Episcopal drops to archrival Woodberry Forest in 10-3 slugfest

Photo by FLICKR/azdew/2810676026/

ALEXANDRIA, VA - In private school game action, the prestigious Episcopal High School dropped a 10-3 contest to their arch-rival, Woodberry Forest last weekend.

The game, before an overflow crowd at the "Hummel Bowl", ended the Maroon's season with an overall record of 4-5. The visiting Tigers, from Orange, Va., scored an early TD as well as an early field goal. When Episcopal got the ball early in the second quarter they were already trailing by the aforementioned score of 10-0.

The Maroon, midway through the second quarter, marched from their 26-yard line to the Woodberry 19-yard line - however Episcopal senior quarterback Hunter de Butts's pass was "picked" by the Tigers Ed Reynolds to thwart the drive.

The score remained at 10-0 at intermission.In the third quarter, the Black and Maroon put their lone points of the day on the board when junior Connor Gallegos booted a 36-yard field goal (Austin de Butts held).

The Maroon merely trailed 10-3 but could not generate any additional points over the remaining quarters.This past weekend the Northern Region Playoffs kicked off their quarter-final round, and the results are in for Division VI, larger enrollment schools:  W.T. Woodson 31 - Oakton 16; Robinson 10 - Chantilly 7; Lake Braddock 19 - Fairfax 14 and South County 27 - Westfield 23.

Division V (smaller enrollment schools) Results: Stone Bridge 28 - South Lakes 7; Madison 31 - *Edison 10; *Hayfield 34 - *Yorktown 6 and R.E. Lee 42 - McLean 18.

Thus, of the three area schools, only Hayfield will march on to the semi-final round as both Edison and Yorktown came up short.

The Hawks exploded for 20 first quarter points and 14 second quarter points and led their National District rivals - the Yorktown Patriots 34-0 at halftime. Consequently, the outcome of the contest was not much in doubt at intermission.

The Hawks, coached by interim head coach Roy Hill, had three different players reach the end zone.

Senior Rayshawn Rigans ripped off three TD runs at 68, six and 69 yards.

Senior Nazrul Islam went 90 yards to the house via a blocked field goal return and senior QB Anton McCallum torched the Patriots with a 35-yard TD scamper.

Yorktown, coached by veteran Bruce Hanson (25th season in North Arlington), scored their lone TD in the fourth quarter when senior Sam Nottingham punched in a two-yard scoring run.

Yorktown concluded their season with an overall record of 6-5; Hayfield currently weighs-in at 9-2 and is scheduled to square off with R.E. Lee on November 20 - (weather...permitting) - in a Northern Region Division V slugfest.

The National District Eagles traveled to Vienna to square off with the Liberty District Warhawks. Madison, a run-first/pass-second team, marched down the field and took an early 7-0 lead. On the Eagles first offensive series of the contest, they put together a long drive which culminated in running back Angus Harper scoring from three yards out to deadlock the contest 7-7 (5:23 remaining first).

The senior went left - cut back right and scored virtually untouched.Senior kicker Billy Arnez accounted for Edison's seventh point.

Following a Madison punt, Edison's best chance for the lead all night resulted in a blocked field goal from the Madison 13-yard line.

After a number of minutes and following a Billy Arnez punt, Madison moved from their 17-yard line to the Edison 11-yard line and subsequently converted a 29-yard field goal by James Devens to take the lead at 10-7 (47 seconds before halftime).

From that duration forward, Madison maintained their lead - outscoring Edison 14-3 in the third quarter and outscoring the Eagles 7-0 in the fourth quarter en route to the 31-10 victory.

Edison, coached by veteran Vaughn Lewis (guided Edison to the '86 State Division V Title and a host of District and Regional Titles as well), finished the '09 campaign with an overall record of 7-4.

Madison, coached by veteran Gordon Leib, weighs-in at 7-4 overall on the season and is scheduled to square off with Liberty District rival Stone Bridge on November 20 - (weather...permitting) - in the second of two Northern Region Division V slugfests.

Contact the writer at dgsusa@juno.com