On Friday, October 9, the Stone Bridge Bulldogs played the Fairfax Rebels for the first time on the football field. The Rebels are the newest addition to the Liberty District.
The first series of the game for the Rebels was hampered by three penalties. Twice the Rebels thought they got the 1st down, but a holding call and an ineligible receiver downfield cost the Rebels fresh set of downs.
The Bulldogs’ offense was led by junior quarterback Kyle Gouveia for the second week because of a shoulder injury to junior quarterback Brian Rody. Both offenses did little in the first quarter. The only score came when the ball went over the head of the Fairfax punter on 4th and 5, and was recovered in the end zone by Stone Bridge junior Ryan Lowdermilk with a minute and a half left in the quarter. The Bulldogs attempted an onside kick, but failed to get the football, and the Rebels had the ball at their own 44-yard line.
The second quarter started as the Rebels continued their march down the field. They converted twice on 4th downs to extend the drive, the first time this season that the Bulldogs have not stopped a 4th down attempt. The Rebels were able to convert on six of their eight tries. On 2nd and 8, senior Stephen Pak caught a 16 yard pass from senior quarterback Jack Bechert, and senior kicker Kevin Playuk kicked the extra point to tie the score at 7 with 8:12 left in the half.
The Bulldogs’ next possession was a long drive, helped by a 32-yard run by junior running back Marcus Harris. Harris’ run brought the Bulldogs to the Fairfax 9-yard line, but on a 4th and goal, Harris fumbled the ball, and the Bulldogs turned the ball over on downs.
The Rebels were unable to get a 1st down on their next possession, and were forced to punt the ball. Stone Bridge junior Spenser Rositano returned the ball to the Fairfax 31, and on the first play, Gouveia threw a 20-yard pass to Rositano to give the Bulldogs a 1st down at the Fairfax 11. After losing three yard, Gouveia ran the ball 14 yards for a touchdown. After kicker Abdul Shaban kicked the extra point, Stone Bridge was up 14-7 with 55 seconds remaining in the half.
Two plays later, Gouveia ran the ball into the end zone from 14 yards out to put the Bulldogs up 14-7 with 45 seconds left in the half.
Stone Bridge started the half with the football, and wasted no time finding the end zone. Harris was all but one yard of the Bulldogs’ offense on the 76-yard, 5 play drive, scoring untouched on a 19-yard run. Shaban’s extra point extended the Bulldogs lead to 21-7 with 9:21 in the third quarter.
The two teams traded possessions, but later in the third, the Rebels were able to put together a nine play drive, on which they once again were able to convert twice on 4th downs. The drive was capped off by a 30 yard pass from Bechert to senior wide receiver Alex Young. However, Playuk’s kick failed and the Stone Bridge lead remained 21-13.
The Bulldogs’ first series of fourth quarter also featured Harris as the Bulldogs made their ways towards the Fairfax end zone. However, it was junior running back Adrian Thomas who ran for a 21-yard touchdown to keep the Bulldogs’ in the lead by a score of 28-13 with 9:37 left in the game.
With the Bulldogs up by 15 points, the Rebels knew they had little time to score in order to make a comeback. However, it took Fairfax eight minutes, and 16 plays to tighten the lead to 28-20. The Rebels were once again able to convert on 4th downs, and Bechert completed a 15-yard pass to Young for a touchdown. Having used most of the clock, the Rebels were forced to try an onside kick, but Rositano was able to pick up the football to essentially end the game.
With the win, the Bulldogs’ record is 6-0, and 3-0 in district play. The team returns to Ashburn on Friday, October 17, to play the Madison Warhawks for their homecoming game.
After losing, the Rebels’ record falls to 2-4, and 1-2 in the Liberty district. On Friday the Rebels stay on the road, and will travel to South Lakes to play the Seahawks.
