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Football: No. 6 West Springfield 48, No. 5 West Potomac 13

Posted On: Saturday, October 04, 2008
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Football: No. 6 West Springfield 48, No. 5 West Potomac 13

By Jeffrey Gibert
West Potomac High School Senior/ DigitalSports Intern

**Videos and photos by Phil Murphy.**

The West Springfield defense was reborn in its blowout win at home against previously-undefeated West Potomac on Friday.

The Spartans forced as many turnovers as the Wolverines had points as they rolled to a 48-13 win. West Springfield recorded four interceptions, four fumble recoveries, and five turnovers-on-downs, despite having starting linebacker Scott Van Buren in sweatpants on the sidelines.

“With Scott out, that was my biggest goal: To fill the void that was in there for Scott,” said Spartan junior linebacker Peyton Davey, who recovered all four fumbles. “I love him like a brother, we all do. So we dedicated this game and everything to Scott Van Buren.”

The game started off with an interception by West Springfield senior defensive back Hayden Angulo on West Potomac’s third play from scrimmage. But the Spartans could not capitalize as they had a quick three-and-out. The Wolverines responded with a three-yard touchdown pass from senior Cole Walter (28-53, 317 yards, 2 TD, 4 INT) to junior Will Rosenkranz (10 receptions, 104 yards, TD) to make the score 7-0. 

West Springfield was quick to respond as junior kicker John McConnell (2-2 FG, 6-6 PAT) nailed a field goal with 5 minutes, 50 seconds left in the period. After a Wolverines punt, the Spartans took the lead when senior quarterback Bryn Renner (11-for-31, 247 yards, 3 TD, INT, 1 carry, 15 yards) threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver TJ O’Connell to make the score 10-7. 

Then, just when it looked as if West Potomac was going to answer with a score of its own, junior running back Edward Johnson (6 carries, 34 yards) coughed the ball up to Davey for his first of four fumble recoveries.

“Coming out as a junior, I haven’t been doing amazing so far,” Davey said. “But coming out and having four turnovers against West Potomac really boosts me up. We’re going to carry this over to next week and for the rest of the season.”

As the second quarter began, the Wolverines were aided by a controversial 29-yard pass from Walter to Rosenkranz and drove the ball from their own 21-yard line all the way to the Spartan 1-yard line before Wolverine senior Daniel Baker (12 carries, 47 yards) fumbled the ball into the end zone for Davey’s second recovery and a West Springfield touchback. 

Trailing by just one score with time winding down in the first half, a 3rd-and-goal from Walter was simultaneously caught by a Wolverine receiver and Spartan defensive back, but it popped out for an incompletion. Instead of opting to tie the game right before half, West Potomac went for it on fourth down from the West Springfield 17 but came up short as Rosenkranz could only gain six yards. The Spartans led, 10-7, at half time.   

Something must have gotten into the bodies of the Spartan players at the intermission because they just exploded in the second half on both sides of the ball.

It took West Springfield no time to get on the scoreboard as Renner threw another touchdown to senior receiver Andy Stallings (5 receptions, 107 yards, 2 TDs; 1 carry, 45 yards, TD), this time for 54 yards just :54 seconds into the third quarter. Rodriguez brought the Spartan kickoff back all the way to the house with Devin Hester-like speed and agility, but it was negated with an illegal block in the back at the Spartan 23-yard line.  The Wolverines could do nothing with their great field position and turned the ball over on downs. 

West Springfield stretched the score out to 20-7 when its drive stalled and McConnell drilled a 25-yard field goal. The ensuing kickoff was mishandled by the Wolverines and Davey recovered his third fumble of the night. Renner then completed another touchdown pass to Stallings to make the score 27-7 with 5:37 remaining in the third.

“We were a little of sync in the first half and we all knew it,” Renner said. “We just needed to get our heads on straight and just step up. We all played well in the second half and I’m just glad we came out with the victory.”

West Potomac drove to the West Springfield 4-yard line and looked as if it was going to score for the first time since early in the first quarter, but Johnson had the ball ripped out of his hand by Davey. Davey ran his fourth fumble recovery back 38 yards to the 42-yard line

But Renner threw an interception to senior Aaron Loney just two plays later and the Wolverines took advantage when Walter completed a touchdown pass to senior Charles Johnson (6 receptions, 77 yards, TD) who made an acrobatic catch between two Spartan defenders to make the score 27-13 with 9:29 left in the game.

West Springfield got those points back in a hurry. Spartan senior running back Brandon Bailey (28 carries, 179 yards, TD) rushed for 38 yards on two carries, setting up Stallings for a 45-yard reverse for a touchdown to make the score 34-13 just 68 seconds after West Potomac’s score.

The Wolverines could not match the Spartans as Walter threw an interception to senior Malek Diaw three plays later. Then, on an ensuing Spartan 4th-and-12, Bailey broke a tackle behind the line of scrimmage, breaking free for his first touchdown of the game with 4:28 to play. 

West Potomac suffered yet another turnover on downs as Walter could not complete a pass on a 4th-and-17 from the Spartan 45. And junior Dan Collins (2 carries, 62 yards, TD) provided the finishing touches on the next play, scoring on a 55-yard touchdown run with 2:36 remaining. 

West Potomac played right to the final buzzer, not giving up, but Walter was picked by Ben Lockwood (2 INTs) on a desperation, Hail Mary pass from the Spartan 32-yard line.
 
Renner’s night got even better after the game when he asked a lucky lady to homecoming and she accepted — sadly, no link is available for that highlight.

“I’ve always been saying our defense will prove themselves to be one of the best in the region,” Spartan Coach Bill Renner said. “I think we’re heading right down the path I’d thought we’d be, so I’m real proud of them.

“I’m really proud of them.”

No. 5 West Potomac       7    0    0    6   —  13
No. 6 West Springfield  10   0   17  21  —  48

1Q – WP – Rosenkranz 3 from Walter (Dynes kick)
1Q – WS – McConnell 24 FG
1Q – WS – O’Connell 39 from Renner (McConnell kick)
3Q – WS – Stallings 54 from Renner (McConnell kick)
3Q – WS – McConnell 25 FG
3Q – WS – Stallings 12 from Renner (McConnell kick)
4Q – WP – C. Johnson 27 from Walter (Dynesl kick)
4Q – WS – Stallings 45 run (McConnell kick)
4Q – WS – Bailey 26 run (McConnell kick)
4Q – WS – Collins 55 run (McConnell kick)

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