By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Manager, Washington D.C. Metro Area
Before every Annandale snap, shouts could be heard from the Falls Church sideline to Jaguar defenders.
They accounted for whether Atom senior quarterback Rick Adams or junior Tony Hysjulien broke the huddle, where standout junior receiver Melvin Robinson lined up and which running backs were in the backfield.
All the commands served as recognition for tendencies studied during film sessions in pre-game preparation last week.
All were overmatched by Annandale’s deep well of offensive weapons.
Four different Atoms scored their five first-half touchdowns as Annandale stormed by Falls Church, 42-14, on the road Saturday.
“Robinson is nice, just throw it up there and give it to him,” Adams said. “[Rob] Potts is a good, your Wes-Welker, inside-and-out type. Stacey Anderson is a good vertical threat, give him the ball and he’ll go through walls for you. Then, [with] me and fullback Jake Barnes, we’re really confusing people.
“Those are some nice little threats back there. Just having those four or five back there — and then you have Tony Hysjulien back there, you can act like you’re going to throw, then run. You’ve got some nice little threats going.”
While the touches were spread evenly through the first half — three Atoms tied for a team-high six carries — it was senior running back Anderson that dominated the box score in the end.
He carried nine times for 59 yards, but had three touchdowns, including a four-yard score with 1 minute, 44 seconds left in the first half. That score, his second, put Annandale ahead by 35 points, guaranteeing a running clock after the intermission.
“My whole O-Line was working hard this whole week,” said Anderson, who had 109 yards and a game-tying touchdown in the Atoms’ win last week. “I’m trying to keep running hard. I work hard and Coach [**** Adams] runs me hard every day.
“I can’t do it without my line, though.”
He also can’t do it without having someone hand him the ball.
Thing is, it is not until the huddle breaks that Anderson knows who will be under center.
Rick Adams and Hysjulien have traded downs at quarterback in its first two games, and will continue to for the season’s duration. The system, carrying an inherent risk of interrupting offensive flow, has been abundantly successful thus far.
In Saturday’s win, the duo combined for an efficient 6-for-9 passing for 81 yards — most of which came before the running clock. Last week, the complete-game total amounted to 236 yards, completing 11 of 22 attempts.
Both games were wins.
“Tony, he’s got the arm. I had surgery last year, so my arm is getting better and better as the season goes on,” said Rick Adams, whose only two completions Saturday were touchdowns. “The team’s got total confidence in us throwing it. I have no problem throwing it, I have no problem getting in there and throwing the ball.
“When he’s in there, it’s his game. When I’m in there, it’s my game. We cheer each other on, we talk to each other after every play. Good, bad, ****, it doesn’t matter. We’re teammates and that’s how we get it to work out.”
Box Score 1 2 3 4 — F
Annandale 13 22 7 0 — 42
Falls Church 0 0 0 12 — 12
Scoring Plays
1Q — AN — Potts 5 from Adams (McQueen kick) — 8:53
1Q — AN — Barnes 14 run (kick failed) — 4:47
2Q — AN — Anderson 11 run (Anderson run) — 5:55
2Q — AN — Robinson 31 from Adams (McQueen kick) — 3:29
2Q — AN — Anderson 4 run (McQueen kick) — 1:44
3Q — AN — Anderson 1 run (McQueen kick) — 2:37
4Q — FC — Kashyap 1 run (pass failed) — 7:44
4Q — FC — Hughes 40 run (pass failed) — 1:23
Passing
AN – Hysjulien – 4-for-7, 45 yards, 2 INT; Adams – 2-for-3, 36 yards, 2 TD; Wattenbarger – 0-for-2, 0 yards. FC – Kashyap – 11-for-22, 104 yards, INT.
Rushing
AN – Anderson – 9 car, 59 yards, 3 TD; Barnes – 6 car, 44 yards, TD; Adams – 6 car, 41 yards; Wattenbarger – 2 car, 12 yards; Cook – 2 car, 10 yards; Hysjulien – 5 car, 9 yards; Worrell – 4 car, 6 yards. FC –
Hughes – 18 car, 107 yards, TD; Ferrufino – 3 car, 26 yards;
Kashyap – 5 car, -10 yards, TD.
Receiving
AN – Robinson – 4 rec, 61 yards, TD; Potts – 2 rec, 20 yards, TD. FC –
Ferrufino – 2 rec, 46 yards; Eusebio – 5 rec, 31 yards; Hughes – 2
rec, 15 yards; Gangele – 2 rec, 12 yards.
Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com
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