Ashburn, Va. — Less than two minutes into the game, Rock Ridge High School junior running back Luke Long broke free for a 47-yard touchdown run. Chunk plays like that typically hurt football teams, but Park View responded by blocking the point after attempt. Less than 70 seconds later, the Patriots really responded when senior quarterback Antoine Moten found the edge and went 53 yards to the house to even things up. Then the Patriots converted on a two-point attempt to take the lead.
That was the story of the night for Park View: every time Rock Ridge scored, the Patriots’ defense made a big stop, and Moten used his legs to find the end zone.
Leading 29-28 with the clock winding down, the Park View defense got set for a last second field goal attempt by Rock Ridge. Having already blocked two PATs in the game, the Patriots broke through the Phoenix offensive line, blocked the field goal attempt, and stormed the field celebrating their second straight win, 29-28, over Rock Ridge on March 19 in Ashburn.
“We’ve fought through a lot of adversity over the years,” Park View head coach Josh Wild said. “This year we have a great group, and they’ve learned how to overcome those things. We’re always competing for the next play.”
[adrotate banner=”45″]That mentality has helped shift the culture at Park View as the Patriots look to re-energize the football community in Sterling Park. It’s a community with a great football tradition having won a VHSL AA Division 4 State championship in 1988 and appearing in three more state title games in 1980, 1999, and 2000. In 1986, Park View graduate Allen Pinkett was drafted by the Houston Oilers, and three years later in 1989, Park View graduate Jeff Lageman was drafted by the New York Jets. In 2007, the Patriots had a 3,000-yard passer in CJ Leizear. And as recent as 2010, the Patriots won a region playoff game.
Over the last decade, however, the Patriots have struggled to get rolling on the gridiron, accumulating a 6-84 record since 2012.
Wild, Moten, and co. are looking to change that outlook. The win over Rock Ridge comes just a week after holding off first-year Lightridge in overtime, marking the first back-to-back wins for Park View since 2011.
“I’m excited for where we’re going,” Wild said. “We’ve been working really hard, and it’s finally showing on the field.”
On the offensive side of the ball, Moten is the conductor that makes the Patriots’ engine move forward. The first-year quarterback amassed more than 250 all-purpose yards and 4 rushing touchdowns in the Patriots win over Rock Ridge—and a ridiculously good ball fake by Moten early in the fourth quarter caused an inadvertent whistle that would have added yet another touchdown to his already historic night.
“This is his first year playing quarterback, and he’s learning along the way,” Wild said. “He made some mistakes tonight, but he also does some great things.”
While Moten kept the Park View offense on the move, the Patriots’ defense was the difference in the win. Rock Ridge combined to rush for 193 yards on 27 carries in the first half. However, when it mattered most the Park View defense—led by senior defensive linemen Atif Aslam, Justin Kelley, and Hector Lopez as well as sophomore defensive lineman Derek Ramirez—held the Phoenix to just 71 rushing on 25 carries in the second half.
“Our offensive and defensive lines have done a great job controlling the trenches for us this year,” Wild said. “It’s given our skill guys an opportunity to get better every week.”
Park View (2-2) will look to improve again this week when they host Warren County on March 25 in Sterling. Rock Ridge (2-2) will try to bounce back when they travel to Lightridge on March 26.
“There’s a lot of community support. Everyone is behind us 100%: the parents, the administration, the teachers,” Wild said. “They know how hard our kids have been working, so for it to finally show and for them to get some results, it’s an amazing feeling. Hopefully, we can keep it going.”
Mike Ferrara captured 250+ photos at the game!
Scoring Plays
| Period | Time | Team | Goal | Score |
| 1Q | 10:37 | Rock Ridge | Luke Long 47-yard TD run (PAT blocked) | 0-6 |
| 1Q | 9:28 | Park View | Antoine Moten 53-yard TD run (Alexander Troy 2PT run) | 8-6 |
| 2Q | 11:10 | Rock Ridge | Luke Long 8-yard TD run (Basit Qadri 2PT run) | 8-14 |
| 2Q | 9:41 | Park View | Antoine Moten 1-yard TD run (Hector Lopez PAT) | 15-14 |
| 2Q | 3:36 | Rock Ridge | Basit Qadri to #80 9-yard TD pass (PAT blocked) | 15-20 |
| 2Q | 0:00 | Rock Ridge | Basit Qadri to Luke Long 12-yard TD pass (Basit Qadri 2PT run) | 15-28 |
| 3Q | 8:33 | Park View | Antoine Moten 60-yard TD run (Hector Lopez PAT) | 22-28 |
| 4Q | 8:18 | Park View | Antoine Moten 3-yard TD run (Hector Lopez PAT) | 29-28 |