MaxPreps Student Section: Stone Bridge locks up Liberty District
By Sarah Barshop
Nov 6, 2009, 12:00am
Bulldogs secure at least a tie atop Liberty District.
On Friday, October 30, the Stone
Bridge Bulldogs traveled to McLean,
Virginia, to take on the McLean
Highlanders. The Bulldogs beat the Highlanders 38-21 and clinched at least a
tie atop the Liberty District.
The Bulldogs took the lead halfway
through the first quarter on a drive that included a 28-yard pass from junior
quarterback Kyle Gouveia to junior J.J White, and a stellar running game.
Gouveia ran eight yards for the touchdown. Senior kicker Abdul Shaban kicked
the PAT to put the Bulldogs up 7-0.
The Highlanders answered back with an
89-yard drive that was highlighted by two big plays, including a 37-yard pass
from McLean quarterback William Hecht to wide
receiver Jonathan Fremerman, and a 29-yard touchdown run by running back Riley
Beiro. Kicker Andrew Hunt made the extra point to tie the game 7-7.
The next Bulldogs’ possession
turned into a turnover trade off. After the Bulldogs fumbled to give the
Highlanders the ball, McLean gave it back on
their own 37-yard line. Six plays later the Bulldogs scored on a Marcus Harris
one-yard run. After Shaban’s kick, the Bulldogs were back on top, 14-7.
The Highlanders responded again,
with a three-play possession. Hecht threw a 68-yard pass to a wide-open
Fremerman who ran the ball into the end zone to tie the game again.
On the Bulldogs’ next drive, the
lead changed for the final time of the night after the Bulldogs marched down
the field on an 83-yard drive. Gouveia’s 6-yard completion to senior Taylor
Lambke was the third touchdown of the game for the Bulldogs. Shaban’s PAT was
good, and the Bulldogs led 21-14.
Once again, the two teams traded
turnovers, interceptions this time. Hecht’s was the latest and gave the Bulldogs
the ball on the McLean 47-yard line. Gouveia
threw a 47-yard pass to junior Spenser Rositano who scored to put the Bulldogs
up 27-14. The score stayed the same after the team failed to convert a
two-point conversion attempt.
The Bulldogs tried to put three
more points on the board before the half was over, but Rositano missed on a
40-yard field goal.
The Highlanders were able to take
advantage of Gouveia’s interception in the third quarter. Beiro’s second
touchdown of the game came on a one-yard run, bringing the Highlanders closer,
with a score of 27-21.
The score didn’t stay the same for
long as junior running back Adrian Thomas returned McLean’s
kick to the McLean 44-yard line. Harris
quickly increased the Bulldogs’ lead with a 56-yard touchdown run. The Bulldogs
attempted a two-point conversion for the second time of the game, and this time
they were successful. Gouveia ran into the end zone to put the Bulldogs ahead
35-21.
Shaban kicked a 21-yard field goal late in the
fourth quarter to make the final score 38-21. The Highlanders failed to get a 1st
down on their next possession, and the Bulldogs ran out the clock to preserve
the victory.
The Bulldogs are now 8-1, and 5-1 in
the Liberty District. The team will return home to Ashburn next Friday to take
on the South Lakes Seahawks, who are 5-4, and 4-2 in the District.
With the loss to Stone Bridge,
the Highlanders’ record fell to 5-4, and 3-3 in the District. On Friday the
Highlanders will host the Langley Saxons, who share the same record.
