All the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and ham in the world couldn't slow down the Bulldogs on a frigid day following the Thanksgiving holiday. For the Bulldogs, it was all gravy, as they rode Marcus Harris' three touchdowns (2 rushing, 1 receiving) to victory over Robert E. Lee High School.
Harris made his first endzone visit with 7:17 left in the first quarter, and he ran to the left side and around the Lancers defense. Robert E. Lee responded by moving the chains and finally settling for a field goal with 2:54 remaining in the first.
The Bulldogs hardly flinched, as Harris responded with a 29-yard touchdown catch in the second period, giving Stone Bridge a 14-3 lead. On the ensuing possession, Robert E. Lee struck back on a long touchdown run, pushing the score to 14-10, which is where it stayed at halftime as a promising Bulldogs drive was cut short with by a lost fumble with 1:10 left in the half.
The third period featured an array of hard hits, but little scoring, as Stone Bridge Kicker Abdul Shaban missed a field goal with 2:04 left in the third. The quarter ended with the score still stuck at 14-10. But then Harris struck again, gaining enough yardage on a 4th-and-1 on the Robert E. Lee High School 3-yard line to advanced the chains. He then scored on the next play on a 2-yard-touchdown jaunt up the middle, putting Stone Bridge up 21-10.
The rest of the game featured a series of fumbles and fourth down conversions, but neither team could successfully convert. Robert E. Lee had a chance to get back in it with five minutes left in the game, but a bad snap on 4th-and-9 killed their most promising drive of the quarter.
As time flew off the clock, Robert. E. Lee was able to get the ball all the way down to the Bulldogs' 1-yard-line before getting stuffed as time expired.
Shaban broke the Virginia High School State Record for most consecutive extra points converted successfully, a record previously held by Shane Graham, who went on to kick for the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL.
The win allowed Stone Bridge to clinch the Northern Region Division 5 Title.
Stone Bridge's kicker is Abdul Shaban, Abdul's olderbrother, Ronnie, kicked for Stone Bridge in the past but he has graduated and is now playing soccer for Comubia University. Congrats on the state record, Abdul!