Potomac Falls triumphs at Park View
By Jason S. Rufner
Potomac Falls kept its dream of a Dulles District championship alive Oct. 10 with a 28-20 road win against Park View on the Patriots' homecoming night.
The Panthers (3-0 in the Dulles District, 6-0 overall) never trailed but could not shake the persistent Patriots until three minutes remained in the fourth quarter.
"I'm really glad we had a [close] game like this. That's a good football team over there," Panther coach Scott Woodlief said, pointing to where the Patriots had gathered post-game. "It's going to help us. I think the kids stepped their game up."
With 20 yards needed to convert a third down, Michael Baker sprinted and twisted for a 20-yard run to give the Panthers a fresh set of downs and diminish Park View's hopes of completing a comeback.
The senior running back, who gained six first downs on the night, credited his pathmakers up front.
"It was all in the offensive line and Matt Kaesar at fullback. They opened up the holes and I just got behind them," Baker said. "It's real easy up there."
Woodlief credited his offensive line, which was without suspended center Trevor Cottom.
"The offensive line worked really, really hard tonight," he said. "All of the kids are playing really hard right now."
The Patriots' defense held the Panthers to their lowest point total of the season while creating 12 plays for zero or negative yardage.
"Robert Hayes is a monster. People are going to start knowing who he is," Park View coach Andy Hill said of his junior defensive lineman. "I thought this was [lineman] Kenny Smith's best game on defense. I'm real proud of our defense -- they did a nice job."
The spirited intra-Sterling rivalry saw numerous penalties and a multitude of big plays. Ten snaps produced offensive gains of at least 15 yards.
Park View saw its hopes of climbing back into the Dulles race take a severe hit as its record falls to 1-2, 2-4. It will visit Briar Woods in Brambleton Oct. 17.
That same night, Potomac Falls welcomes Freedom in a prelude to the Panthers' highly anticipated showdown Oct. 24 at defending Dulles champion Broad Run (3-0, 6-0).
Individual leaders
Passing: PF - Woodlief (12 of 18 for 203 yards, 2 TDs); PV - Lee (6 of 14 for 97 yards, 2 TDs, 1 int.)
Rushing: PF - Baker (22 for 114 yards); PV - Lee (12 for 71 yards, 1 TD)
Receiving: PF - McMichael (6 for 87 yards, 1 TD), Owens (4 for 111 yards, 1 TD); PV - Mason (2 for 54 yards, 1 TD), Jones (2 for 20 yards, 1 TD)