The first weekend of post-season action saw few surprises for Northern Virginia’s top teams. Westfield (11-0) and Stone Bridge (11-0) began their pursuit of a return to the 6A and 5A championship games by scoring twice as many points as their opponent. For Westfield, the 28-14 win over Battlefield (7-4) was a good test, while Stone Bridge’s 42-21 decision over Lee (4-7) was more pedestrian.
Other unbeaten teams were also successful. Eastern View crushed Ashland’s Patrick Henry 54-6 to raise its record to 11-0. However, three other teams in Class 4B are also loss free, and the Cyclones will have their hands full at top-seeded Dinwiddie (11-0) next weekend.
Freedom (11-0) manhandled South County (5-6) 48-12 behind another stellar outing from A.J. Felton. Colonial Forge (10-0) also stayed undefeated, but their job was easier as they drew a bye last weekend as the top seed in the 6B bracket.
Flint Hill (10-0) kept their record perfect and will play in the first state championship game, as they defeated Benedictine 35-21 to earn a berth in the VISAA Division I championship next weekend against Collegiate, one of three Richmond schools to make the Final Four. This week’s recap starts in Vienna, with the Huskies semifinal win over the Cadets.
VISAA Div. I Semifinals - Flint Hill 35, Benedictine 21
Jordan Houston scored three long touchdowns as the Huskies opened up a 28-0 lead through three quarters and handily defeated the visiting Cadets in Vienna.
Two of Houston’s touchdowns came on screen passes from Miles Thompson, which he took for 67 and 57-yard scores. The junior also ran for a 77-yard score and gained 217 yards on 93 yards rushing and the two touchdown catches totaling 124 yards. Thompson completed 10 of 12 passes for 231 yards with three touchdowns, as Jamarian Hawkins (4 catches, 60 yards) had the other touchdown reception, from 18 yards. The junior quarterback also scored on a six-yard run and led the Huskies ground attack with 106 yards.
Sophomore linebacker Jaylin Hertz paced the Husky defense with a season-high 16 tackles. Hawkins, who leads the team in interceptions with six, had one on Saturday, while senior Conor Keegan added a sack.
3B Playoffs – James Monroe 38, Brentsville 16
The Yellow Jackets allowed Brentsville to build a 16-7 lead before storming back to score 31 straight points for a crucial first-round win.
A 40-yard Miguel Hernandez field goal and one-yard TD plunge by K.J. Conaway gave James Monroe (5-6) a tenuous 17-16 lead entering the fourth quarter. A.J. Johnson (15 carries, 79 yards) started the fourth quarter with an 11-yard rushing touchdown to give the Jackets some breathing room at 24-16. Later, Chris Reaves-Williams scored his second receiving touchdown on a 21-yard pass from Zakk Davis, while Omaru Barnum completed the scoring with a 22-yard run.
Led by end Chris Carter, the Jackets held Brentsville (4-7) to just 90 total yards, all coming over 41 rushes, as BVHS was zero for four on passing.
Monroe will travel to Warren County (6-4) next week in their second-round matchup.
4C Playoffs – Sherando 27, Dominion 10
Dominion was one of two Northern Virginia teams to be knocked out on Friday, leaving Liberty-Bealeton and Fauquier’s Kettle Run as the only teams remaining in contention in Class 4.
The Titans (7-4) dropped to Sherando of Stephens City 27-10. The Warriors (9-2) had trouble getting their offense in gear, but used turnovers and strong defensive play to bolster their effort.
Sherando will face top-seeded Millbrook next weekend.
5C Playoffs – Tuscarora 28, Potomac Falls 7
Justin Allen beat the Panthers with his arm and feet on Friday to lead Tuscarora to next week’s second-round matchup at Broad Run (10-1).
Allen opened the scoring with a short pass to Kyle Jenkins that the tight end took 55 yards to the end zone, as Tusky opened a 7-0 first quarter lead. Allen (seven carries, 129 yards) added a 36-yard score to cap a 99-yard drive. Allen added a 61-yard run for a touchdown in the second half, while Jaylon Lundy added a one-yard plunge for Tuscarora (9-2).
6C Playoffs - Hylton 47, Hayfield 13
The Bulldogs gained 457 yards on the ground, as three players gained over 100 in Hylton’s decisive win over Hayfield.
Ricky Slade ran for 123 yards and five touchdowns, all in the second and third quarters. However, it was quarterback Jordan Davis who led all rushers with 217 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. Ra’Quan Johnson added 100 yards and a touchdown for Hylton (8-3), who will face top-seeded Freedom (11-0) next weekend.
6C Playoffs - Woodbridge 27, Mt. Vernon 0
In a game that matched Woodbridge’s stingy defense against Mt. Vernon’s high-octane offense (37.2 ppg.), the Vikings won convincingly, shutting out the Majors, in a game in which the visitors gained just 70 total yards.
Andrew Ellis, Caleb Grant and Lamont James scored rushing touchdowns for Woodbridge (10-1), while Antevious Jackson passed for 195 yards and one touchdown, a 15-yard scoring completion to Dashaun Jerkins. The powerful defense held Tim Heltzel and Kofi Kwarteng to two of 15 passing for 18 yards.
Woodbridge will host Lake Braddock (8-3) next week. The Bruins, after an 0-3 start, have won their last eight games.
6D Playoffs - Madison 22, Centreville 15
John Finney caught a 60-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Berry to score the decisive touchdown. Berry and Brandon Walker (25 carries, 92 yards) also scored short rushing touchdowns, and the Warhawk defense held the Wildcats to 195 yards.
Sixth-seeded Madison (8-3) will travel to South Lakes next weekend to face the 10-1 Seahawks, the number two seed.
Episcopal 21, Woodberry Forest 7
Perris Jones rushed for 188 yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Seth Agwunobi ran for two as the Maroon defeated their biggest rival Woodberry Forest in a continuation of the South’s longest prep school rivalry.
For Episcopal (5-4), the win was a solid ending to a somewhat disappointing season. Jones finished the season with 1,095 yards, his third consecutive 1000-yard season. The Maroon rushed for 287 yards against the Tiger defense. Woodberry Forest finished the season at 6-3.
Other weekend playoff scores
Broad Run 49, Wakefield 7
Brooke Point 63, Orange 0
Champe 56, Falls Church 13
Culpeper 29, Spotsylvania 27
Eastern View 54, Patrick Henry (Ashland) 6
Freedom-Woodbridge 48, South County 12
Kettle Run 35, Loudoun County 9
Lake Braddock 32, T.C. Williams 18
Louisa 35, Courtland 13
North Stafford 31, Mountain View 0
Patriot 60, Marshall 7
R.E. Lee 49, George Mason 21
Riverbend 48, James River 7
South Lakes 49, Yorktown 14
Stafford 48, Patrick Henry (Roanoke) 0
Stone Bridge 42, Lee 21
Washington-Lee 15, Colonial Beach 14
Westfield 28, Battlefield 14
