SLHS Athletic Booster Club

Bulldogs Burst into Playoff Mode

Stone Bridge’s quarterfinals football win over South Lakes sets up rematch encounter with Madison.

Reston Connection

By E. Denis Eaton

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

In a first round game of the Northern Region Div. 5 football playoffs last Friday night, the Stone Bridge Bulldogs and South Lakes Seahawks were meeting for the second time in as many weeks. On Nov. 6 - in both teams’ regular season finale - the teams had played in Ashburn, and the Bulldogs had walked off with a 45-22 win. Then, this past Friday night in the postseason meeting, Stone Bridge got the better of it again, defeating the Seahawks in the playoff affair, 28-7.  Rainy weather conditions forced a change in venue as both teams traveled to Jimmie Miller Stadium at Marshall High School in Falls Church to play the game on artificial turf.

From the opening kickoff, the Bulldogs were able to set the pace for the game, as they executed a 17-play, 85-yard drive that consumed 8 minutes, 20 seconds and ended with a three-yard touchdown run by Marcus Harris.  “They were just better than we were up front,” said South Lakes coach John Ellenberger. “It seemed they ran the same [running] play 10 times [on the opening drive]. We just couldn’t stop them. I think they’re as good as we’ve seen.” The Seahawks then went three-and-out and punted, and the Bulldogs started to march down the field again. However, Stone Bridge fumbled the ball away and gave the Seahawks good field position at their 45. A procedure penalty moved the ball back to the 40, but South Lakes was able to cover the 60 yards to the end zone on just three plays, the last of which was a 15-yard scoring run by Ja’Juan Jones on the second play of the second period to tie the score at 7.

Back came the Bulldogs. They moved 60 yards on seven plays, the most critical of which was a pass from quarterback Brian Rody to Michael Kajut that the receiver turned into a 42-yard gain. The Bulldogs regained the lead on a seven-yard pass from Rody to Taylor Lambke. The teams exchanged punts for the remainder of the period, and the Bulldogs went into halftime leading 14-7, not unlike the 17-7 lead they had held in the previous meeting. The Seahawks were unable to gain a first down in the third quarter, while the Bulldogs scored twice to essentially put the game away. Harris capped an 8-play, 64-yard drive with a seven-yard run for his second TD of the evening and 20th of the season. On its next possession, Stone Bridge was forced to punt, but the Seahawk punt returner fumbled the ball right back to the Bulldogs, giving them the ball on the Seahawk 25. The Bulldogs took advantage of the opportunity and covered the 25 yards on five plays, with Kyle Gouveia scoring from the three-yard line to put Stone Bridge up, 28-7.

In the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs returned the favor to South Lakes and fumbled away a punt, giving the Seahawks new life on the Stone Bridge 33. They moved the ball to the eight-yard line, but the Bulldog defense held and the Seahawks turned the ball over on downs on the Stone Bridge 10. The Bulldogs retained possession for the last 6:23 of the game; Rody, Harris, and Gouveia gave way to freshmen Ryan Burns and Sean Rankin-Bell, and the Bulldogs moved the ball all the way to the Seahawk 31 before time expired. The fact that the Bulldogs controlled the pace of the game was evidenced by time of possession - the Bulldogs held a 31:14-to-16:46 advantage over the Seahawks. South Lakes managed just 123 yards of total offense against the Stone Bridge defense, and half of that yardage came on its only scoring drive of the evening. In the second half, the Seahawks were held to just 23 yards of offense.  The win was Stone Bridge’s 10th of 2009. (The Bulldogs have won at least 10 games each season since 2002). It also set up a return meeting between Stone Bridge and the only team it lost to during the regular season – Madison High, a 31-10 first round playoff winner over the Edison Eagles last week.

Bulldogs Get the Final Bite on South Lakes

Stone Bridge ends Seahawks’ football season in Div. 5 playoff encounter.

Reston Connection

By Rich Sanders

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

John Ellenberger, the South Lakes High football coach, believed his team could defeat two-time defending Div. 5 Northern Region champion Stone Bridge in a first round playoff game last Friday night despite the fact that his Seahawks had lost a lopsided affair to the same Bulldogs’ team, 45-22, one week earlier in the final week of the regular season. He believed if South Lakes could play a more efficient game by cutting down on mistakes and successfully utilizing its talented group of skill position players by hitting on some big plays, the Seahawks might have a chance to pull off a postseason upset. “We felt we could make some changes from that game,” said the coach. “We said, `Hey, if we correct some things we can beat these guys.”

But it turned out Stone Bridge proved too formidable an opponent in the quarterfinals playoff affair. The Bulldogs took command early on and defeated South Lakes, 28-7, to move on to this week’s Div. 5 semifinals. The Seahawks, with the loss, finished the season with an overall record of 5-6. “We played with those guys for a half,” said Ellenberger, whose team trailed by just a 14-7 score at halftime. “We felt pretty good.” But Stone Bridge (10-1) outscored South Lakes 14-0 in the second half to gain the victory. The game, following several days of rainy weather, took place at a neutral site on Marshall High School’s field off route 7 in Falls Church.

Marcus Harris, one of the region’s top running backs, rushed for 123 yards on 27 carries with two touchdowns, including a seven yard scoring run to give Stone Bridge a 21-7 lead in the third quarter. The Bulldogs went on to score another third quarter touchdown on a three-yard scoring run by Kyle Gouveia (74 rushing yards). South Lakes’ top ball carrier was junior Ja’Juan Jones (9 carries, 67 yards), who accounted for the Seahawks’ lone touchdown – a 15-yard scoring run in the second quarter that, following Erich Belt’s extra point kick, tied the game at 7-7. The Seahawks’ next leading ball carrier was Darius Smith, who ran for 57 yards on 10 carries.

Stone Bridge took the lead for good before halftime when quarterback Brian Rody tossed an eight yard touchdown pass to Taylor Lambke. STONE BRIDGE, on its first possession of the game, put together an impressive scoring drive in which its offensive line made an impressive early statement. “They were just better than we were up front,” said Ellenberger. “It seemed they ran the same [running] play 10 times [on the drive]. We just couldn’t stop them. I think they’re as good as we’ve seen.” South Lakes was playing without injured starting inside linebacker Lance Petit, a senior, who had injured a knee in the third quarter of the previous week’s game against the same Stone Bridge team.

South Lakes, which began the season 5-1, struggled over the latter half of the season. The Seahawks lost their final five games, including the playoff game. Two of those losses were close games – 27-22 to Fairfax, and 24-21 to Langley, both district defeats coming at home. “We just played some good teams,” said Ellenberger, of the losing streak to end the season. Still, the five wins was one of South Lakes’ better overall win totals in recent years. Ellenberger said this year’s team was a total joy to work with. “Our kids did a great job this year and we were happy to make the playoffs,” said Ellenberger. “Most of them worked their tails off in the offseason. They are good kids of character. I’m going to miss this group.”

Different week, same teams, same winner

Stone Bridge beats South Lakes, 28-7, in playoff rematch

Washington Post

By Matt Brooks

Sunday, November 15, 2009

A week after celebrating senior night with a 45-22 victory against South Lakes, Stone Bridge lined up to face the same opponent in a AAA Northern Region Division 5 first-round playoff game Friday on the turf of Marshall High School. Stone Bridge's Bulldogs carved up the Seahawks' defense for 298 rushing yards and five touchdowns the first time, and the two-time defending Northern Region champions picked up right where they left off in the rematch.

Led by junior tailback Marcus Harris, the Bulldogs took the opening kickoff and marched 84 yards on 17 plays -- all runs -- in a clock-consuming drive capped by Harris's two-yard touchdown run. That drive set the tone for another long night for the Seahawks, as the top-seeded Bulldogs rolled into the region semifinals with a 28-7 victory.  Both teams gave their opponent different looks, with Stone Bridge going to the air on its second drive despite attempting only 10 passes the previous week. Junior quarterback Brian Rody completed a 14-yard pass to Taylor Lambke, whose fumble gave the ball back to the Seahawks (5-6) on their 45-yard line. Three plays later, Ja'Juan Jones rushed into the end zone from 15 yards to knot the score at 7.

The Bulldogs (10-1) went back to the air on their ensuing possession as Rody completed a 41-yard pass to Michael Kajut that set up an eight-yard touchdown connection from Rody to Lambke to give Stone Bridge a 14-7 lead at the half.  "If we can get a push and make them honor the run and have to put more people in the box, then the passing game opens up," Stone Bridge Coach Mickey Thompson said. "We've got to be able to take advantage when people make adjustments."

After the break, the Bulldogs simply took over. Following a three-and-out that gave Stone Bridge the ball on the South Lakes 36, Harris capped another run-heavy drive with his second touchdown of the night. The Seahawks forced a punt on Stone Bridge's next possession, but South Lakes muffed the kick to give Stone Bridge another short field. Five plays later, junior quarterback Kyle Gouveia capitalized with a three-yard touchdown run for the final margin.

Defensively, the Bulldogs focused on bottling up junior wide receiver Sean Price, who accounted for the bulk of the South Lakes offense in the season finale with eight catches for 126 yards and a score. This time, Stone Bridge limited quarterback Shawn Rana to 2-of-7 passing for a mere 25 yards.

"We knew [Price] was their playmaker, and we needed to stop him," Gouveia said. "We focused on that in practice, and we did a nice job of keeping him in check all night."

Harris finished with 123 yards on 27 carries, and Gouveia added 74 yards on the ground as the Bulldogs rushed for 263 yards. They outgained South Lakes 345-136 overall and dominated the time of possession, holding the ball for 31 minutes 28 seconds. Stone Bridge will host a region semifinal Friday in Ashburn against AAA Liberty District rival Madison, a 31-10 winner over Edison. The fourth-seeded Warhawks became the first Liberty team to knock off the Bulldogs, 28-14, earlier this season, which gives the home team a little extra motivation. "It's a great opportunity to get some revenge," Gouveia said. "Hopefully, we can come back and beat them and make it back to the region final."

Playoff roundup

Washington Post

Saturday, November 14, 2009

STONE BRIDGE 28, SOUTH LAKES 7: The Bulldogs dominated the Seahawks for the second time in eight days, advancing to the Northern Region Division 5 semifinals. Stone Bridge (10-1), which beat South Lakes in the regular season finale, 45-22, took the opening kickoff and marched 84 yards on 17 plays -- all rushes -- that consumed 8 minutes 20 seconds. Junior tailback Marcus Harris scored from two yards to put the Bulldogs in front and set the tone for a night in which Stone Bridge possessed the ball for 31:28. Following a Bulldogs fumble, the eighth-seeded Seahawks (5-6) tied the score on a 15-yard Ja'Juan Jones run, but Stone Bridge answered with an eight-yard touchdown pass from Brian Rody to Taylor Lambke to take a 14-7 lead into the half. 

After the break, the Bulldogs took control with their single-wing running game and plenty of pressure from the defensive line. Harris finished with 123 yards on 27 carries.

Stone Bridge rushes back to form

Bulldogs power into Liberty football title again by running over S. Lakes

Washington Post

By Matt Brooks

Sunday, November 8, 2009

After graduating a plethora of players instrumental in Stone Bridge's dominance over the AAA Liberty District the past several years, the school's 2009 season has rarely featured vintage Bulldogs football.  Instead of the routine 20- and 30-point blowouts of district opponents, the Bulldogs have been forced to grind out several close contests and lost their first district game this season. But in a senior night matchup with South Lakes in Ashburn on Friday, with at least a share of the program's fifth consecutive Liberty District title in hand, the Bulldogs showed they might be returning to form at just the right time.  Behind a dominant effort up front from both lines, Stone Bridge ran its patented single wing offense to perfection and locked down the Seahawks' rushing attack to celebrate yet another district title in style with a 45-22 victory.

"We're just getting better and better," Stone Bridge Coach Mickey Thompson said. "We're starting to score points. We're starting to move the football. We're just going back to our basic stuff, and it's working for us."  Junior tailback Marcus Harris rushed for 188 yards and four touchdowns on just 23 carries, with 168 yards in the opening half, as Stone Bridge went to the ground early and often. After taking a 17-7 lead into the half, the Bulldogs (9-1) exploded for three touchdowns in seven minutes -- including two Harris runs -- to push their lead to 38-7.  "They depend on me to produce, and every time I get the ball, I just try to make a play," Harris said. "My line made some seams for me tonight, and it gave me the ability to break free."

On the other end, the Bulldogs tormented South Lakes' offensive line, holding the Seahawks (5-5) to 74 yards on the ground all game and limiting them to two first-half first downs.  Starting tailback Ja'Juan Jones, who came into the night with 1,134 yards this season, was held to a meager 37 yards on nine carries, and although senior quarterback Shawn Rana had some success through the air, connecting with junior Sean Price on a 48-yard first-quarter touchdown, Stone Bridge's pass rush pressured him all night.  Junior lineman Rob Burns had three sacks for the Bulldogs, whose defense gave the offense multiple short-field opportunities.

"We always try to stop the run first," Burns said. "Tonight we went out and we did it."  Junior Kyle Gouveia threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Spenser Rositano to open the second-half scoring for the Bulldogs, who attempted only nine passes. Harris entered with back-to-back 200-yard rushing games on 76 carries and appeared poised to make it a third straight, but he did not carry the ball in the final quarter with the Bulldogs enjoying a 38-7 advantage.  The Bulldogs rushed for 298 of their 384 yards of total offense.  With the victory, the Bulldogs locked up the top seed in the AAA Northern Region Division 5 playoffs, and once again they will enjoy home-field advantage throughout the postseason. The Seahawks, who began their season a promising 5-1, finished their regular-season campaign on a four-game losing skid.  "It's been a challenge this season, but we've really come together," Harris said. "And championships are won when you come together and play hard."

Football Night in Loudoun County

Washington Post

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Game of the Week South Lakes (5-4) at Stone Bridge (8-1), 7:30

Three weeks after dropping their first game to a Liberty District opponent, the Stone Bridge Bulldogs find themselves atop the Northern Region Division 5 playoff picture and one win away from locking up a fifth straight Liberty District title outright.  Led by back-to-back 200-yard efforts from junior tailback Marcus Harris, the Bulldogs take on a South Lakes team that has dropped three straight after a surprising start to the season. A Stone Bridge victory on senior night in Ashburn would assure the Bulldogs of the top seed in the region and home field advantage throughout.

Players to Watch:

SB - RB Marcus Harris (214 carries, 1,297 yards, 12 TDs; 11 rec. 191 yards, 2 TDs), QB Kyle Gouveia (20-47-468-1, 6 TDs; 62 carries, 322 yards, 5 TDs), WR Spenser Rositano (14 rec., 360 yards, 3 TDs; 27 carries, 114 yards, TD)

SL - RB Ja'Juan Jones (117 carries, 1,134 yards, 16 TDs), QB Shawn Rana (47-96-775-1, 6 TDs), RB Darius Smith (71 carries, 503 yards, 5 TDs; 8 rec., 260 yards, 3 TDs), WR Sean Price (22 rec., 417 yards, 5 TDs)

History Lesson:

Here are the results from the four meetings between these two teams since Stone Bridge joined the Liberty in 2005:

05 - SB 35-14

06 - SB 42-8

07 - SB 54-12

08 - SB 51-6

That's total score of 182-40 with an average margin of victory of 35.5 points. Needless to say, the Bulldogs' history of dominance over the district has been tested all season with tight contests against league opponents. You have to figure the Seahawks see this as their best opportunity yet to knock off the bullies from Ashburn.

Regular Season Football Wraps Up This Friday Night

South Lakes needs win to finish over .500; Herndon and Oakton both need victories to reach five-win marks.

By Rich Sanders

Reston Connection

Thursday, November 05, 2009

The area high school football teams – South Lakes, Herndon and Oakton – are set to wrap up the regular season schedule this Friday night.  South Lakes, which will likely qualify for the upcoming Div. 5 Northern Region playoffs, has lost its last three games following a 5-1 start. The Seahawks will have a tough mission this Friday in Ashburn against defending Div. 5 region champion and Liberty District opponent Stone Bridge.  South Lakes’ last win came on Oct. 10 at Madison, 21-14. Since then, the Seahawks have lost to Fairfax, 27-22, non-region opponent Dominion, 46-20, and visiting Langley, 24-21, last Friday night.

In the loss to the Saxons, South Lakes had outstanding success running the football behind big games from running backs Darius Smith (138 yards, 2 touchdowns) and Ja’Juan Jones (108 yards, 1 TD). But Langley got a big game from quarterback Braden Anderson (14-of-26, 220 yards, 1 touchdown) and a 90-yard kickoff return by Marcus Harvey, son of former Redskins player Ken Harvey, to take the win.

HERNDON is also in the midst of a three-game losing streak after being 4-2 at one point. The Hornets (4-5) will try to finish their season at the .500 mark when they travel to Westfield for a Concorde District game on Friday. A year ago, Herndon got its biggest victory of the season with a homecoming win over the Bulldogs before ultimately losing to them in a first round game of the Div. 6 region playoffs. Westfield, coming off a 24-7 win over Centreville, is 5-4. Herndon struggled in a 35-7 district home loss to Chantilly last week. The Hornets’ lone touchdown came in the final quarter on a 79 yard run by Austin Moore.  Herndon’s last win was on Oct. 9 at Centreville, 35-30. Since then, coach Joe Sheaffer’s team has lost to Oakton, non-region opponent Loudoun Valley and the Chargers last week. The Hornets will be looking to end the season with a victory when they take on Westfield.

OAKTON, also 4-5, started the season 3-1 with the wins coming over Madison, West Springfield and Annandale. But the Cougars, who went unbeaten during the regular season last year before winning the Div. 6 region crown, have lost four of their last five games, including a 35-17 setback at Robinson last week.  Oakton quarterback Jimmy Boone accounted for his team’s biggest play of the game – an 83-yard touchdown run. Oakton’s other touchdown came on a one-yard scoring run by Luke Willis. Eric Goins kicked a 42 yard field goal for the Cougars, who trailed 21-10 at the half.  Robinson improved to 8-1 with the win. The Rams’ lone loss came against Westfield, a 21-20 overtime defeat on Oct. 19. Coach Joe Thompson’s Cougars will be looking to finish at .500 with a win over the Wildcats this week.

Seahawk Boys Rise to Second at Cross Country Championships

Four South Lakes runners earn top 15 medals; Moyer gains all-district honors on girls’ side.

By Rich Sanders

Reston Connection

Thursday, November 05, 2009

All season long, South Lakes has received solid production from boys’ cross country runners Nick Guarnaccia, Austin Leggett and Will Sickenberger. And, at last week’s Liberty District championships at Burke Lake Park, the trio led the Seahawks to a breakthrough second place overall team finish. “Those three have been keys to our success this season,” said South Lakes coach Kevin Donovan, of the three juniors. “They frequently finish within three seconds of each other.” It marked the best team finish for the South Lakes boys since 2001 when that fall’s Seahawks also finished second. South Lakes’ last district team title was in 1984. “We ran a nice race,” said Donovan, whose team, with 57 points, finished behind champion Jefferson (34) but well ahead of third place Fairfax (110). “There was a big gap between us and third place. So we had an opportunity to [focus primarily] on first place. It just didn’t work out. We obviously would have liked to have won. I thought we did fine.”

Guarnaccia, the Seahawks’ top finisher at districts, was seventh overall. Leggett, meanwhile, took ninth place and Sickenberger was 11th. Also earning a top 15 medal was junior Alex Clough (12th). Guarnaccia had missed the Seahawks’ final big meet during the regular season – the MileStat.com Invitational in Chesterfield – as a result of a flu bug. But he came back strong to lead South Lakes at districts. “I’m very happy with the way he ran,” said Donovan. “He ran a pretty good race at districts and got seventh after not placing last year.”

Sickenberger, who was also coming off a recent illness, had finished 25th overall in Chesterfield. He struggled somewhat at districts, but still had enough to earn All-District recognition by finishing in the top 15. “It was a sort of mediocre race for him,” said Donovan. “He still managed to get 11th place.” A year ago, South Lakes finished third at districts. Finishing second last week was a sign that the Seahawks are continuing to improve and get better. “I think some real progress has been made,” said Donovan, of the boys’program. “[Finishing second] was a big jump for the program.”

Team highlights during the regular season included a third place finish at the MileStat.com meet, a top 10 showing at Oatlands in Leesburg and a fifth place finish at the season opening Monroe Parker Invitational.  The South Lakes boys will compete at the 16-team Northern Region championships this Thursday (Nov. 5) afternoon at Burke Lake.

SOUTH LAKES’ Val Moyer earned a district medal with an 11th place finish at the Liberty District girls’ championship meet. The senior, who did not place at districts last year, is now headed for regionals.  “If she has a good race [at regionals] she should be in contention to qualify for states,” said Donovan, of the Seahawks’ fourth year runner. The top 15 girls’ finishers at regionals will advance to the state meet Nov. 14 at Great Meadows. South Lakes’ next top finisher behind Moyer at districts was Mary Hickox, who finished 30th overall.

Winning Seahawks in Search of District Victories

Hostetler’s girls hopeful of wrapping up the regular season with a few wins in the Liberty.

By Rich Sanders

Reston Connection

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Kelly Kolb is the kind of energetic spark every coach loves to have on their roster. Kolb, the libero (defensive specialist) for the South Lakes High girls’ volleyball team, brings her all-out style of play every time she takes the floor for the 8-6 Seahawks. “She’s a great defensive player, she hustles and she’s not afraid to dive on the floor,” said Cheri Hostetler, the South Lakes head coach, of the scrappy, 5-foot-5 inch junior. “She’s very motivated.”

Last year on the South Lakes JV team, Kolb played a setter position. But Hostetler, the more she saw Kolb play, recognized the traits that would make a good libero player. Kolb, to her credit, has made the successful position transition this fall season – her first as a varsity player. Kolb’s athleticism is one of the best attributes of her game. “She’s a basketball player [in the winter] and a soccer player [in the spring],” said Hostetler. “[At libero] you’re looking for a really good athlete. She’s great at hustling and is a great passer. She’s a natural leader. We barely ever take her off the court.”

Kolb and her teammates played a solid all-around match early last week when South Lakes defeated non-district opponent Washington-Lee, three games to two, on Oct. 13. The match took place at Washington-Lee’s home court in Arlington. The victory snapped a four-match losing streak for South Lakes. “We had lost to some pretty tough teams,” said Hostetler, of the Seahawks’ prior losing spell going into the W-L match. “They really fought hard in that match against a [W-L] team that was pretty equal with us.”

South Lakes received a particularly good match from junior middle hitter Bethany Lowe. “She just did a great job and held her own,” said Hostetler, of the 6-2 Lowe. She and [senior team co-captain] Stephanie Heimburg are both middle hitters.” South Lakes carried a 7-2 record following a three games to two match win at non-district opponent Lee (Springfield) on Sept. 16. But Hostetler’s squad lost its next four matches – setbacks to Jefferson, Stone Bridge, Hayfield and Langley – before getting back on track with the victory over the Generals. During the four-match skid, all of the losses came at home with the exception of the Langley match on Oct. 8.

WHILE SOUTH LAKES was 8-6 overall going into this week, it was 0-4 in Liberty District play. The Seahawks were scheduled to play district matches this week against host team Madison on Monday (Oct. 19) and at McLean on Wednesday. Next week, the Seahawks will wrap up the regular season with home matches versus non-district foe Lake Braddock on Oct. 26 and district opponent Marshall on Oct. 29.

The match against the Statesmen will be South Lakes’ Senior Night. The team’s three seniors who will be honored in pre-match ceremonies that night are co-captain Jordan Hostetler, the daughter of coach Hostetler, Daria Victorov, and Stephanie Heimburg. Team manager Ben King will also be recognized.

Coach Hostetler believes her team has the ability to qualify for the upcoming Northern Region tournament. In order to do so, the Seahawks must win at least one match at the Liberty District tournament in two weeks. The team needs to prove to itself it can win a few regular season district matches against district opponents before the start of postseason play.

“We know the district matches are a little more important in the standings [for tournament seeding purposes],” said Hostetler. “Always what we’re going for is trying to make the regional tournament. We’ve never made regionals. This is a group that can do it.”

The coach believes the Seahawks have progressively improved over the course of the season. South Lakes will not be denied a regional berth for lack of effort. One can always count on the Seahawks to play their hardest and to give opponents their best effort. Already this season has been a success compared to two years ago when the Seahawks were 2-15 and last year when they went 5-12. “They just need to keep up the good work,” said Hostetler, of her team. “I know they can win and they know they can win. They’re excited.”

South Lakes Puts a Damper on Madison Festivities

Jones run for three touchdowns to lead Seahawks to third straight football win.

By Rich Sanders

Reston Connection

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

South Lakes running back Ja’Juan Jones is not one to dampen parties. But, as far as Madison High faithful are concerned, Jones was a bit of a killjoy last Saturday afternoon. That’s because the junior scored three touchdowns, including a game-breaker run in the fourth quarter, to lift the Seahawks to a 21-14 win, spoiling a day in which the home team Warhawks were celebrating both their homecoming and the school’s 50th year anniversary.

“I’m really happy for the kids,” said South Lakes coach John Ellenberger, whose team improved to 5-1 in what has been a breakthrough season for the Seahawks. “That’s the best defense we’ve faced.” Madison, playing in front of a festive crowd of returning alumni and Vienna town faithful, saw its record slip to 3-3.

The Warhawks, who trailed 14-0 at halftime, stormed back with a pair of third quarter touchdowns, including a special teams’ score in which Madison’s Joe Corrigan recovered the ball in the end zone following a punt block by teammate Kevin Sampson with four minutes, 54 seconds remaining in the quarter. James Devens’ successful point-after kick tied the score at 14.

Several minutes later, Madison looked as if was about to take the lead. But a 28-yard, screen pass play from quarterback Eric Roland to Tyler Wilkinsen down to the South Lakes one yard line on the first play of the fourth quarter was negated because of off-setting penalties. The play turned out to be critical as Madison was not able to score on the drive.  South Lakes quickly regained the momentum on its next possession when, on a third-and-one play from its own 40 yard line, Jones, who had scored a pair of first half touchdowns on runs of three and five yards, broke through the line of scrimmage and into the open field for a 60-yard touchdown run. Erich Belt’s third extra point kick of the afternoon made the score 21-14 Seahawks with 9:46 left to play.

South Lakes guard Dan Fowler made a key block on the running burst off the left side that resulted in the six points. “Dan made a heck of a block and it was wide open,” said Jones. “Our [offensive] line is strong and tough and they wanted to win.” Ellenberger said his team had been reeling a bit following Madison’s two third quarter touchdowns. “The kids were down and the coaching staff was like, `I can’t believe [Madison] blocked a punt and scored,’” said the coach.

But Jones’ breakaway touchdown run put the momentum back into South Lakes’ hands and was a huge relief to a Seahawks’ team that looked as if the game might have been getting away from it.  “Jones’ touchdown was such a relief,” said Ellenberger. “He broke it and there is no better feeling in the world than seeing him run in open field.” Jones finished the game with 107 yards on 16 carries and the three scores.

Ellenberger credited the Madison defense with playing solid run defense throughout much of the game. “Madison was good on defense,” said the coach. “They swarmed the ball and they were getting after us.”

Madison, trailing 21-14, threatened to score later in the final quarter when it moved the ball to the South Lakes 30. But on a third-and-seven play, South Lakes junior defensive back Sean Price broke up a long pass play. Then, on fourth down, another incompletion ended the Warhawks’ threat. South Lakes then ran out the final one minute and 38 seconds.

South Lakes quarterback Shawn Rana played a good game, completing eight of 10 passes for 129 yards. Price, a wide receiver on offense, caught three passes for 57 yards, and senior wideout Antonio Jenkins caught three balls for 31 yards. Running back Darius Smith, who returned a fourth quarter punt 21 yards, rushed for 48 yards on 10 carries to compliment Jones’ big game.

Neither team turned the ball over in the game, although the game was far from perfect with both teams getting called for numerous penalties (Madison five for 50 yards, South Lakes nine for 80). Madison’s top ball carrier was Tavin Thomas (68 yards on 18 carries). His one yard scoring run capped Madison’s 58-yard, 10-play scoring drive to begin the second half. Defensively, tackle Charlie Pence had two sacks for the Warhawks. Meanwhile, for South Lakes, lineman Alex Stanley had a sack.

Ball’s Line Play Igniting South Lakes’ Football Offense

Senior tackle, still relatively new to the sport, is key reason for team’s 5-1 record.

By Rich Sanders

Reston Connection

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Kevin Ball did not begin playing football until the fall season of his ninth grade year at South Lakes High School. Now, more than three years later, the standout offensive lineman looks as well seasoned and schooled in the sport as someone who grew up playing the game. On a typical snap from center, the 6-foot-5 inch, 265-pound right tackle bursts upward from his stance and drives into his defensive counterpart, often taking him backwards and onto the turf. South Lakes head coach John Ellenberger, naturally, loves to run the football behind Ball, knowing his team is bound to pick up good yardage. “If we want to get some yards, we’re going to run behind him,” said Ellenberger. “He just pushes people around."

Ball grew up playing baseball, basketball and soccer within the Reston Youth Association (RYA). He did not play football, mostly because he was too big for the respective weight classes. But on a family vacation to northern New Jersey the summer before his freshmen year, his uncle Robert, a former football player at Marquette University, wanted to know if Kevin was going to play high school football. “I was at his house that summer and he asked me if I was going to play football,” recalled Ball. “I was like, `Yea, if you say its fun, I’ll try it.’” Ellenberger, during the first few days of tryouts that August, allowed players to try out for their favorite positions. Ball went over with the quarterbacks group. “He came over to the quarterbacks [station] and I looked at him and said, `Quarterback, huh?’ He looked at me and smiled. I said, `Come on then.’”

Soon enough, Ellenberger grabbed Ball and told him there was a change in plans. “I pulled him aside and said, `Get your rear over there with the linemen.’” Ball learned lots of the fundamentals of offensive line play that ninth grade season as a member of the Seahawks’ freshmen team. “We’ve got a good set of ninth grade coaches here that really work on [lineman] stance, takeoffs, all the fundamentals you want kids to learn,” said Ball. The following year, as a 10th grader, Ball earned a starting position on the varsity. He has been playing right tackle ever since. Playing varsity as a sophomore was a challenge for Ball. “I was playing varsity and I was 14 years old,” Ball remembered. “It was a big adjustment. I was playing guys older, bigger and stronger.”

But Ball, on a team that lost most of its games, held his own at tackle. And last year as a junior, Ball, along with his offensive line duties, also saw some time on the defensive line as well. He was one of his team’s best players and earned Second Team All-Liberty District honors at both offensive and defensive tackle positions. South Lakes went 3-7, but still qualified for the Div. 5 region playoffs as a result of the recently expanded playoff format. This season, Ball, who worked hard in the weight room this past offseason, has continued his progress as a football lineman. And his teammates around him have also gotten better. South Lakes improved its record to 5-1 following last Saturday afternoon’s 21-14 win at Madison, which was celebrating its homecoming.

BALL HAS ALWAYS loved baseball and will be a third year member of the South Lakes varsity this upcoming spring. The Seahawks are coached by Galvin Morris. But it was on the baseball diamond where Ball suffered a severe ankle injury last spring while attempting to steal second. The injury ended his baseball season and slowed down the football recruiting process. Schools had been showing interest in Ball as a football player. But as a result of the injury, Ball was not able to attend recruiting camps this past spring as he was healing from his injury.  But Ellenberger said Ball has come back nicely from the injury.

“All the [college] coaches want to see how he’s running on that ankle,” said Ellenberger, who said NCAA Div. 1AA schools all up and down the East coast have expressed interest in Ball as a football player. “He’s doing real well considering [the severity of the injury]. It’s held up.” Ball’s college plans are still in the makings. He would like to attend and play football in Virginia at a school such as, perhaps, Richmond, William & Mary, or Old Dominion. Ellenberger is sending football film footage of Ball’s games from this season to several schools.  While Ball’s first sports love has always been baseball, football is the sport he will likely play collegiately. “[One time] he said, `I love baseball, that’s my sport,’” recalled Ellenberger. “I said, `That’s fine, but you’re going to be a scholastic football player.’”

On the football field, Ball has become a take-charge leader and is one of the Seahawks’ team captains this season. There have been times in a game where, with a big play coming up, Ball has signaled to the South Lakes sideline for a running play to be called behind his blocking. “You’ll see him signaling us to run the ball behind him when the game is on the line,” said Ellenberger. “He’s confident that he’ll knock his kid off the ball.” Ball, who plans to play basketball for coach Daryl Branch’s Seahawks this winter, has gained a tremendous feel for football in the short time that he’s played.

“It’s definitely a sport that requires a lot of coordination as a lineman,” said Ball, who said he has come a long ways in his foot quickness and speed. “I’ve really grown into my body. I love playing offensive tackle. There’s no better position on the field. You get to hit a person on every single play no matter what.” South Lakes running back Ja’Juan Jones, who scored the game-winning touchdown against Madison on a long, fourth quarter scoring run to break a 14-14 tie, said he loves carrying the football behind Ball.

“He’s one of the best,” said Jones. “I would not want to run behind anyone as much as Kevin. He makes running backs look good. He’s bigger than everyone, he’s got good footwork, he’s athletic and he’s powerful. ”Ball, who loves spending some of his free time fishing with his dad, friends or younger brother at Lake Audubon in Reston, is a good student in the classroom. And, in just a short time as a football player, he has become a student of the gridiron as well. “Fundamentally, he does a great job for us,” said Ellenberger. “He knows our [offensive] system.”

A Look Inside the Players Lounge, South Lakes Style

In this television interview from this week's Fairfax Sports Report, The Washington Post's B.J. Koubaroulis talks to South Lakes juniors Ja'Juan Jones and Sean Price.

On this week's episode of The Fairfax Sports Report, South Lakes juniors Sean Price, a wide receiver, and Ja'Juan Jones, a running back, sat down with B.J. Koubaroulis in "The Players' Lounge."

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/prepspost-virginia/2009/10/a_look_inside_the_players_loun.html

Jones, who rushed for 244 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries in last week's 28-21 victory over McLean, is one of the Virginia AAA Northern's leading rushers.  Price, a 6-foot-3 leaper with good hands, caught two touchdowns in the victory.  Jones and Price discussed how they have helped the Seahawks back from a six-year 17-44 stretch and to a 4-1 record this season.

They also shared their thoughts on Saturday's matchup at Madison and a potential conference title bout with Stone Bridge (5-0) at the end of the regular season.  The Fairfax Sports Report is a weekly television show broadcast throughout Northern Virginia, and parts of Maryland (depending on your cable carrier).

Jones Puts It All on Display in South Lakes Victory

By B.J. Koubaroulis

Special to The Washington Post

Saturday, October 3, 2009

South Lakes junior running back Ja'Juan Jones is going to run track this year for the first time in his life.  "He just doesn't know it yet," said John Ellenberger, the school's football coach.

Jones, a 5-foot-10, 170-pounder, is going to be pushed by the Seahawks' coaching staff to build upon his impressive arsenal of skills, including his strength, durability, vision and elusiveness - skills he used Friday night to amass 244 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries as he set the pace in the Seahawks' 28-21 victory over McLean in a vital Virginia AAA Liberty District showdown in Reston.

Jones, who entered Friday night's game as the Virginia AAA Northern Region's third-leading rusher behind Lee's Idreis Augustus and McLean's Riley Beiro, is just one of several marquee players who have sparked a resurgence in Reston.  Friday night's victory established South Lakes (4-1, 3-0) as a threat, something that hasn't happened since the Seahawks won the Division 5 region title in 2002.  Since then, the team has suffered through a six-year stretch in which it went 17-44 and managed just 12 wins in its district.

"We want to get back to states just like those old teams did," said Jones, who hurdled a diving McLean linebacker and then broke a 67-yard touchdown run to put South Lakes up 14-0 at the start of the second quarter.

Jones also carried seven times for 74 yards in the fourth quarter to help fend off the feisty Highlanders.  "We're showing that we're a threat," said South Lakes senior quarterback Shawn Rana, who delivered a 79-yard bomb and a two-yard fade pass, offerings that 6-3 junior wide receiver Sean Price turned into touchdowns as South Lakes took a 21-7 lead into halftime.

McLean (3-2, 1-1), which went 0-10 last year, showed off a Beiro-centric offense Friday night.  The crafty senior returned punts and kickoffs, split out at wide receiver, played the slot, ran left, right, middle, took direct snaps and played on special teams as he compiled 153 hard-earned yards on 33 carries at his natural position of running back.  Beiro, who leads the Virginia AAA Northern Region in carries per game (32.5), also reeled in a 23-yard touchdown with 17 seconds left in the first half.

South Lakes 28, McLean 21 Biggest Turnaround: If McLean can manage its way through a three-week stretch against Jefferson and Marshall - teams that entered Friday night's games with a combined 0-8 record - and then fend off Fairfax (2-2), it will face No. 11 Stone Bridge (4-0) at home on Oct. 30. McLean's final game of the season is against winless Langley (0-4), meaning the Highlanders could conceivably finish the season at 7-3. That would be a Virginia High School League record for single-season turnaround, a record held currently by Lake Braddock, which won six games in 2005 after going 0-10 in 2004. Price Is Right: Sean Price is Penn State wide receiver A.J. Price's little brother.

McLean at South Lakes Preview

By B.J. Koubaroulis

Special to The Washington Post

Flashback: The last time the words "South Lakes" and "title" were mentioned in the same sentence (2002), Ola Adams was a wide receiver for the Div. 5 region champion Seahawks.  In 2008, Adams made his way from Concord University, where he played defensive back, for a tryout with the Washington Redskins.

If at the beginning of this season you told me that a mid-season match-up between McLean and South Lakes would actually mean something, I'd politely thank you for your time and then slam the door in your face. I'd also talk about you behind your back, mainly about how stupid you are. However, tonight's 7:30 p.m. kickoff between these two perennial strugglers defies logic in that it is actually going to be both entertaining and meaningful as it pits the Liberty District's two leading rushers.

The Highlanders (3-1, 1-0 Virginia AAA Liberty District) are riding senior Riley Beiro, who enters tonight's game as the conference leader in rushing with 97 carries, 557 yards, 6 TD, despite the fact that he missed a game due to suspension. South Lakes has junior Ja'Juan Jones, who is the district's second leading rusher with 528 yards, eight touchdowns. Both backs are averaging over 100 yards per game and two touchdowns.

"We’re keying on" Beiro, said South Lakes Coach John Ellenberger. McLean Coach Jim Patrick "said it. He said to me ‘It’s smoke and mirrors’ and I didn’t know what he meant by that, but you watch film and you realize they might line up in different formations, but in the end the ball always ends up with Beiro. So for us, it’s stop" Beiro. A victory for McLean tonight would set them up for a major turnaround from last year's 0-10 finish. After tonight's game, McLean will have a three-week stretch against Jefferson and Marshall - teams that enter tonight’s games with a combined 0-8 record - and then Fairfax (2-2) before it will face No. 11 Stone Bridge (4-0) at home for a conference title on Oct. 30.

"After tonight, somebody is going to be 4-1 that hasn't been 4-1 in a long time," said Ellenberger. Let's get specific about how bad these teams have been. During a brutal seven-year stretch from 2002 to 2008, McLean went 16-54 and managed nine wins in its conference. Since it last won the Div. 5 regional title in 2002, South Lakes has suffered through a six-year stretch in which it went 17-44 and managed 12 wins in its conference.

A Winning Mother, Daughter Combination for South Lakes Volleyball

Coach Cheri Hostetler is having a ball coaching daughter Jordan and the winning Seahawks.

By Rich Sanders

Reston Connection

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

For Jordan Hostetler, a senior member of the South Lakes High girls’ volleyball team, playing on a Seahawks’ squad coached by her mother, Cheri Hostetler, is, well, pretty neat. “For me it is real cool to have my mom as coach,” said Jordan, a senior setter/opposite hitter and a team co-captain. “She knows how I am and I know how she is. I know what she wants me to do and we don’t fight a lot. Of course, I love my mom. But I am a teenage girl.” Coach Hostelter loves having her daughter on the varsity squad. Jordan is a key member for a South Lakes team that, going into this week, had already built a 7-3 record.

That is a huge improvement from a Seahawks’ team that was 5-12 last year and 2-15 two years ago. “It’s great,” said Cheri, of coaching her daughter. “It helps that she’s talented. It would be harder if she didn’t have good volleyball skills. She definitely holds her own on the court.”  Jordan, who did not begin playing volleyball until high school, leads South Lakes in assists (77) and aces (23). She and fellow co-captain Stephanie Heimburg, a senior middle hitter, are leaders on a team experiencing a breakthrough season.  Heimburg leads the Seahawks in kills (96), solo blocks (73) and stuffs (37).

Coach Hostetler said both Heimburg and Jordan are good team leaders. Heimburg, a fourth year varsity player, often works with younger and lesser experienced players during practice. She is a natural teacher. “Stephanie is more a coach,” said coach Hostetler. “She will see someone’s skill [level] and help them improve. She tries to pass her knowledge on to others. She coaches middle school [volleyball at Langston Hughes] in the spring.” Jordan Hostetler, meanwhile, comes alive on the court during team matches, encouraging and directing teammates.  “Jordan is more motivational,” said Cheri, of her daughter. “She’ll say, `Let’s go, let’s run this play’ and that type of thing. Both Jordan and Stephanie would like to play in college one day.” Jordan’s near-perfect setting has been a huge factor in the Seahawks’ ability to score points this season.

“She is serving, hitting and setting the ball better [than last year],” said Cheri.  Jordan, who plays during the offseason for the under-17 team within the Northern Virginia Volleyball Association, said she would love to coach volleyball one day at South Lakes.  “That’s my plan,” she said, enthusiastically. “I plan on coming back to South Lakes and coaching and teaching.”

FOR NOW, Jordan is excited about her senior year and the stellar season being experienced by the Seahawks. One of the season highlights thus far for South Lakes was capturing first place at the Raider Rumble, hosted by Stuart High School on Sept. 12.  “That was huge for them,” said coach Hostetler, whose squad won three matches to take the tournament title. “They really worked hard for that.”

South Lakes will have a big test this Wednesday night (Sept. 30) when it hosts Stone Bridge in a Liberty District match at 7:15.

“It feels real good [to be winning] because this is my senior year,” said Jordan Hostetler, a second year member of the varsity team. “We have always been known as the South Lakes girls’ team that is easy to beat. Now, we are kind of a threat.” Jordan said the Seahawks are a close knit team that focuses on playing well on the floor as a unit.  “We’re all like friends,” she said. “We don’t have all the drama that you’d expect with teenage girls.”

For Cheri, being such a big part of Jordan’s high school volleyball career is a thrill.  “The great thing is I get to see firsthand how well she is doing and I get to support her and be a part of her senior year volleyball experience,” said Sheri. “We’ve got a real good working relationship.”

Highlanders, Seahawks Flying High in Football

Mclean, following upset win over Madison, improves to 3-1. Warhawks take on Fairfax this Friday night.

By Rich Sanders

Reston Connection

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Jim Patrick and his McLean High football players experienced defeat after defeat a year ago on way to a disheartening 0-10 record. But following the winless 2008 campaign, Patrick, the son of legendary former Mount Vernon head coach Bruce Patrick, challenged his players to commit themselves to getting stronger, faster and better through offseason workouts and conditioning.  The results have been impressive for the Highlanders, who have won three of their first four games to begin the current season. The team’s offense, defense and special teams’ units are playing with intensity, determination and confidence, a total turnaround from last year.

Jim Patrick, in his second year at the helm of the program, is proud of the resolve his players have shown in turning the programs’ fortunes around so dramatically. McLean’s latest win came at home last Friday night when, behind two defensive touchdowns, the Highlanders upset perennial Div. 5 playoff contender Madison, 24-21.  “Going 0-10 is not what any coach would want to be in their first year,” said Patrick, earlier this season. “[Going winless] had the potential to be demoralizing and to be a program killer. But the kids worked hard [in the offseason] even though it was one of the hardest things they ever did.”

McLean’s wins have come over Washington-Lee, Wakefield and now Madison. The loss came at Herndon in week two, 28-21. Last Friday night saw the return of key skill position players Riley Beiro (running back) and Will Hecht (quarterback) to the Highlanders’ line-up.  Both had missed the previous week’s game against Wakefield for personal reasons. The two teamed up for a first quarter touchdown – a 21-yard scoring toss from Hecht to Beiro – in the first quarter to set the tone of the game. A drew Hunt field goal in the second quarter made it 10-0. Madison never was able to tie or take a lead throughout the night.

For Madison, quarterback Eric Roland threw a touchdown pass to Ryan McGuire and the Warhawks also got scoring runs from Tavin Thomas and Ian Brown. Madison, with the Liberty District loss to the Highlanders, fell to 2-2. Their wins have come over Yorktown and Langley.  This Friday night, Madison will look to get back into the win column when it travels to district opponent Fairfax (2-2), which is coming off an overtime win at Langley. McLean, meanwhile, will play at district opponent South Lakes (3-1), another team experiencing a turnaround season after going 2-8 last year.  South Lakes was a 31-7 winner over district guest Marshall (0-4) last week. The Seahawks, coached by John Ellenberger, received a huge game from running back Ja’Juan Jones (17 carries, 159 yards, 2 TDs). Marshall’s touchdown came on a five yard scoring run by senior running back Victor Vanegas.  South Lakes’ earlier season wins came over Falls Church and Jefferson. Its loss came two weeks ago against cross-town rival Herndon, 29-25.

Marshall, under first year head coach Bill Lapthorn, will be at unbeaten Stone Bridge this Friday night. Oakton, following its first loss of the season two weeks ago at T.C. Williams, came back with a 27-14 win at Annandale last Friday night. The Cougars (3-1) had a big game from quarterback Jimmy Boone, who threw a pair of touchdowns to Matt Chandler. Oakton will be at home this Friday night against Edison, a lopsided winner over Wakefield last week.

Herndon fell from the unbeaten ranks with a 35-14 loss to Robinson last week. Zack Ozycz tossed a touchdown pass for the Hornets, who opened the season with wins over Jefferson, McLean and South Lakes before falling to the Rams. Herndon will be at home this Saturday afternoon at 1 to take on 0-4 Langley, which fell to Fairfax last week.

Hornets Edge Seahawks in Annual Baron Cameron Football Showcase

Herndon, behind prolific running game, defeats rivals, 29-25.

By Rich Sanders

Reston Connection

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Local fans were treated to an early season high school football treat when cross-town rivals Herndon and South Lakes met for the annual Baron Cameron Bowl last Friday night in Reston. Both teams, in an exciting scoring bonanza, played their hearts out from the opening kickoff – in which South Lakes’ Darius Smith stunned the buzzing crowd with a 94-yard touchdown return – on until the final whistle. In the end, visiting Herndon, which has dominated the rivalry over recent years, went on to a 29-25 win.

“We’ve had our names on the trophy for so many years,” said Herndon senior Austin Moore, of the sparkling piece of hardware presented to the game’s winning team. “As seniors, we had to uphold the high standards of [past Herndon teams] in this game. That’s what motivated us.” Following the end of the game, both teams gathered at midfield for postgame ceremonies where South Lakes Principal Bruce Butler and both teams’ head coaches addressed the players.

“I want to congratulate Herndon and South Lakes for an outstanding high school football game,” said Butler. “This is the best rival [game] for both schools and exciting. You always conduct yourselves with class.”  Herndon coach Joe Sheaffer, whose team improved to 3-0 with the victory, encouraged the South Lakes team during his postgame words.  “You guys did a great job tonight and worked hard,” Sheaffer told the Seahawks. “It’s hard to lose a game like this.”

And South Lakes coach John Ellenberger, whose team slipped to 2-1 with the loss, wished Herndon the best. “Good luck in the Concorde [District],” said Ellenberger to the Hornet players. “I hope you guys win it.” Later, during an interview, Ellenberger, whose team has already matched last year’s win total of two wins, said his Seahawks played one of its best games ever in the rivalry. “The last time we beat them was 2002,” said Ellenberger, who was a South Lakes assistant coach before becoming head coach of the program a few years ago. “I’ve been [at South Lakes] since 1996 and been through a lot of Herndon games. Other than 2002, I think this is the best we’ve played them.”

SOUTH LAKES scored both the game’s first and final touchdowns. But in between, Herndon got the better of the action. The Seahawks’ lone lead of the night came following Smith’s stunning touchdown on the game’s opening kickoff. The junior initially misplayed the ball, which bounced away from him before he ran it down. Upon fielding it at the six-yard line, Smith started running left but found little room to maneuver. So he cut across the field into open space. He was soon coasting down the right sideline before ultimately going back towards the middle of the field and into the end zone. The only downer for the Seahawks on the touchdown was that they could not convert the extra point.

Even so, they led 6-0 and had early momentum.  Later, Herndon capped a 55-yard drive with a brilliant, 20-yard scoring run from quarterback Zack Ozycz, who had originally dropped back to pass before South Lakes pressure forced him out of the pocket. On the play, he was flushed right, but then cut back and began running towards the left. He indicated to a teammate he needed a block with an arm wave, than bolted towards the end zone. He dove towards the left hash mark and landed in the end zone with 5 minutes, 13 seconds left in the opening quarter.

It was the first of three opening half touchdowns by Herndon, which later got second quarter scoring runs from running backs Sam Groter and Randoll Anane. In between those scores, South Lakes running back Ja’Juan Jones found the end zone from four yards out. By halftime, the guest Hornets held a 21-12 lead. The Seahawks’ Smith gave his team a huge lift early in the second half when, from his defensive back position, he intercepted a long pass down the left sideline. He then returned the ball 30 yards to set his team’s offense up at its own 38. Eight plays later, Smith came up big again when, from his running back position on offense, he capped a 62-yard South Lakes scoring drive with a 10-yard touchdown run off the right side. Erich Belt knocked in the point-after kick and the Seahawks were within 21-19.

But moments later, Herndon punter Alex Stopa made one of the biggest plays of the night when, on a fourth-and-seven from his team’s 40, he booted a booming punt that took a nice bounce and ultimately went out of bounds at the one-yard line.  Two plays later, South Lakes quarterback Shawn Rana, with his team still pinned back at the one, was sacked by Herndon’s Moore for a two-point safety, making the score 23-19 Herndon. On top of that, South Lakes, according to rules following a safety, had to punt the ball to the Hornets. As a result, the Hornets began their next possession at midfield. Nine plays later, Herndon, on the second play of the fourth quarter, found the end zone on a three-yard run by Moore. One play earlier, Herndon running back Devon Thompson had set up the touchdown with a 15-yard run to the three.

Herndon, following Moore’s TD run, failed on a two-point conversion try but led 29-19. But South Lakes, less than three minutes later, got within 29-25 as a result of a 25-yard touchdown run by running back Bobby Lewis, who appeared to be stopped at the line of scrimmage before breaking free down the left side of the field and barely getting inside the left hash and into the end zone with just over 10 minutes left.  Neither team would score again, although the Seahawks did threaten in the final minute when they moved the ball from their own 36 to the Herndon 34 yard line. But there, on a first down play with 18 seconds left, Herndon’s Moore intercepted a medium range pass over the middle of the field at the 20. That clinched the win for the Hornets. “They just never quit,” said Ellenberger, of his team. “It’s a great football rivalry. Like [Herndon coach] Joe [Sheaffer] said in his speech, it’s a shame one team had to lose.” Sheaffer was impressed with South Lakes’ play.  “They fought hard,” he said. “You can see they’ve gotten better. Their program is gaining confidence.”

BOTH TEAMS had enormous success running the ball in the game. Herndon rushed the ball 49 times for 283 yards. Moore finished with 93 yards on 19 carries while other big contributors included Thompson (67 yards), Anane (45) and Groter (32). Ozycz, Herndon’s senior QB, completed eight-of-12 passes for 73 yards and also rushed for 38 yards. “We didn’t tackle well tonight,” said Ellenberger. “We have to improve on that.”

South Lakes, meanwhile, totaled 237 yards on the ground on 37 attempts. Big rushing nights came from Lewis (79 yards) and Smith (49), as well as Jones and Stephon Sanford (both with 46). This Friday night at 7:30, South Lakes will travel to Marshall for a Liberty District game. Herndon, meanwhile, will host Concorde District foe Robinson.

Seahawk Boys Garner Fifth Place at Monroe Parker
Will Sickenberger, Nick Guarnaccia pace South Lakes at season-opening cross country extravaganza.

By Rich Sanders

Reston Connection

Thursday, September 17, 2009

The South Lakes High boys’ cross country team saw its season get off to a strong start with a fifth place showing at last Saturday morning’s season-opening Monroe Parker Invitational meet, held on the scenic, 2.98-mile course at Burke Lake Park. The showcase event, which took place in pleasant, cool conditions, consisted of most of the team’s from the Northern Region. There were early morning freshmen races, followed by the JV races. Then, just before noon, the varsity races took place – first the girls’ competition, and then the boys’ run. A large crowd of spectators were on hand for the festive, high school event.

The Seahawks, with their fifth place finish in a field of 26 teams, showed that good things might, once again, be in store for them this fall. A year ago, the South Lakes boys finished a solid third place at the Liberty District championships.  The team’s top runner from that team, Will Sickenberger, is back this season for his junior campaign. At Monroe, Sickenberger ran well and finished 23rd overall in a field of 233 runners. Finishing one place behind Sickenberger and 24th overall was fellow junior Nick Guarnaccia.

“We’re still young and we don’t have many seniors,” said South Lakes coach Kevin Donovan, of his boys’ squad. “We were third at districts last year, and fifth place [at Saturday’s Monroe meet] is pretty good for us. We’re hoping to go to states [later this season] so we’re right there.”  In the region’s postseason format, the top four teams at districts qualify for the region championships. Then, the top four teams at regionals qualify for states.  Sickenberger, who a year ago at the Liberty District Championships earned a medal with a 15th place finish, said the Seahawks are a close-knit group.

“We’re all close as friends,” he said. “Five of our top six runners are juniors. We’ve all known each other since the first grade. Our whole varsity team is unified.”  The overall varsity boys’ team champion was West Potomac (122), followed by second place Jefferson (147), third place Lake Braddock (161), fourth place Centreville (162) and the fifth place Seahawks (169). The individual boys’ champion was Chantilly senior Christopher Foley.

SOUTH LAKES’ top finisher in the varsity girls’ race was senior Val Moyer, who was 33rd overall among a field of 181 runners. Moyer, at last year’s district championships, finished 23rd overall.  Donovan said Moyer is a solid team leader and runner. “She’s fast and she has a great personality,” said the coach. “She does a great job taking charge and is a great leader by example and hard work. Our girls’ team is very young. She’s definitely the leader of the girls’ group and a real strong runner.” The girls’ varsity team champion was Lake Braddock with 77 points. Finishing second was West Potomac (95), followed by third place West Springfield (108), fourth place Jefferson (126) and fifth place Robinson (154). The top three teams received team trophies during early afternoon awards presentations. 

Liana Epstein, a senior from Lake Braddock, was the individual champion. The top 15 runners earned medals. 

IN THE UNDERCLASSMEN races, the South Lakes boys finished sixth out of 20 teams. Sean McCoy led the Seahawks with a 22nd place finish. In the freshmen girls’ race, South Lakes runner Shannon Lane finished fifth.

There were two separate JV boys’ team races. In one of those, South Lakes finished first with 40 points, edging second place South County (42). Seahawk sophomore Morten Grundahl finished second overall in that race, while teammates Brad Cohen and Matt Allen were six and seventh place, respectively.

Washington Post

Games to Watch in Virginia

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Herndon (2-0), considered a sure playoff team before the season, appeared vulnerable in a 28-21 win over McLean last week. The Hornets will look to senior quarterback Zack Ozyck, who has passed for three touchdowns and rushed for two this season. South Lakes has outscored its first two opponents, 81-14, by relying heavily on running back Ja’Juan Jones (23 carries, 320 yards, five touchdowns). This rivalry game, known as the Baron Cameron Bowl (for the park located near both schools), has been dominated by Herndon, which has won the past six by a combined score of 202-39.

South Lakes Opens New Football Season With Victory Over Falls Church

QB Rana, running back Jones lead the way in non-district triumph.

By Rich Sanders

Reston Connection

Thursday, September 10, 2009

South Lakes celebrated the start of the new high school football season by winning handily over visiting Falls Church last Friday night, 41-14.  “I think we played a pretty solid game and I’m real pleased with the outcome,” said South Lakes coach John Ellenberger, whose team would like to vastly improve on last year’s 2-8 record. The Seahawks had outstanding success moving the football against a physically big Falls Church defensive line.  “It’s probably the biggest team Falls Church has had up front,” said Ellenberger. “We ran right at them and our quarterback had a nice game.”

Shawn Rana, South Lakes’ starting quarterback, completed 8-of-12 passes for 150 yards in his first varsity start. He tossed a 15 yard touchdown pass to receiver Sean Price (3 catches, 65 yards).  “He didn’t force balls and he took it and ran a few times which we want him to do [when there is open field],” said the coach, of Rana’s efficient, solid game.

Ja’Juan Jones, a junior running back, brought balance to the Seahawks’ offensive attack with a huge game, rushing for 165 yards and three touchdowns. Ellenberger credited his skill position standout with running the ball well, and credited his offensive line with opening up holes. Another South Lakes running back, Darius Smith, had a good game as well, rushing for 65 yards on eight carries and also catching a pass for 40 yards.

Ellenberger was pleased his players saw good results for all the hard work they have put into preparing for this season. He was especially happy for the Seahawks’ 23 seniors on the roster. “I’m just real excited for the kids,” he said. “These seniors, and I tell them this all the time, they’re just a bunch of good kids with good character. That’s nice to be around.” This Friday night, South Lakes will look to make it two straight wins when it travels to Alexandria to take on Thomas Jefferson High. The Colonials, coming off a week one, lopsided loss to Herndon, like to throw the football.  “They speed it up and like to throw it a little bit,” said Ellenberger, of his team’s next opponent. “But I feel real comfortable with our secondary.”

South Lakes’ defensive backfield includes corners Smith and Price, as well as junior safety Seth Hauter, who forced a fumble with a rousing hit in the win over Falls Church. Hauter, as well as being a member of the South Lakes secondary, is also a wide receiver on offense, known for his fierce blocking.

South Lakes’ Offense Could Give Opponents Fits This Season

Seahawks will open fall campaign at home this Friday night against Falls Church.

By Rich Sanders

Reston Connection

Friday, September 04, 2009

Chances are good that the South Lakes High football team’s offense will make things difficult for a good many of its opponents’ defenses throughout the fall season.  South Lakes opens up its schedule this Friday night at 7:30 with a home game against Falls Church. Offensively, the Seahawks believe they have the kind of talent that should allow them to have success in both their running and passing attacks. Falls Church, a member of the National District, is generally a strong offensive team that has thrived in past years behind a potent aerial attack. So Friday’s game could showcase numerous offensive highlights from both teams.

“When I look at our offense, I think we’re strong pretty much across the board,” said South Lakes coach John Ellenberger, whose team won its season opener game over Falls Church last year before struggling the rest of the season and going 2-8. “Our [offensive] line is back from last year.”  One key to how well South Lakes will move the football will be the play of first-year starting varsity quarterback Shawn Rana.  Ellenberger said Rana worked hard throughout the offseason and played outstanding during the recent training camp and preseason to earn the starting nod.  “We couldn’t be more happy with him,” said Ellenberger. “We’re going to be able to throw the ball.”

Rana’s transition to the starting QB role will be made easier because of the flux of talent around him on both the offensive line and at the skill positions. The line, which helped the Seahawks rush for 1,700 yards last year, will be anchored by right tackle Kevin Ball, who earned All-Liberty District honors in 2008. Ball is coming off a broken ankle injury he suffered last spring while playing baseball for the Seahawks. Ellenberger said Ball, who also will play on the defensive line for South Lakes, has been highly recruited by several colleges. And his ankle, the coach said, has heeled nicely.

“He’s running well,” said Ellenberger. One of South Lakes’ key skill position players on offense will be 6-foot-4 inch junior wide receiver Sean Price, who will also start at a cornerback position on defense.  Leading the running attack will be junior back Ja’Juan Jones, who missed four games last year with a separated shoulder. He still managed to rush for 700 yards and seven TDs on the season, earning Second Team All-District accolades.  “He’s tough and fast and has that football speed,” said Ellenberger, of Jones. “He’s strong and just a very good football player.”  Jones will play at an outside linebacker position on defense. Also at linebacker for the Seahawks will be senior Shawn Khan. Both will occupy the attention of opposing offenses with their hard hits and stellar play.

Ellenberger said his team is excited about the season ahead.  “They really believe this year we’re going to do some good things,” said the coach, of his team. “If we can stay healthy, we’ll win a few ball games. Depth is our problem right now at every position.” Ellenberger believes his team will be a playoff team this season. Eight teams within the smaller school Div. 5 will qualify for the Northern Region playoffs. South Lakes qualified two years ago.

“We’ll get there and hope to make a run once we get there,” said Ellenberger.  Last year, South Lakes’ two wins came over Falls Church and Liberty District opponent McLean.  Following Friday’s opener against the Jaguars, South Lakes will play at Jefferson on Friday, Sept. 11 before returning home again for a week three contest against local rival Herndon on Thursday, Sept. 17. Then, over the next two weeks the Seahawks will play district games against Marshall (away on Sept. 25) and McLean (home on Oct. 2).   South Lakes’ Homecoming game this year is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 30 versus Langley.

Washington Post Preseason All-Mets

Friday, September 4, 2009

For the first time, we are opening up the All-Met process to the public. Here, we present our first- and second-team Preseason All-Met Football team. Once the season starts to unfold, you will be able to vote on our selections and nominate players we overlooked. Every Monday, beginning Sept. 15, we will reevaluate the team and publish a new list, based in part on your nominations. As in the past, the final selections will rest with The Post's high school sports staff, which bases its assessments on interviews with coaches and by watching players at games.

SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE

Vincent Brown strikes gold with USATF National Jr. Olympics’ title in 110 Hurdles

Vincent Brown had to settle for narrow runner-up finishes to Jeffrey Artis of Western Branch twice this year for state titles in the hurdles, but now can conclude his high school career with a national title to his name. The recent graduate of South Lakes High School, Brown struck gold in the finals of the young men's 110 meter hurdles at the USATF Junior Olympic National Championships in Greensboro with a 14.00 clocking (-1.5 wind). Brown was the only national champion from Virginia in the meet.