By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Manager, Washington D.C. Metro Area

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Jefferson (0-7, 0-4) at Marshall (0-7, 0-4), 7:30 p.m. Friday
Last Week: Jefferson lost at Langley, 46-14; Marshall lost at McLean, 24-21
PowerPoints: Jefferson - 13th (Div. 5); Marshall - 12th (Div. 5)
Offensive Rank (Pts/Game): Jefferson - 15th (Div. 5); Marshall - 14th (Div. 5)
Defensive Rank (Pts/Game): Jefferson - 15th (Div. 5); Marshall - 12th (Div. 5)

Either the Colonials or the Statesmen are guaranteed an overdue win Friday night.

After five consecutive shutouts, Jefferson cracked the scoreboard on a pair of short touchdown runs by sophomore prodigy Kevin Karn, but was held scoreless in the first half for the seventh time in as many games.

Senior athlete Sy Rashid was a freak in the return game against Langley. I'll call him an "X-factor" to sound official.

Meanwhile, Marshall had McLean (5-2) on the ropes, racing to a 14-0 lead on a pair of touchdown runs by senior tailback Victor Vanegas. Vanegas finished with 32 carries for 175 yards, but the Statesmen turned the ball over four times, leading to 24 Highlander points.

That includes nine points of turnovers in the final 1 minutes, 23 seconds of the first half to sway momentum going into half time. McLean won, 24-21.

For the Colonials to get the goose egg out of the win column, they need to run their offense away from soon-to-be first-team all-district senior defensive end Andrew Embree. That was a lot of hyphens and adjectives, but he's worth it.

He's spent so much time in opposing backfields, they should charge rent.

For the Statesmen to win, they need to ride Vanegas and utilize a finally-healthy senior receiver Jake Bennett, who missed four games with severe back spasms.

Bennett caught a 12-yard touchdown pass with :24 left in regulation in his return at McLean last week.

Marshall is 5-3 all-time against Jefferson, including wins in three of the four meetings since the Colonials migrated east to the Liberty District in 2005.

But Jefferson got the better of the Baby Blues, 34-7, last year.

Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com