By Jimmy Thomas
Content Manager, Northern Region
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After winning its last five games to earn a share of the Patriot District regular-season championship, it was clear that Annandale had what it takes to be a player in the Northern Region Division 6 playoffs. What the Atoms may not have been ready for was the caliber of runner that No. 5 Chantilly boasts in senior standout Torrian Pace.
Pace used his size, strength and agility to shred the Atoms’ defense for 315 yards and four touchdowns on 35 carries — and added a receiving touchdown for good measure — as the Chargers held on for a 47-38 win at home on Friday. With the victory, Chantilly advances to meet No. 4 Westfield, the defending Virginia AAA Division 6 champions, next Friday in the semifinal round.
“He had a big game,” said Charger Coach Mike Lalli, in his fourth season at the helm. “He ran really well and the line blocked well. It was the most points we have scored all year. In a tough game, we played well offensively but are very fortunate to get out of her with a win against a very good team.”
Before getting his first carry, Pace and senior quarterback Roger Strittmatter connected on the games’ third play for that 53-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 lead.
Annandale answered with a 24-yard scoring run by senior quarterback Cason Kynes, but on the next three Charger possessions Pace scored from 1, 2 and 28 yards, respectively, to give his team a 28-6 lead midway through the second quarter.
The Atoms, however, used a plethora of big plays to fight their way back into the ball game. Senior John Copenhaver scored on a 59-yard fake punt that seemed to fool everyone in the stadium — including the Chantilly defense — and Kynes hooked up with sophomore sensation Melvin Robinson on the Atoms’ last possession of the first half for a 64-yard score. The duo did it again on the third play of the second half, this time from 73 yards out to pull Annandale within 31-26.
Kynes finished with 317 yards passing, 47 yards rushing and two scores while Robinson totaled 163 yards on four receptions.
Unfortunatley for the Atoms, the Chargers’ offensive line and rushing attack proved simply too much to overcome. Junior Mike Farris took his only carry of the game 61 yards for the score, pushing the lead back to double digits before eventually running out the clock.
Chantilly advances and will travel to face crosstown rival and second-seeded Westfield, which defeated Herndon, 41-22, in its quarterfinal game. The Bulldogs won the regular season match-up over the Chargers, 32-7.
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