By Jimmy Thomas
Content Manager, Northern Region
In last year’s regular-season finale between Herndon and Oakton the Hornets scored on a controversial two-point conversion with less than a minute remaining to beat the Cougars by one point and knock them out of the playoffs. This season, the playoff berths were already wrapped up for both teams. Oakton entered the game having already clinched the No. 1 seed in next week’s Northern Region, Division 6 playoffs.
Still, the Cougars had an awful lot left on the table: They were playing for a piece of history.
Sporting all-black jerseys with each players’ name emblazoned on the back for the first time this year, the Cougars crushed visiting Herndon, 38-13, to complete the first 10-0 season in the 41-year history of the school.
“It really hasn’t hit me yet,” said Coach Joe Thompson, in his sixth season at Oakton. “At the start of the season we talked about not concentrating on wins and loses. If we play this hard and play with this type of intensity and enthusiasm, winning and losing becomes secondary. It’s a joy to watch this team play football, and I am excited that they get to keep playing.”
The Cougars racked up 414 yards of total offense while holding the Hornets scoreless until midway through the fourth quarter.
Senior runningbacks Trey Watts and Jonathan Meadows led the charge, each scoring a pair of touchdowns despite not touching the ball in the fourth quarter. The duo rushed for 55 and 57 yards, respectively.
Senior quarterbacks Ryan Harris and Chris Coyer combined for 13-of-22 passing for 195 yards. Coyer hit senior Jay Young for an 11-yard touchdown on the first possession of the second half and added 45-yards on the ground on just seven carries.
“This was emotional for us,” Coyer said following a short celebration. “[Herndon] knocking us out of the playoffs I think actually helped our team. We just need to keep playing our game. Keep doing what we do everyday in practice and every Friday night when we come out on the field.”
Despiite the loss, Herndon still advances to the playoffs as a No. 7 seed and will play No. 2 Westfield, a team it defeated in a dramatic 29-28, double overtime game just three weeks ago. Top-seed Oakton will host No. 8 South County and will play the remainder of its games at home unless advancing to the state championship game in Blacksburg, Va.
“This marks the one-year mark from when we changed who we were,” Thompson said. “We changed our program from one that wasn’t disiplined enough to get things done to a team that is focused on being a great football team who is playing well together and winning. Now the players are having fun playing and its really enjoyable to watch.”
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