Take Five: Christian's Running Leads Way for DeMatha
Ball-Control Offense Proves Crucial In Fourth Title Game Win Over Falcons

By Alan Goldenbach
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, November 19, 2007

Entering yesterday's Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship game, DeMatha's Ashby Christian knew that if his team was going to win its fifth straight title, he was going to be the chief reason.

"They ask me to run, and that's what I do -- just run, run, run," the senior running back said.

Christian carried a career-high 35 times for 133 yards to spearhead DeMatha's ball-control game plan that gave the eight-ranked Stags a 12-7 victory over No. 6 Good Counsel before an estimated 6,000 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

"It's outstanding," said DeMatha Coach Bill McGregor, whose team has defeated Good Counsel in each of the past four finals. "It really makes a statement about our football program."

After watching Good Counsel (10-2) erase a 10-point second half deficit to beat the Stags, 28-24, two weeks ago in the teams' regular season finale, McGregor said his team needed to keep the Falcons' offense off of the field.

Yesterday, DeMatha, held (10-2) possession for 32 minutes 50 seconds -- more than a 2-to-1 advantage.

"We didn't have to do anything," junior quarterback Tom Chroniger said, "except say, 'Hey, Ashby, take the football and carry us.' "

When Good Counsel's offense did get control, the Falcons couldn't do much, mustering 132 yards of offense and four first downs.

DeMatha opened the scoring midway through the first quarter on a 21-yard pass from Chroniger to Rodney McLeod. Two plays later, though, Good Counsel answered with its only significant offensive play -- a 71-yard run on a counter by junior Caleb Porzel to tie the game.

DeMatha committed four first-half turnovers -- three interceptions and one fumble -- all on the Good Counsel side of the field. Still, Good Counsel knew it needed to turn some of those into points.

"We got a lot of turnovers and didn't capitalize," Falcons junior fullback-linebacker Jelani Jenkins said.

McGregor said: "It's 7-7, and we're in great shape. We knew the second half would be ours."

DeMatha rode Christian 16 times in the second half, when they mounted three drives of at least four minutes, the first of which ended with freshman kicker Michael Branthover booting a 40-yard field goal with just over four minutes left in the third quarter to put DeMatha ahead for good.

Good Counsel struggled mightily in the second half, punting its first three times, throwing an interception and fumbling out of the end zone in the final minute to cap the scoring.

No. 8 DeMatha 12, No. 6 Good Counsel 7 Five Again: DeMatha matched its own WCAC mark with its fifth straight league title. The Stags won five straight from 1991 to '95. Picking Up the Slack: After senior Brad Eden injured his knee five weeks ago, Ashby Christian has take over the DeMatha running attack, averaging 24 carries over the past five games. He had just 53 carries in the first seven games. No. 8 DeMatha 12, No. 6 Good Counsel 7 Five Again: DeMatha matched its own WCAC mark with its fifth straight league title. The Stags won five straight from 1991 to '95. Picking Up the Slack: After senior Brad Eden injured his knee five weeks ago, Ashby Christian has take over the DeMatha running attack, averaging 24 carries over the past five games. He had just 53 carries in the first seven games.