By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Manager, Washington D.C. Metro Area
**Click the links at the top-left for photos and highlights!!**
After the Division 5 Northern Region championship, Stone Bridge coach Mickey Thompson was asked if he ever wished for a normal Thanksgiving weekend.
“This is normal right here,” he replied.
The Bulldogs’ appearance against the Lancers was its eighth-consecutive regional berth.
That experience proved vital as Stone Bridge was turnover-free through three-plus quarters and controlled the clock in the second half, winning its sixth regional title in eight years, 21-10, over Lee Friday afternoon in Ashburn.
The championship is the Bulldogs’ fourth in five seasons since moving to the AAA Northern Region.
“I’m just glad we could keep the Stone Bridge tradition alive,” said senior captain Connor Calderwood, who had a fourth-quarter interception. “They said online all week that the Stone Bridge tradition was ending this week … That obviously didn’t happen today.”
Added Thompson, 85-8 in the last seven years: “A lot of guys said this senior class couldn’t lead us to a championship.
“They’ve taken a lot of heat for that and they rise above that … A couple of them are hurt and they’re just on the sideline going crazy. You see how bad they wanted this for their class, so that they could be remembered.”
While “loss” is a four-letter word in Ashburn, apparently, so is “punt.”
Stone Bridge went 7-for-9 on fourth-down attempts. Its first two touchdowns came on 4th-and-inches and 4th-and-11, respectively.
Lee coach Rob Everett simulated the aggressive play-calling by giving its scout team five downs to convert in practice, but it was unable to make stops in key situations on game day.
“I’m confident in my line and [Thompson] is confident in me to put the ball in my hands,” said junior running back Marcus Harris, who converted five fourth downs himself and finished with three touchdowns.
“I just try and do my best to get the first down.”
Added Thompson: “That was the game: keep it away from them, occupy the clock and hope they put it on the ground.”
To the degree the Bulldogs were accustomed to region final berths, the Lancers were entering uncharted territory.
Lee sought its first regional title in school history Friday.
In fact, current players’ parents were likely in elementary school, tracing their hands into turkeys, when the Lancers’ made their only title game appearance in 1974.
“There were key turning points in the game and key stops that we missed,” Everett said. “It’s an honor and a privilege just to get here. Obviously, we were hoping for a different outcome. I’m proud of how these guys fought.
“This means we’re taking a step in the right direction. We’ve still got a lot of work to do. We were playing a lot of young kids and I’m confident we’ll get back here.”
Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com
**Note: With his third successful extra point Friday, Stone Bridge senior kicker Abdul Shaban broke the all-time VHSL record for consecutive PATs, previously held by Shayne Graham (Pulaski County). Graham played collegiately at Virginia Tech and currently kicks for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Box Score 1 2 3 4 — F
Robert E. Lee 3 7 0 0 — 10
Stone Bridge 7 7 0 7 — 21
Scoring Plays
1Q — SB — Harris 13 run (Shaban kick) — 7:17
1Q — LE — Atayee 22 FG — 2:51
2Q — SB — Harris 29 from Rody (Shaban kick) — 9:16
2Q — LE — Augustus 26 run (Atayee kick) — 6:43
4Q — SB — Harris 2 run (Shaban kick) — 7:13
Passing
LE – Lopez – 7-for-17, 76 yards, INT.
SB – Rody – 5-for-8, 97 yards, TD; Gouveia – 4-for-5, 32 yards.
Rushing
LE – Augustus – 17 car, 88 yards, TD; Lopez – 5 car, 29 yards; Ja. Williams – 7 car, 18 yards; Team – 2 car, -40 yards.
SB – Harris – 31 car, 121 yards, 2 TD; Gouveia – 10 car, 30 yards; Girdy – 3
car, 10 yards; Rody – 4 car, 7 yards; Hollenhorst – 1
car, 4 yards; Rositano – 1 car, 3 yards; Miles – 1 car, -2 yards.
Receiving
LE – Jackson – 3 rec, 47 yards; Johnson – 3
rec, 27 yards; Augustus – 1 rec, 2 yards.
SB – Lambke – 3 rec, 37 yards; Harris – 2 rec, 32 yards, TD; Rositano – 2 rec, 16 yards; White – 1 rec, 13 yards; Gouveia – 1 rec, 2 yards.
Times Targeted
LE – Jackson – 7; Johnson – 5; Augustus – 3; Ja. Williams – 2.
SB –
Lambke – 4; Rositano – 4; Harris – 24; White – 2; Gouveia – 1.
Total Yards
LE – 171.
SB – 302.
First Downs (Total; Run-Pass-Penalty)
LE – 12; 6-4-2.
SB – 17; 11-6-0.
Time of Possession (Total; First Half)
LE – 19:26; 13:53.
SB – 32:34; 14:07.
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