Football Playoffs: Three Games in Ashburn Friday Night

Choices will be difficult for football fans in Ashburn Friday night as all three high schools host regional playoff football games. Ashburn Patch and vivaloudoun.com plan to be on the scene and with live score updates and complete game coverage. Enjoy the previews below, including Twitter information for Friday’s score updates.

Loudoun County Raiders at Falcons

Friday, 7:00 p.m.
Follow score updates on Twitter @locosportsbeat

Not that long ago, the Falcons and Loudoun County faced each other, and it didn't end well for LoCo. In the last game of the regular season, the Raiders (9-2) had a chance to claim a share of the Dulles District championship with a win over the Falcons. With the score tied at 7-7 at halftime, it looked like the Raiders might just pull it off. But a 21-point third-quarter outburst by the Falcons put the game out of reach and helped bring the district title back to Brambleton with the 35-7 win.

LoCo overcame the tough end of season loss in a big way by thumping Heritage 42-14 in last week's opening round playoff game. Briar Woods overcame a sluggish first half last week to pull away from Park View in a 49-21 opening-round win. 

Prediction: Briar Woods has not truly been tested by any Dulles District team this season, including LoCo. LoCo has a good, well-coached team, but lacks the overall talent of Briar Woods. Expect more of the same from the Falcons this week. Briar Woods 42, Loudoun County 14.

South County Stallions at Bulldogs

Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Follow Twitter updates by Dan Sousa @VivaLoudoun

As the saying goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. It's getting close to Thanksgiving, and that means Stone Bridge football should be hitting its stride in the regional playoffs and getting ready to advance to states yet again.

Despite replacing ten offensive starters from last year's team, the Bulldogs (10-1) are doing their part to maintain the annual tradition. After struggling to score points early this season, the team reeled off eight straight wins and has averaged more than 33 points per game. Last week, Stone Bridge blanked Langley 35-0 in the first game of the Northern Region Division 5 playoffs.

What may be different for the Bulldogs this year is the level of competition awaiting them as they advance in the regional playoffs. This week, they play host to the South County Stallions (8-3), a team also riding an eight-game winning streak, including a 31-0 win over Madison last week.

According to Elton Hayes’ article in the Lorton Patch, South County has found its identity as a run-heavy team. The team’s three leading rushers (Peter Basnight, Andrew Rector and Shane Foley) have combined for 1,271 yards and 14 touchdowns. While the trio rushed for just 76 yards against Madison, Foley – the team’s starting quarterback – relied on his arm to help secure the win. The senior passed for 121 yards and three touchdowns, turning in arguably his best passing performance of the season.

South County’s strength lies with its defense. The Stallions have forced 18 turnovers during their eight-game win streak. The Stallions are also battle tested, having gone 3-0 in games decided by less than six points.

Prediction: Much like Briar Woods versus LoCo, this game will come down to talent, and Stone Bridge has more of it. Stephen Trivieri, Stan Johnson and Ryan Burns are standouts on offense, while Jonathan Allen and Mike Tompkins anchor the Bulldogs’ stout defense. Unless Stone Bridge gets a case of the turnover bug – which they've been prone to at times this season – the Bulldogs should roll. Stone Bridge 24, South County 10.

Brooke Point Blackhawks at Spartans

Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Follow score updates on Twitter @locosportsbeat

After enjoying a bye last week as the No. 2 seed in the Northwest Region Division 5 playoffs, the Spartans (8-2) get back to work this week against the Blackhawks with a trip to the regional finals on the line.

The Blackhawks (8-3) enter the game after knocking off Mountain View 42-35 last week, in a game that displayed the Brooke Point’s high-powered passing attack. Quarterback Zach Deutel threw for more than 360 yards and three touchdowns. The performance marked the quarterback's third 300-plus-yard passing game during a season when he's piled up nearly 2,500 yards through the air.

The Spartans have a pretty good quarterback of their own in Connor Jessop, who has thrown for more than 1,800 yards this season, with 15 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Jessop scored another five touchdowns rushing this season, and has piled up more yards on the ground (270) than any Brooke Point running back.

And Jessop can turn to fellow senior Derril Thomas when the team really needs rushing yards; Thomas has nearly 1,000 rushing yards and a whopping 18 touchdowns on the ground this year.

Prediction: Brooke Point has one win on its resume that could concern Spartan fans. The Blackhawks manhandled Osbourn 54-21 in the first game of the season, while the Spartans needed a goal-line stand to hold on for a 27-20 win over the Eagles. After starting the season 0-2, Osbourn rebounded to go 7-3 and make the playoffs, and was not the same struggling team that faced Brooke Point by the time the team played the Spartans. Balanced offense should be the key for Broad Run in the game, and the Spartan defense should be able to handle the one-dimensional Blackhawk attack. Broad Run 35, Brooke Point 21.