The Stone Bridge Bulldogs (3-0) enter the 2010 season looking to build on a decade of dominance in Virginia AAA Division 5 football and return to the state championship.
After last year's 15-10 loss to the nationally ranked Phoebus Phantoms in last year's title game, redemption remains on the players' minds. The team continued its undefeated season with a 49-6 win over West Springfield Thursday night.
First-team, all-state performers Marcus Harris (running back) and safety Spencer Rositano lead the Bulldogs' senior-laden team—10 starters on offense graduate this year. Senior Brian Rody has emerged as the starting quarterback this season, ahead of sophomore Ryan Burns, who has already received a scholarship offer from Boston College despite playing only one season of junior varsity football.
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Despite struggling to score in their first victory of the season against Division 6 power Westfield, Rody led a Bulldog attack that scored 49 first-half points in a 56-7 rout of Heritage.
Still patrolling the sidelines after 11 years as head coach, Mickey Thompson (107-22 at Stone Bridge) seeks his second state title with the Bulldogs. Thompson's coaching staff took a hit this summer when longtime assistant and offensive coordinator Matt Griffis took the head coaching job at AA Broad Run.
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Despite that loss, the Bulldogs are favored to win their eighth straight Liberty District crown and another trip to the state playoffs.
