Football: No. 2 Oakton 17, No. 7 Chantilly 15

Oakton Coach Joe Thompson repeatedly says that one of the hardest things to do in sports is learn how to close out a win. After jumping out to a big first-half lead Friday night, the host Cougars did just that,  holding off a late Chantilly charge to secure a 17-15 victory.  

After both teams stalled on their opening possession, Oakton got on the board when senior Jonathan Meadows scored from 6-yards out. On the first play of the ensuing possession, Cougar senior Bret Halleran sacked Charger quarterback Roger Strittmatter and forced a fumble that led to a Ray Goins' field goal and a 10-0 lead.

Oakton senior captain Trey Watts caught a Ryan Harris pass down the left sideline breaking free with just over a minute remaining in the first half for a 37-yard score that put the Cougars ahead by 17 headed into half time.

But as the second half began to unfold, the roles of the two teams seemed to reverse.

It was Chantilly that methodically marched down the field, compiling a 14-play drive that was capped by a  field goal from senior Scott Puschell. 

The Cougars looked to answer, and mounted a drive of their own. But on the 10th play from scrimmage, Charger junior safety Chris Sommese intercepted a Chris Coyer pass that led to another Chantilly score. Strittmatter hit sophomore Charley Dixon from 22 yards out, and even after a unsuccessful point-after-attempt the Chargers had closed within a single score with nine minutes remaining. 

After forcing a punt, Chantilly got the ball back with just over six minutes left and capitalized. Senior running back Torrian Pace carried the load, rushing on five of the Chargers next seven play and scoring from the 6-yard line to pull his team within 17-15 with a two-point conversion attempt on the way.  The Chargers lined up correctly, but failed to snap the ball in time and were called for a delay of game penalty. The left Chantilly trying to convert from the 7 yard line instead of the 2,  and a Strittmatter pass to Pace fell incomplete. 

The onside kick failed, and Oakton was able to run all but :10 seconds off the clock. It was simply not enough for a Chantilly team left with no time and no time outs.

"We knew they had the ability and the resiliency to come back and make this a close game and they did," Thompson said. "We had not been in a big game and we needed to learn how to close out and we did. Our kids did a great job."