Friday Nights Lights and Four Victories to Kick off Football Season

Photo by Flickr/jamie-williams-photo/1474601806/ Alexandria’s high schools are in full swing of their busy athletic schedule. Eight of the 10 local teams kicked off this past weekend and snapped up four victories to commence the fall high school football season.

Eight of the 10 local teams kicked off this past weekend and recorded four victories to commence the fall high school football season.

The “Game of the Week” had to be Ireton defeating WCAC rival Carroll 20-18.  Also, T.C. Williams hit the road and dropped a tough 36-23 contest to Robinson.

In Fairfax County, Hayfield defeated G.C. Marshall, Annandale defeated Centreville 21-14 and West Potomac soundly defeated Mount Vernon 42-3.

Regarding the Ireton game, the Cardinals and the Lions were scoreless after the first 12-minute quarter was in the proverbial books. Early in the second quarter, the homestanding Cardinal and Gold found the end zone for the first time this season when senior wide receiver Tommy Kestermann hauled in a 19-yard TD pass from senior quarterback Oliver Noon.

With 2:56 remaining in the pivotal quarter, Ireton senior DB Doug Vines picked off a Carroll pass near the goal line and raced 97 yards down the right side of the field (in front of the Lion bench) to put Ireton ahead 14-0. (Junior placekicker Theo Daubresse converted the first two PAT's on the day with sophomore backup QB Andrew Bladen holding and sophomore lineman Eddie D'Antuono snapping).

With merely 52 seconds remaining in what turned out to be the games decisive quarter, Noon hooked up with senior wide receiver Dom Puglise on a 12-yard scoring strike (PAT was no good) and the Cardinals led 20-0.

Carroll, from N.E. D.C., put two TD's of their own on the scoreboard in the third quarter and also added another TD in the fourth quarter.

Ireton did not find the endzone in the second half offensively, but came away with the victory due to the fact that Carroll was unsuccessful on all three PAT attempts (two kicks/one pass attempt).

Ireton head coach Tony Verducci and the Cardinals will next host Riverdale Baptist September 12 at 2 p.m.

The Cardinals completed the '08 season with a record of 4-6, substantially below the 9-3 mark that they posted in the fall of '07.

T.C. Williams ventured to Fairfax County and nearly came away with a victory. The Red, White and Blue Titans went toe to toe with Robinson all night long.

The Titans opened the contest with 14 first quarter points to take a 14-7 lead after the initial 12-minute frame concluded.

Senior running back/defensive back Cortez Taylor scored via a 60-yard run and via an 80-yard kickoff return to put the Fear of God into Robinson.

In the second quarter, the Titans added a 53-yard scoring run by Rob Carter and also a 33-yard field goal - to lead 23-14 at intermission (their PAT was no good following Carter's run).

Whereas it has been many years since T.C. has defeated Robinson, September 4th ultimately did not change that unfortunate streak.

Robinson generated seven third quarter points and 15 fourth quarter points to prevail 36-23.

T.C. head coach Dennis Randolph and the Titans will next travel to Mount Vernon to square off with the Majors on September 11th at 7:30 pm.

Last fall, TCW finished 3-7 overall - down slightly from the 4-6 mark that they accrued in the fall of 2007, Randolph's first season.

In upcoming contests, St. Stephens/St. Agnes will host St. Christophers of Richmond on September 12  at 1 pm, and Episcopal will not open until September 18 when they visit Flint Hill of Oakton at 1 pm.

Also regarding Fairfax Countym Annandale will visit Falls Church on September 11 at 7:30 p.m; Edison will host Centreville on September 11 7:30 p.m; Hayfield will visit Robert E. Lee on September 11 at 7:30 p.m; Jefferson will host South Lakes on September 11 at 7:30 p.m. Mount Vernon will host T.C. Williams and West Potomac will visit Westfield on September 11 at 7:30 p.m.
 
David Steinbacher is Local Kicks Sports Editor. Contact him at dgsusa@juno.com