By Stephen A. Norris
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 13, 2007

The injury bug has hit hard and spread quickly at Woodbridge. The Vikings were contenders to win the Northwestern Region and now face injuries to top players that could cripple the season.

When Woodbridge visits Loudoun Valley tomorrow, the most notable losses will be All-Extra running back DeAntwan Williams (ankle), starting quarterback Jake Myer (knee) and starting safety Kika Craig (ankle). Williams and Craig are out indefinitely, and Myer will sit out one week.

The injury list continues as the Vikings have lost two of their three starting linebackers, including Andre Cook, who is out for the year after breaking his vertebrae. Cook is in a body brace. Guard Max Bing-Grant has torn ligaments in his ankle and won't be back until the Vikings' bye week Oct. 5.

"Last year we lost a lot of key players, and it just seems to be carrying over," Woodbridge Coach Keith King said. "We will just try and get through these next few weeks and hope to be close to full strength by district play."

After winning its first game in nearly two years, 40-28 over Loudoun Valley, Forest Park hosts a Stonewall Jackson team tomorrow that might be coming off an even-bigger win over Hylton, 13-2. It was the first time since 1996 that the Raiders have beaten the Bulldogs.

Forest Park had won since beating Freedom-Woodbridge on Oct. 17, 2005.

"Our kids were excited, but in the same sense we knew there were a lot of areas we need to improve on," Bruins second-year coach Charlie Chandler said. "It was fun, but I always tell them to act like they have been there and have class. This season is very, very young."

Manassas Park fans had grown accustomed to winning after the Cougars captured a state title in 2004 and finished second in 2005. So when the team finished 5-5 last season, there seemed reason to panic.

This season help has come with a familiar name: Terrell, as in Dominique Terrell, younger brother of former Manassas Park quarterback Zach and cousin of Jay Terrell, who also played quarterback for the Cougars.

Dominique is following in his brother's and cousin's footsteps, having led the Cougars to a 2-0 start. Dominique has been a threat with his legs and his arm, completing 10 of 23 passes for 277 yards and carrying 39 times for 198 yards.

Zach won a state title for the Cougars in 2004, and Jay led the team to the state final in 2005.

After giving up 21 points in the season opener against Battlefield, the Potomac defense pitched a shutout in a 14-0 win Friday over Stafford.

The Panthers' fast, hard-hitting defense became a staple of their success last season when they advanced to the state semifinals. Against Stafford, running backs Darius Brent and Mulkuh Kalokoh turned in impressive performances as both rushed for more than 100 yards.

Quantico continues its uphill climb of building a winning program. The Warriors are 0-2, having lost 42-7 to Massanutten Academy and 53-6 to Fuqua. Because it's a private school on a military base, the turnover is higher than it would be at most schools.

The Warriors have 20 players, three of whom are eighth-graders; four are in ninth grade; and two of the five seniors have never played football.

"We just work on fundamentals with these kids," first-year coach John Pierce said. "These are good kids, and the positive is dealing with them every day."