Titans Shootout Victory over West Potomac, 38-37

Photo by FLICKR/spartanfoto/3982472648/ Spartan wide receiver TJ O'Connell about to catch a Titan punt during the game between the West Springfield Spartans and the TC Williams Titans on October 2.

ALEXANDRIA, VA - Despite a heavy rain, the fireworks commenced early at T.C. Williams High School last weekend, as the Titans improved to 4-4 on the season with a tremendous 38-37 shootout victory versus Patriot District rival West Potomac.  "It was a very exciting game," said veteran T.C. head coach Dennis Randolph.

Playing at home on Oct. 24, the 75-point contest featured 11 touchdowns and two field goals. Titan senior kick returner/wide receiver Cortez Taylor returned the games opening kickoff to the house and T.C. led 7-0.

As the first quarter concluded, T.C. led 14-12. A 30-yard field goal by the Titans Manuel Benites to commence the second quarter upped the Titans lead to 17-12 and as the quarter concluded the home Red, White and Blue led the visiting Wolverines 23-19.

"I told the kids at half that defensively we just needed to stop them," said Coach Randolph, who coached previously at Edison and South Lakes.

In the only game of the season in which both teams scored in every single quarter, the Titans trailed the Wolverines 31-29 as the third quarter concluded.

In the decisive fourth quarter, wide receiver Rob Carter caught an eight-yard scoring pass from left-handed QB Joe Hargrove to once again give T.C. the lead at 35-31.

The Wolverines, coached by former T.C. head coach Eric Henderson, responded with a long TD pass of their own to take their final lead at 37-35.

Benites drilled a 23-yard field goal in the waning moments of the contest and T.C. celebrated their fourth victory of the season.

The Titans have now defeated Mount Vernon, Oakton, Annandale and West Potomac."Today was one of those real shootout type contests in which I've only been involved with previously on a couple of rare occasions," Randolph said. "It was quite a game. There were moments that I couldn't even see across the field to the other sidelines due to the torrential downpour of rain out there."

The veteran T.C. head coach is ahead of last season's 3-7 mark with games on the horizon versus South County Oct. 30 and Robert E. Lee on Nov. 6.

Ireton Thumps Sidwell Friends

Ireton improved to 6-2 on the season with a 48-0 thumping of Sidwell Friends.

The Cardinals scored in every quarter and led: 14-0, 28-0 and 35-0 after the first three quarters respectively.

The Cardinal and Gold, coached by veteran Tony Verducci, were paced offensively by Doug Lee-Vines (three rushing touchdowns), as well as by Tommy Kestermann, Moses Webb, Andrew Bladen and Rick Baier with one rushing touchdown apiece.

Verducci, the brother of Sports Illustrated writer Tom Verducci, has directed the Cardinals past last season's 4-6 mark with two regular season games remaining, including a matchup Oct. 31 versus D.C. charter school powerhouse Friendship Collegiate.

Episcopal Back in the Win Column

Episcopal finally got back into the win column, with a 19-7 victory versus St. Christophers of Richmond. It was only the Maroons' second win of the season and now the oldest high school in Alexandria record stands at 2-4.

Junior standout QB Hunter de Butts accounted for all three of the Maroon touchdowns. Head coach Mark Gowin's signal caller ripped off scoring runs of one, 52 and 55 yards.

The Maroon is scheduled to visit IAC rival St. Stephens/St. Agnes on Oct. 31.

St. Stephens Drops One

St. Stephens/St. Agnes was the lone city school to drop a contest this past weekend. The Saints, coached by veteran Dave Holm, locked horns with IAC front-runner Landon and the Bears defeated SSSA 12-0.

The Saint defense kept the Bears out of the endzone the entire first half and merely trailed 3-0 at halftime.

Montgomery County Landon scored via the ground in the third quarter to forge ahead 10-0 after the conclusion of the first 36 minutes.

The Bears added a fourth quarter safety to account for the 12-0 margin.

As mentioned above, the Red, White and Green of Saint Stephens/St. Agnes will lock horns with Episcopal October 31.

Yoktown Tears up South Arlington

Yorktown improved to 4-4 overall with a 51-18 victory versus South Arlington rival Wakefield. The winning Patriots will host Mount Vernon October 30 and the losing Warriors will visit Washington-Lee October 30.

Washington-Lee dropped to 4-4 overall with a tough 32-23 loss to Edison. The losing Generals will host Wakefield October 30 and the winning Eagles will visit JEB Stuart Oct. 30.

O'Connell dropped to 4-4 overall with a 35-7 setback to WCAC powerhouse DeMatha. The Knights will visit St. Johns of DC on Oct. 31.

Email the writer at dgsusa@juno.com