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

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McLean (3-1, 1-0) at South Lakes (3-1, 2-0)
Last Week: McLean def. Madison, 24-21; South Lakes def. Marshall, 31-7
Current Playoff Seeding: McLean 3rd Div. 5; South Lakes 6th* Div. 5
*5th with win versus Dominion (AA) in Week 8

The all-time record for single-season turnaround is plus-six wins, set by Lake Braddock in 2005, when it went 6-4 after an 0-10 season in 2004.

McLean appears well on its way to match that mark through four games. It already has three wins and has three still-winless teams left on its schedule.

Its Week 5 opponent, South Lakes, is not one of them.

The Seahawks have already passed their win total from last year.

They've ridden a trio of starting tailbacks, headlined by junior Ja'Juan Jones. He's at 500 yards on 53 carries this season, crossing 100 yards in three of South Lakes' four games and has eight total touchdowns.

Jones' average night is 13 rushes for 125 yards and two scores.

The Highlanders, though, have a running back that is staking his own claim on the first-team all-Liberty squad.

Senior Riley Beiro has seven touchdowns -- six rushing -- and 592 yards on the ground, though playing in just three games. In two of those games, he had over 199 yards and three scores.

His average outing is 34 carries for 148 yards and two trips to the paint.

The X-factor in this game is McLean's polysyllabic senior tight end Jonathan Fremerman.

He had four receptions for 123 yards last week again Madison. On the season, Fremerman has 10 grabs for 243 yards. If senior quarterback Will Hecht can find him, it will take the defensive focus off Beiro.

Since 2001, the Seahawks have beaten the Highlanders five of the last eight times. Only once has the winner of this game finished with the worse record between the teams for the season (2004).

The lone loss of both teams can be attested to Herndon. McLean lost to it, 28-21, in Week 2. The next week, South Lakes lost at home, 29-24.

Either the Highlanders or Seahawks are guaranteed to be 4-1 after Friday night.

McLean has not been 4-1 since 1998, when it finished 5-5. South Lakes hasn’t been 4-1 since 2002, when it won the Northern Region.

Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com