Leesburg, Va. — In subfreezing temperatures on snow-covered turf, almost 100 high school seniors met to represent Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. in the inaugural Capital Bowl High School Seniors game on December 30 in Leesburg. In front of a hometown crowd, Team NoVa – which featured six LoCo student-athletes – used a stalwart defense and big-play offense to cruise to a 26-14 win over Team D.C., claiming the first ever Capital Bowl trophy.
“It was cool to represent NoVa and dominate a very good D.C. team,” Dominion senior running back Alex Wertz said. “This was the most talent I’ve ever been around in this sport, and it was an honor to be a part of it and help my team score and win the game.”
[adrotate banner=”19″]After T.C. Williams senior quarterback Diondre Charlton tossed a pair of first half touchdown passes, Wertz made his play of the night in a two-score game midway through the third quarter.
Lined up at halfback for Team NoVa, Wertz maneuvered up the sideline, throwing a huge block that opened up a hole for Freedom-Woodbridge senior quarterback AJ Felton to go 56 yards for a touchdown.
“Sometimes it’s not you that makes the big play but you have to set it up,” Wertz said.
With a three-score lead and a little more than a quarter to play, it was the Team NoVa defense that kept the mobile Team D.C. offense at bay. Led by Broad Run senior linebacker Mike Arrington, the Team NoVa defense allowed just one offensive touchdown – a 12-yard touchdown pass from HD Woodson senior quarterback Tyron Robinson to National Collegiate Prep senior Andre Ross, Jr. late in the second quarter.
“It was a great experience to have before going to college,” Arrington said. “Playing in the first game representing NoVa was a great thing because I feel Virginia football is underrated. It felt good to come out and win to show what Virginia football is all about.”
Arrington and the rest of the Team NoVa defense – which also featured Tuscarora senior defensive back Alex Lee – had its hands full with Robinson, who was as elusive as they come.
While they kept Robinson under control, the Team NoVa offense – including John Champe senior offensive lineman Camryn Marble, Dominion senior receiver George Richardson and Broad Run senior receiver Detwaun Turner – scored four times, including three touchdowns of more than 50 yards.
Charlton tossed a 70-yard touchdown pass to Stafford senior receiver Lovell Armstead early in the first quarter before Felton found Centreville senior receiver Keenan Anunay for an 80-yard strike to open the second half. Felton added his 56-yard touchdown run on Team NoVa’s next offensive series.
As the clock struck 0:00, Team NoVa – a group represented by 17 Northern Virginia high schools – was on top, 26-14.
“It was cool playing with guys from other Loudoun schools because we all knew each other and had a mutual respect for each other going into this game,” Wertz said. “We all knew each other because of how we played football and the relationships we had built because of the sport.”
Scoring:
1Q NoVa Diondre Charlton (TC Williams) to Lovell Armstead (Stafford) for 70-yard TD pass (2pt failed)
2Q NoVa Diondre Charlton (TC Williams) to Jamarian Hawkins (Fort Hill) for 5-yard TD pass (2pt failed)
2Q DC Tyron Robinson (HD Woodson) to Andre Ross, Jr. (National Collegiate Prep) for 12-yard TD pass (2pt good)
3Q NoVa AJ Felton (Freedom-Woodbridge) to Keenan Anunay (Centreville) for 80-yard TD pass (2pt good)
3Q NoVa AJ Felton (Freedom-Woodbridge) for 56-yard TD run (2pt failed)
3Q DC Anton Reed (Woodrow Wilson) for 50-yard fumble recovery TD (2pt failed)