Announcement: Bulldogs Dismantle the Vikings
Posted: 09/20/2008
Like the classic game of cat and mouse, the Stone Bridge Bulldogs toyed with an energetic and determined Loudoun Valley squad Friday night at Valley. But everyone watching knew the eventual outcome wasnt going to be pretty, and it wasnt.
The Bulldogs ran their record to 4-0 in dismantling the Vikings 64-13 and surpassed the 60-point mark for the second week in a row, setting a school record for points in a game along the way. Patrick Thompson and Daniel Allen provided the majority of the fireworks, but the Stone Bridge defense once again made their mark with five interceptions, two by John Bladel.
Stone Bridge began the game with the ball on its own 35 after an out-of-bounds kick-off, and barely broke a sweat in moving quickly to the Viking 32. On the seventh play of the drive, Allen burst through the line and easily outran everyone to score the games first TD. Abdul Shaban added the PAT and less than four minutes into the game, the Bulldogs were on top.
Valley started its first drive on its own 18 and went nowhere, netting minus one yard in three plays. A 31-yard punt turned the ball over to the Bulldogs on the Viking 48. Six plays later the Bulldogs faced second and ten from the 35 when Michael Prince raced around left end and was escorted into the end zone by lead blocker Nate Ingersoll. The extra point made it 14-0 Stone Bridge.
After a touchback, Valley began on the twenty, but quarterback Iain Mottice was smothered by the entire Bulldog defensive line at the eleven. On second down, Mottice tried to complete a quick slant over the middle, but Bladel snagged the ball and rumbled 20 yards for the score. Another Shaban kick put Stone Bridge up 21-0.
Valley began again deep in its own territory, and moved out to the 32 before being faced with 4 and 13. In a bold move from punt formation, the snap went directly to the up back Mottice, who pitched to Onzy Elam. Elam managed only one yard before Bulldog Andre Glenn sliced him down, and Stone Bridge took over at the Viking 33.
On first down, Thompson tried to force a pass in to Nick Sheehan, but was picked off and the drive ended abruptly. The Vikings again had trouble getting moving, and on fourth down from the 15 the snap sailed over the punters head and out the back of the end zone for a safety. Stone Bridge now led 23-0.
The ensuing punt was returned by Spenser Rositano all the way to the Valley 27, and it took only three plays before Allen had his second rushing TD, a four yard score. The PAT was blocked (a rare occurrence for Shaban) and the Bulldogs were in command 29-0.
The Vikings were able to string together several pass plays in their next drive, but seemed to stall at the 42. On fourth and eight and in punt formation, Valley showed spunk once more when they snapped to the up back again, and Mottice hit Onzy Elam down the right sideline for a 58 yard TD. The point after was stuffed, but Valley was on the board 29-6.
Defiant still, the Vikings attempted an onside kick, but Rositano covered for Stone Bridge at the 45. Thompson quickly led the Bulldogs down to the Viking seven, but on first and goal the ball slipped from his hand as he rolled right, and Valley covered the fumble to kill the drive.
The Vikings took advantage of a fifteen yard penalty on Stone Bridge to move out to the 30, but could go no further. On fourth down, the Vikings went to the short snap one too many times, and Mottice was picked off by Brian Slay who charged down the sideline and flattened one Viking before going down at the Valley 27. It took only two plays before Thompson found Bladel in the corner for the score, and the kick gave Stone Bridge a thirty point lead, 36-6.
Valley tallied one first down in the next series, but stalled at the 30 and this time wisely chose to punt. Taking over on its own 35, Stone Bridge ran the screen pass to perfection on the second play when Thompson found Allen in the middle, and the fleet back did the rest, adding some emphasis when he shouldered a defender off his feet at the goal line. Another Shaban PAT made the score 43-6 with over three minutes left in the first half.
The Vikings began on their own 28, but disaster struck on the second play when Mottices pass was deflected by Bulldog Dare Ewetusa and Mike Olson made a diving catch for the interception. Stone Bridge hit quickly when Thompson found former Viking Sheehan down the left sideline for the 34 yard touchdown. The Valley crowd reaction was predictably less than pleasant, and the Stone Bridge response was equally as raucous. Emotions aside, the game was a blowout at this point with the Bulldogs leading 50-6.
The Vikings were forced to stay with quick passes, but the Bulldogs were laying in wait. Eventually the opportunistic Bladel recorded his second INT when he picked off Mottice at the 43 and returned it to the Valley ten. Four plays later Thompson had his fourth TD pass when he hit Andrew Ansell with a ten yard strike, the Bulldogs led 57-6, and the half came to a merciful end.
Valley went three and out to start the second half, and when Stone Bridge took over at the Viking 44 it was all Allen. After nine straight rushes, Allen busted in from the one and the Bulldogs led 64-6. Working against the reserves, the Vikings put together a twelve play drive, but it ended as so many others did, with an interception, this time by Michael Kajut.
The Bulldogs used numerous rushes by Marcus Harris to push out to midfield, but the effort ended there when Ryan Loudermilks pass fell incomplete. The Vikings ended the night with something to cheer about when Derek Zook hit Jake Crowne with a four yard score, and the scoring was complete at 64-13.
Offensively, Thompson and Allen had huge nights. Thompson threw for four TDs while Allen ran for three and caught one. John Bladel had a career night managing to score from both sides of the ball with a pick six and a touchdown reception. The Bulldog defense was in fine form, allowing less than 50 yards rushing and nabbing a team record five interceptions.
Stone Bridge has outscored the opposition by an average of 42.5 points in its first four games and continue their march toward a fourth Liberty District title versus McClean next Friday.
Prepared by, Dave and Suzy Barta