Loudoun County, Va. — As high school football gets underway in Loudoun County, a few local teams have already started to stand out among the crowd. In a two-district county, we wanted a way to put things into perspective. Enter: the LoCo Top 5.
Of course, if you’re into hard numbers, check out the full VHSL Region 5C and VHSL Region 4C standings.
[adrotate group=”4″]1. Broad Run (1-1)
Of all the team’s in our initial LoCo Top 5, Broad Run had the most daunting Week 2 match up as they traveled to Leesburg to tango with rival Tuscarora. The game got even more interesting when lightning forced an overnight delay. The Spartans took a halftime lead into the morning restart, and junior quarterback Mitch Griffis quickly got to work, out-mastering the Huskies’ defense for two second half touchdowns. Now the win pushes Broad Run to 1-1 following an inadvertent clerical error prior to their Week 1 match up with Potomac Falls that led the Spartans to playing an ineligible player and, ultimately, forfeiting the game. Broad Run self-reported the inadvertent error, and because the use of this player did not affect the outcome of the game, the Spartans are appealing the forfeit to the VHSL, according to Loudoun County Public Schools PIO Wayde Byard. Broad Run looks to keep rolling when they host Woodgrove on September 7.
2. Stone Bridge (1-0)
No surprise here, but Stone Bridge remains in the No. 2 spot this week after clobbering Loudoun Valley, 42-6, in a lightning shortened game on August 31. Stone Bridge senior quarterback Mason Tatum and senior running back Nick Mell should keep the Bulldogs near the top of the list throughout the season but could have their hands full on September 7 when they host the 6A Lake Braddock Bruins.
3. Tuscarora (1-1)
Despite a 16-point loss to Broad Run in Week 2, Tuscarora strung some things together offensively and kept Broad Run junior running back Tim Baldwin under wraps. The Huskies, however, were plagued by penalties and a couple dropped passes that kept them out of the end zone after the first quarter. Tuscarora is still without starting quarterback Justin Allen, but junior back up Ethan Gick is super athletic and has given the Huskies the life they need until Allen returns.
4. John Champe (0-2)
While John Champe is yet to earn a win this season, the Knights have hung around with two of the top teams in the Washington, D.C. met. John Champe fell to D.C. power Friendship Collegiate, 20-7, in Week 1 before holding 6A power Centreville to just two touchdowns in Week 2. The Knights have lined themselves up to get their first win of the season in Week 3 but can’t put a tally in the win column until they get through 2-0 Heritage on September 7 in Aldie.
5. Woodgrove (1-1)
The end of Woodgrove’s Week 2 loss to Massaponax might have been the most bizarre conclusion to a high school football game in LCPS history. With about a minute left in the first half, the Panthers led the Wolverines, 27-6, as lightning forced a weather delay. After a one hour delay, both athletic directors and head coaches agreed to end the game making it final, according to a source. However, the VHSL will not consider a game final unless at least one half has been played. So the head referee went onto the field and blew the ball into play to run off the remaining 0:48 to send the game to halftime, making it an official game. Let’s hope lightning doesn’t strike twice, or Woodgrove might see its season slipping through its fingers.
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