last week: defeated Annandale, 49-0
    Up next: at No.1 Westfield, 7 p.m. Thursday
3. West Potomac (3-0)
    Previous ranking: 4
    Last week: defeated Yorktown, 42-21
    Up next: versus Lee, 7:30 p.m. Thursday
4. Stone Bridge (2-1)
    Previous ranking: 6
    Last week: defeated Marshall, 35-0
    Up next: versus Loudoun Valley, 7:30 p.m. Thursday
5. Madison (3-0)
    Previous ranking: 5
    Last week: defeated Wakefield 53-13
    Up next: versus South Lakes, 7:30 p.m. Thursday
6. West Springfield (2-1)
    Previous ranking: 8
    Last week: defeated Robinson, 21-7
    Up next: at Hayfield, 7:30 p.m. Thursday
7. Robinson (2-1)
    Previous ranking: 3
    Last week: lost to West Springfield, 21-7
    Up next: versus Anacostia (D.C.), 7:30 p.m. Thursday
8. Edison (2-1)
    Previous ranking: 9
    Last week: defeated South County, 46-7
    Up next: versus Mount Vernon, 7:30 p.m. Thursday
9. Annandale (2-1)
    Previous ranking: 7
    Last week: lost to Chantilly, 49-0
    Up next: versus T.C. Williams, 7:30 p.m. Thursday
10. Langley (2-1)
    Previous ranking: NR
    Last week: defeated Herndon, 28-21
    Up next: at Marshall, 7:30 p.m. Thursday

* DigitalSports’ Top 10 was chosen by staff members Angela Watts, Jimmy
Thomas and Phil Murphy.

Week 3 Friday Football Round-Up

No. 4 West Potomac Rides Big First Half to 42-21 Win At No. 10 Yorktown; No. 2 Chantilly Pitches a 49-0 Shut Out of No. 7 Annandale

By Phil Murphy
DigitalSports.com

No. 4 West Potomac (3-0) capitalized on five Yorktown turnovers in the first half and battled the rest of the way to a 42-21 road win over the 10th-ranked Patriots (1-2).

By comparison, Coach Eric Henderson’s Wolverines did not turn the ball over once in the first half, only having one drive not ending in a score: A 37-yard Matt Husband field goal attempt that sailed wide. Husband had much greater success on his kickoffs, sending four of his six that were not affected by penalties into the Yorktown end zone for touchbacks.

	It was balanced domination for the Wolverines, who rode the legs of standout senior running back Josh Wells for the first quarter-and-a-half, while relying on junior quarterback Cole Walter�??s arm the rest of the way. Wells amassed 180 of his 198 yards and all three of his touchdowns in the opening half, before sustaining an injury on the way to the locker room at half time that effectively ended his night. Walter, meanwhile, completed 11-of-17 passes through the rain for 127 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Despite its early turnovers, Yorktown senior quarterback Tim Reynolds had a remarkably effective night as well. Reynolds was 7-of-10 through the air for 112 yards and a touchdown connection with his favorite target, senior wide receiver Tim Batol.
West Potomac senior Josh Wells is chased by Yorktown senior linebacker Chris Dola. Wells led the Wolverines with 198 yards rushing and three scores — 180 of which came in the game’s opening half.

Reynolds also was interception free and added 53 yards rushing and a touchdown on 10 attempts. Yorktown was down 35-7 at half time, but both created — and capitalized — on turnovers late to close the gap.

To see photos from Friday’s game taken by professional photographer Deborah Kolt, go to
http://www.shutterfly.com/pro/1179855540834/DeborahKolt/WestPotYktwn


No. 2 Chantilly 49, No. 7 Annandale 0

By Jon Roser
Chantilly High Junior
Online Sports Editor, The Purple Tide

With the cool and stormy weather Friday night, it seemed only appropriate that second-ranked Chargers came roaring onto their home field to �??Thunder�?� by AC/DC. Junior running back Torrian Pace then wasted little time lowering the boom on the Atoms.

On Chantilly’s second play from scrimmage Pace went nine yards for what proved the first of seven Charger touchdowns in a 49-0 shut out of previously-unbeaten Annandale (2-1). No. 2 Chantilly (3-0), the defending Northern Region champions, now gears up for its much-anticipated matchup with No. 1 Westfield (3-0) at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

“This [win] is going to give us a lot of momentum going into the Westfield game,” said senior punt returner and wide receiver Chris Gentile. “I think we’ve been underrated in some of the preseason polls, but we’re going to prove people wrong.”

A driving rain limited the passing of Chantilly senior quarterback Austin Decker Friday night, but with help from the offensive line the Chargers’ trio of running backs once again set the tone.

Pace, who scored again late in the third quarter on a one-yard run, finsihed with 73 yards and two touchdowns on just seven carries. He combined with senior fullback Antonio Cross and senior tailback Bugsy Urrutia to total 229 yards rushing and three touchdowns. “We got the momentum early and never looked back,” Pace said. “There was no stopping us after that first touchdown.” The second quarter was a scoring frenzy, as three different Chargers got into the end zone. Cross was first to score on an 18-yard run, followed by a fumble recovery by junior offensive lineman Andrew Crawford in the end zone. Decker capped off the second-quarter scoring on a 20-yard rushing touchdown to put the Chargers ahead, 28-0, at half time. And the scoring didn�??t stop after the break. Gentile took the opening kickoff 76 yards straight to the end zone. �??Chris Gentile is the best kick returner in the Northern Region,�?� one Chantilly coach said of Gentile�??s early second-half score. Chantilly�??s backup quarterback, Mike Fries, took over for Decker in the fourth quarter with the Chargers leading by a comfortable, 42-0, margin. Fries promptly made his presence felt on a 45-yard touchdown run in which he juked past every Atom defender he encountered. “The lines, both offensive and defensive, were superb tonight,” Chantilly Coach Mike Lalli said. “We dominated the line of scrimmage and it cleared the way for our backs to do some serious damage.” The Chargers�?? defense, which forced three fumbles Friday night, has yielded only 20 points all season. * Photo by Jon Roser.

Chantilly Coach Michael Lalli congratulates  Chris Gentile after his second-half kickoff return for a touchdown.

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Football Top 10 — Week 2

Plenty of Movement in the Middle as Only Westfield and Chantilly Remain Unchanged at the Top; West Springfield is Newest Team to Join the Rankings

1. Westfield (2-0)
    Previous ranking: 1
    Last week: defeated Lee, 38-7
    Up next: versus Hayfield, 7:30 p.m. Friday
2. Chantilly (2-0)
    Previous ranking: 2
    Last week: defeated Washington-Lee, 42-7
    Up next: versus No. 7 Annandale, 7:30 p.m. Friday
3. Robinson (2-0)
    Previous ranking: 6
    Last week: defeated Stone Bridge, 41-14
    Up next: at No. 8 West Springfield, 7:30 p.m. Friday
4. West Potomac (2-0)
    Previous ranking: 5
    Last week: defeated Mount Vernon, 45-14
    Up next: at No. 10 Yorktown, 7:30 p.m. Friday
5. Madison (2-0)
    Previous ranking: 8
    Last week: defeated Yorktown, 21-10
    Up next: at Wakefield, 7:30 p.m. Friday
6. Stone Bridge (1-1)
    Previous ranking: 3
    Last week: lost to Robinson, 41-14
    Up next: versus Marshall, 7:30 p.m. Friday
7. Annandale (2-0)
    Previous ranking: 9
    Last week: defeated Oakton, 35-20
    Up next: at No. 2 Chantilly, 7:30 p.m. Friday
8. West Springfield (1-1)
    Previous ranking: NR
    Last week: defeated Edison, 27-20
    Up next: versus No. 3 Robinson, 7:30 p.m. Friday
9. Edison (1-1)
    Previous ranking: 4
    Last week: lost to West Springfield, 27-20
    Up next: at South County, 7:30 p.m. Friday
10. Yorktown (1-1)
    Previous ranking: 7
    Last week: lost to Madison, 21-10
    Up next: versus No. 4 West Potomac, 7:30 p.m. Friday
   

Football Top 10 — Week 1

The Top Four Preseason Teams Hold Strong Through the Opening Week of the 2007 Season; Madison and Annandale Join the Ranks

* DigitalSports’ Top 10 was chosen by staff members Angela Watts,
Jimmy Thomas and Phil Murphy.