By Joe Skinner
LoCoSports Social Media Editor
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Aldie (September 5, 2015) — On a foggy Friday afternoon, John Champe High School(2-0) opened play on their home field in a matchup against Spring Mills High School (1-1) of Martinsburg, W.Va. The Knights blanked the visiting Cardinals, with a final score of 22-0.
The majority of the scoring came in the game’s first twelve minutes. John Champe senior quarterback Zach Burdick tossed two touchdown passes — the first to senior wide receiver Coleman Rafferty and the second to senior wide receiver Kuony Deng. A field goal from senior kicker William Nichols pushed the lead to 16-0 headed into the locker room at the half.
“[Burdick] is not only talented, but he can handle adversity and that’s what a leader is,” John Champe head coach Jason Dawson said. ”You don’t always have great nights, but when the adversity strikes [he]is a great leader and you get through the trouble and try to stay composed.”
The Knights had some penalty issues in the first half, having two potential touchdowns taken off the board from a holding call and an illegal man downfield call. Dawson went on to say that his team, despite the 22-point win, did not play a very good game on the offensive side of the ball.
“We didn’t execute very well, those two mistakes are huge,” Dawson said. “Defensively we played fine, special teams did fine, but offensively we have some work to do, and I’m okay with that.”
The only action of the second half came in the fourth quarter when John Champe senior running back David Cousino ran in for a touchdown to end the possibility of a late Spring Mills’ charge.
The Knights have a bye next week, and then look to defend home turf again in a matchup against Loudoun Valley High School in LoCoSports’ Game of the Week.
“We have to get healthy [in time for Loudoun Valley]and after that, learn what they do very well, take it away and execute,” Dawson said. “We don’t have to worry about what [Loudoun Valley] does, we just have to execute.”
Scoring Plays:
1Q 9:23 JC Zach Burdick to Coleman Rafferty 14-yard TD pass (Nichols PAT)
1Q 3:34 JC William Nichols 35-yard field goal
1Q 0:28 JC Zach Burdick to Kuony Deng 13-yard TD pass (2pt failed)
4Q 7:40 JC David Cousino 17-yard TD run (2pt failed)
