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Sports

High School Football Preview: The Playoffs Continue

Ashburn Area Teams Dominate First Round Games, Move on to Regional Semi-Finals

The first round of the Virginia High School League football playoffs proved that the regular season success of the Ashburn area teams was no fluke. Stone Bridge, Broad Run and Briar Woods each steam rolled their opponents, winning by a combined score of 157 to 33, and advancing to their respective regional semi-final games. 

While Stone Bridge keeps rolling along with yearlong stalwarts such as Marcus Harris, Spencer Rositano and Brian Rody, Broad Run and Briar Woods are just now hitting their strides with the returns of Connor Jessop and Michael Brownlee from significant injuries. This week provides some intriguing matchups as Broad Run hits the road to take on an undefeated Louisa County team that is playing for more than just a victory, Briar Woods looks to avenge an early season loss to Liberty, and Stone Bridge takes on a South Lakes team it dismantled earlier this year. Ashburn Patch sports previews this week's exciting playoff action.

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AA, Region II, Division 4 playoffs

Broad Run Heads to Louisa While Lions' Player Fights a Bigger Battle Off the Field: Friday, 7:30pm at Louisa County High School

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Louisa County High School sits about 90 miles southwest of Ashburn, nestled in the small town of Mineral, VA, roughly between Charlottesville and Richmond. Louisa County is the kind of place where high school football still really matters. Regularly packing their stadium–nicknamed "The Jungle"–with more than 6,000 fans, the Lions deploy fireworks after scores and feature what must be the best mascot in the state: a live African Lion named Bubba. But none of the theatrics have boosted the team or the community more than a player who won't be on the field this Friday.

After struggling through the last days of the Lions' summer football camp at Hampden Sydney College, senior lineman Josh Campi came down with a nosebleed that would not stop. After being rushed to a hospital and undergoing a battery of tests, Campi was diagnosed with Leukemia. The Lions and their fans responded by rallying in support of Campi and raising more than $30,000 for his medical care (see link below for donation information). The Lions dedicated their season to him, voted to replace the Lion on the sides of their helmets with Josh's jersey #63, and used his health battle as motivation to help them start the season 11-0, including a first round playoff victory over James Wood. 

On the field, the Lions rely on a run-first offense featuring a bevy of talented running backs, including Anthony Hunter, the Jefferson District Offensive Player of the Year, and Rashawn Jackson. Brandon Ornduff, also a threat as a runner, was chosen as the district's Defensive Player of the Year at linebacker.

Broad Run (10-1) heads into this matchup riding a huge offensive boost from quarterback Connor Jessop, who returned last week from an early season collarbone injury. Against Sherando, Jessop was spectacular, passing for 322 yards and three touchdowns. During the game, the Spartans showed they are equally dangerous on the ground as through the air, as they easily switched between their traditional single-wing rushing attack and the Jessop-led spread passing offense. The main concern for the Spartans may be the defense, which has been susceptible to some big plays this season. But, their new found diveristy on offense should propel the Spartans to another playoff victory, and the possibility of a rematch with Briar Woods in the regional final. Whatever the result, we will all be cheering for Josh Campi to make a speedy recovery. Prediction: Broad Run 38 Louisa 28. 

If you would like to make a donation to support Josh Campi's medical care, please visit http://www.louisasports.com/fistsup63/index.html

Briar Woods Seeks Revenge Against Liberty:  Friday, 7:30pm at Briar Woods

In the second week of the season, the Briar Woods Falcons (9-2) lost to the Liberty Eagles (10-1) by a final score of 13-10. But the Falcon offense that struggled to score 10 points in that game does not even resemble the unit that will take the field this Friday night in Brambleton. Missing from that game was returning all-district running back Michael Brownlee, who broke his right fibula in the first game of the season, but has recently returned and rushed for more than 200 yards in each of his last two games. In addition, freshmen quarterback Trace McSorley has blossomed into one of the best offensive weapons in the district, and was selected as the Dulles District's Offensive Player of the Year. McSorley's maturation at the quarterback position and Brownlee's return spurred the growth of an offense that scored a total of 54 points in its first four games to one that has scored 54 points and 53 points in its past two games, respectively.

What has remained constant for the Falcons all season is the stifling defense.  In last week's first round playoff game, the Falcons held an Orange County offense that had scored at least 44 points in its last four games to a just seven points. Led by defensive back and district player of the year Scott Rolin, linebacker DeVontae O'Bannion, and Justin Baker, the Falcons are giving up less than ten points per game on the season, and continue to force game-changing turnovers. Last week, the Falcons even received a special teams spark when McSorley, whose offensive contributions were limited due to the effectiveness of the running game, blocked a punt that was returned by teammate Joe Rizzardi for a touchdown. 

While it is clear the Falcons are a different team than the one that lost to Liberty earlier this season, it's also clear that the Eagles are a more balanced and talented team than the Orange County Fighting Hornets that Briar Woods throttled last week. The Eagles' primary weapon on offense is running back Anthony Budd, who scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns in Liberty's 49-27 first round playoff victory over Fauquier. On defense, the Eagles are led by linebacker Cortez Carter, who is ranked as one of the top 20 recruits in Virginia and has verbally committed to play at Marshall University next year. 

But even these talented players won't be enough for Liberty to triumph over a Briar Woods tream that is currently hitting on all cylinders. Playing again in front of a rowdy orange and blue clad home crowd, the Falcons should keep Brambleton rocking this week, and possibly setup a highly anticipated rematch with Broad Run for the regional crown. Prediction: Briar Woods 35 Liberty 13.

AAA Northern Region, Division 5

Stone Bridge Continues Run to State Playoffs: Friday, 7:30pm at Stone Bridge

The Stone Bridge Bulldogs (11-0) did as expected in the first round of the playoffs, beating the overmatched J.E.B. Stuart Raiders to the tune of 55-0. In  addition to the winning scores, the Bulldog game statistics are even starting to get repetitive–Marcus Harris rushed for 163 yards again, the same number he rushed for against Fairfax earlier this season; the Boston College bound Spencer Rositano scored on offense and defense again–he completed the same feat against Madison; and the Bulldog defense pitched a shutout ... again ... their fourth of the season.

This week the Bulldogs take on a more familiar opponent, the South Lakes Seahawks (8-3). The Bulldogs closed out the regular season two weeks ago with a 49-13 victory over the Seahawks in Reston. Now the Seahawks come to Ashburn on the heels of their first playoff victory since 2002, a 39-0 victory over Mt. Vernon. The Seahawk's All-Liberty District defensive back and wide receiver Darius Smith had a huge game, returning a punt for a 45-yard touchdown and scoring on a 72-yard sweep. The Seahawks also got a big game from backup running back Ray Terry who was filling in for the injured Ja'Juan Jones (concussion). Terry racked up 138 yards on just 16 carries. 

Keeping with the repetition theme, expect the same thing from Stone Bridge this week, as they stay on course for another run at the state title. Prediction: Stone Bridge 45 South Lakes 6. [Detailed prediction: Marcus Harris will rush for 163 yards and three touchdowns, and Spencer Rositano will score on offense, defense, special teams, and will play in the marching band and sell hotdogs for the boosters club at halftime.]

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