Briar Woods, Stone Bridge Win Friday Games

Football occupied the Friday nights of thousands of Ashburn residents with all three high school varsity teams playing in the community.

The Bulldogs ran down the Robinson Rams 31-14 in a home game, while the Falcons pulled off a late-game surge to overcome the Spartans at 20-15.

Spartan Stand Falls Seconds Short

In what appears to be developing into an annual event, Broad Run (1-1) and Briar Woods (2-0) turned their matchup into a benefit called Battle for a Better Cause. Last year’s proceeds went to  and his family, while this year’s event benefit juvenile diabetes in honor of . Fans and cheerleaders for both teams wore white T-shirts, many of which were purchased for the cause, to show their support.

The Spartans came out fighting behind the “We are Sparta!” chants of their crowd, with two touchdowns and a 15-0 lead after the first the quarter. Spartan quarterback Brady Reitzel got things started just 62 seconds into the game with a 68-yard scoring pass to Dorian Jenkins. Da’Qwan Earl then crossed the end line on a 3-yard run, followed by a 2-point conversion. Reitzel threw for 70 yards and led the team rushing with 104 yards in the game.

Briar Woods fought back with a 6-yard Cory Colder touchdown about halfway through the second quarter, and the teams headed into halftime with the Spartans up 15-8.

After a scoreless third quarter, the Falcons began moving the ball. Colder and Falcon quarterback Trace McSorley kept up fast paces, with Colder running for 139 yards and McSorley throwing for 134.

With less than five minutes left, McSorley ran for a 1-yard touchdown to bring the Falcons within 1 point. An extra point, which a Falcon practiced successfully at halftime, would have tied the game, but Coach Charlie Pierce decided to go for a winning 2-point conversion. It failed, resulting in a 15-14 score.

Broad Run just had to hang on for about four minutes in a game they had since the first quarter.

But Colder must had heard the Briar Woods fans alternately shouting his name and “Let’s go Falcons!” because he pushed down the field and finally across the goal line for a 9-yard touchdown. With just 24 seconds left in the game, that play sealed the win for Briar Woods 20-15.

Bulldog Muscle Too Much for Rams

The Bulldog defense helped Stone Bridge (1-0) build an early lead at home against the Rams (0-1), who were unable to get on the scoreboard in the first half.

Two defensive touchdowns on blocked punts along with two extra points and a 32-yard field goal by kicker Brendan Smedley put the Bulldogs up 17-0 at halftime. Gunner Blackshaw and Zach Wilson were the defenders who scored after the blocks.

But Robinson pushed back in the third quarter with a 45-yard rushing touchdown by Joe Wilson. Aidan Rockwood finished with an extra point. The team also kept the Bulldogs from scoring throughout the third quarter.

But the Bulldogs offense finally got on the scoreboard in with touchdown runs in the fourth quarter by Cameron Reynolds and Ryan Burns.

The Rams’ Wilson got into the end zone one more time, but his team never even pulled within a touchdown in the second half.

Next Week

All three Ashburn teams play Sept. 7, but only Stone Bridge plays at home. Here are the schedules:

• Chantilly Chargers (1-0) at Stone Bridge Bulldogs (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
• Briar Woods Falcons (2-0) at Park View Patriots (0-2), 7 p.m.
• Broad Run Spartans (1-1) at Woodbridge Senior Vikings (1-0), 7:30 p.m.