Junior RB Michael Brownlee took center stage, running and passing his team to a 14-7 victory. The Falcons evened their Dulles District record to 2-2 (2-6 overall) while the Panthers dropped to 1-3 in District (2-5 overall).
The home team would strike first when QB Zachary Hobby hit WR Tarell Owens in full stride at the 10-yard line on a 38-yard scoring strike with one minute remaining in the first quarter. That would be the Panthers’ only score and it set the stage for Brownlee’s extraordinary performance.
On the ensuing possession, starting at the Briar Woods 40-yard line, offensive coordinator Kip Shallis put the offense into the “wildcat” formation” with Brownlee receiving the ball about five yards behind the center. The first wildcat series moved the ball to the Panther 27-yard line as Brownlee ran the ball seven times for 32 yards, but the drive stalled on downs. An effective Falcon defense forced a three-and-out and after the punt Briar Woods would start their next drive on their own 44.
Back in wildcat, Brownlee started this series with a successful seven yard pass to WR Kyle Haufler. Having shown the opposition that he could pass as well as run, Brownlee would run the ball six times for 44 yards, the final run of 18 yards being good for the touchdown. Brownlee finished the evening with 164 yards gained on 31 carries. His biggest play however, came via the pass.
With the half ending with the game tied at seven, Briar Woods kicked off to start the second half. K David Clements executed an almost perfect on-side kick in which he drove the ball into the ground, popping it 10 feet into the air. The stunned Panthers could only watch as Victor Rizzardi dove and caught the ball in the air before hitting the turf on the Panthers’ 49. On the next play, again in the wildcat formation, Brownlee sprinted a few steps to his right as if running a sweep only to stop, set himself, and launch the ball 45 yards in the air. The long pass came down into the hands of Haufler, who ran untouched into the end zone. Clements’ extra point kick made the score 14-7, and there would be no more scoring by either team.
The Falcon defense took control of the game on the wet field and did not let the Panthers into the red zone for the entire half. S Scott Rolen led the team with seven tackles in addition to a drive-stopping interception in the fourth quarter. DL Matt Quist was particularly effective with seven tackles, two of which went for a loss. Four of DL Billy McDonald’s five tackles were solos; three of them were behind the Panthers’ line of scrimmage. DL Omar Omokhodian and LB Tavis Henry each had five tackles.
%7Cutmcsr%3D(direct)%7Cutmcmd%3D(none)%3B%2B__utmv%3D53188395.-%3B)
Have you guys ever seen any other high school sports? Why is it 100% football? There are like 20 sports going on at my school