TC's Left-handed Quarterback Carries the Day in Posting 17-10 Victory

Photo by FLICKR/christianspenceranderson/3933474468/ Friday night lights.

ALEXANDRIA, VA - T.C. Williams High School improved to 5-4 overall over the weekend with a solid 17-10 victory versus South County.

T.C. spotted the Stallions a 7-0 first quarter lead, but the Titans senior left-handed quarterback Joe Hargrove scored in the second quarter courtesy of a one-yard run and the game was deadlocked at halftime 7-7.

The Red, White and Blue of TCW. went ahead for good in the third quarter when running back Robert Carter ripped off a 28-yard scoring jaunt and the Titans led 14-7.

Both teams each added a fourth quarter field goal to account for the final margin of 17-10.

"Joe Hargrove was injured in the pre-season, his nonthrowing hand," remarked TC veteran Head Coach Dennis Randolph. "He just came back one week ago. Joe can really throw the ball and I believe that he can play at the next level."

In week eight of the season, Hargrove's first regular season game, the senior threw for 297 yards in the victory versus West Potomac. In week nine of the season, the senior threw for 96 yards in the victory versus South County.

The Titans are quite possibly inching closer to their first playoff berth in over a decade, but their focus needs to be on the much improved Lancers of Robert E. Lee (6-3 record) -- T.C.'s opponent in week 10 -- scheduled for the first weekend in November.

Episcopal Wins a Nail-Biter

Episcopal High School improved to 3-4 overall with a nail-biting 14-12 conquest of Alexandria City rival and Interstate Athletic Conference rival St. Stephens/St. Agnes. The Saints, coached by veteran Dave Holm, dropped to 5-3 overall in the process.

Specifically, the Saints bolted to a 6-0 first quarter lead before the Maroon put together two second quarter TD drives, to lead 14-6 at halftime.

Neither team scored in the third quarter, before the Saints scored the games only fourth quarter touchdown.

The Saints point total only equaled 12 because on their first PAT attempt, the kick was no good and on their second PAT attempt, the two-point pass attempt was no good.

The victorious Maroons, coached by veteran Mark Gowin, were led by junior quarterback Hunter de Butts with 140 all-purpose yards.

Saints quarterback David Solomon aired the ball out for 108 yards with tight end Laith Wallschleger accounting for 70 of those yards via three receptions.

Ireton now weighs-in at 6-3 overall on the season courtesy of a 40-22 loss to D.C. powerhouse charter school Friendship Collegiate.

In the contest, Ireton senior all-purpose threat Doug Lee-Vines opened the games scoring with a 30-yard run and the Cardinals led 6-0 at the conclusion of the first quarter.

The game was tied 14-14 at halftime, with Lee-Vines scoring from nine yards out.

Friendship Collegiate took control of the contest in the third quarter scoring 12 unanswered points enroute to a 26-14 lead at the conclusion of the third quarter.

Friendship eventually extended their lead to 40-14 in the final frame before Lee-Vines scored yet another touchdown for the Cardinals - this one from eight yards out - but it was too little too late.

Ireton, coached by veteran Tony Verducci, did not schedule O'Connell nor Paul VI this season for the first time ever (as long as the three schools were in existence on the varsity level).  "We wanted to play more of an independent schedule this season. We have our sights set on the Virginia Independent Schools Playoffs," said veteran athletic director Bill Simmons.

Little did Simmons know when he scheduled Friendship Collegiate just how competitive they would be.

For a case in point, in week one of the season, Friendship Collegiate convincingly thrashed DCIAA public school power Dunbar and thus it came as very little surprise that Ireton was going to have their hands full with visiting Friendship Collegiate last weekend.

Yorktown Triumphs over Mount Vernon

In Arlington, Yorktown High improved to 5-4 overall with a 21-3 victory versus Mount Vernon. The Patriots C.J. Bartholomew accounted for two of the Yorktown TD's (a 90-yard kickoff return and an eight-yard scoring reception). Yorktown senior quarterback Sam Nottingham added a three-yard scoring run with his legs as well as connecting with Bartholomew.

The Patriots, coached by veteran Bruce Hanson, have now won their four most recent contests.

Washington-Lee improved to 5-4 overall via a 28-6 thumping of South Arlington rival Wakefield. In the process, the Warriors dropped to 0-9 on the season.

W-L junior running back Anthony Taylor put a two-yard scoring run on the board in the first quarter. W-L senior wide receiver Karl Lendenmann added two second quarter TD receptions (seven and nine yards).

Lendenmann also added a 20-yard TD reception in the fourth quarter, with all three TD passes delivered by junior Richard Lewis.

The Wakefield touchdown was a second quarter 38-yard aerial from sophomore Drew Powell to junior tight end Thomas Rice.

W-L is coached by Josh Shapiro and Wakefield is coached by Keith Powell.

Bishop O'Connell dropped to 4-5 overall with a 30-7 setback to WCAC foe St. Johns. The Knights, coached by veteran Steve Trimble, merely trailed the Cadets 10-7 at halftime. St. Johns scored 20 unanswered second half points to prevail. The Knights lone touchdown of the day was scored on the ground by Greg Gadell from six yards out.

Coincidentally, Trimble is one of the few local coaches to have ever played in the NFL. The 51-year old head coach played for the Denver Broncos several decades ago after a standout career as a "DB" at the University of Maryland.

In an interesting wrinkle, the Baltimore Ravens just hosted the Denver Broncos on November 1st and defeated them 30-7. More interesting, Denver will visit FedEx Field on Nov. 15 in the Washington Redskins next home contest.

Also over the weekend, Thomas Edison High School improved to 7-2 overall with a 29-20 victory versus pesky JEB Stuart. The Eagles, coached by veteran Vaughn Lewis, are assured of a spot in the upcoming Northern Region Division V Playoffs.

Lewis, with a longer tenure in the Northern Region than any other local head coach, led the Eagles to the 1986 Division V State Title and has also led the Eagles to a host of National District Titles.

Hayfield improved to 7-2 overall with 34-13 thumping of Falls Church. The Hawks scored in each and every quarter and led 14-0 and 21-0 after the first two quarters respectively.  Hayfield also led 28-13 at the conclusion of the third quarter enroute to the 34-13 victory. Rayshawn Rigans led the way with three of the Hawks five touchdowns, specifically ground scores from: two, three and six yards out.

The Hawks, coached by interim head coach Roy Hill, are also assured of a playoff spot in the upcoming Division V playoffs.

The other four local schools dropped their contests. As mentioned, Mount Vernon dropped a 21-3 contest to Yorktown and in the process the Majors dropped to 0-9 on the season. Jefferson dropped a 34-7 contest to James Madison and in the process the Colonials likewise dropped to 0-9 on the season.

West Potomac dropped a 49-6 contest to Lake Braddock and in the process the Wolverines dropped to 2-7 overall on the season.

Annandale dropped a 42-14 contest to W.T. Woodson and in the process the Atoms dropped to 3-6 overall on the season. (Woodson is currently ranked #20 in the entire D.C. metro area by the Washington Post).In the WCAC Volleyball Playoffs, Alexandria Ireton dropped a 3-0 quarter-final contest to Virginia power Paul VI.

O'Connell defeated St. Johns of DC 3-1 in the quarter-finals before dropping a 3-0 match to Maryland power Good Counsel in the semi-finals.

In the finals, under the guiding eye of Candy Cage (WCAC Volleyball "chairwoman"), Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) defeated Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) 3-0 on Oct. 31 at Trinity University for their fourth consecutive title.

Good Counsel is coached by Karen Kart; whereas Paul VI is coached by Sam Farrar; whereas O'Connell is coached by Michael Barnett; whereas Ireton is coached by Kathy Gutmann.

Eight local players garnered all-league recognition for their accomplishments on the court.

From Ireton, Courtney Connaughton (third team) and Katherine Boyd, D'Elia Chandler and Lauren Monroe all received honorable mentions.

From O'Connell, Claire Crutchfield received first-team honors, Zoe Criley won second-team honors and Katelyn Catalfamo and Sophie Giaquinto both picked up honorable mentions.

'Skins Still Losers

The Washington Redskins merely weigh-in at 2-5 on the season. The Skins will square off with the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta on November 8 before returning to Fedex Field to square off with the Denver Broncos on Nov. 15.

As of this writing, it has been exactly 39 years and two months since the passing of former head coach Vince Lombardi.

In the book entitled "Washington Redskins - The Authorized History" by Thom Loverro, Loverro writes that "The City of Washington and the entire football community was devastated by the death of Vince Lombardi, who passed away on September 3, 1970 of cancer. At his funeral in Washington, Edward Bennett Williams told mourners that Lombardi 'had a covenant with greatness, more than any man I've ever known.'"

Email the writer at dgsusa@juno.com