VIRGINIA AAA PATRIOT
Spartans' Defense Steals Show
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Saturday, October 4, 2008
It's not always easy being a West Springfield defensive player. Classmates want to know why the offense has to score so many points to win games. What is this, basketball season?
Those supporters might be asking a different question this weekend, such as: How did you force eight turnovers Friday night in a 48-13 thumping of previously unbeaten West Potomac?
Junior linebacker Peyton Davey was responsible for four of the takeaways, recovering three fumbles and a squib kick in a game that matched teams unbeaten in the Virginia AAA Patriot District. West Springfield (4-2, 3-0) erased an early 7-0 lead and hung up 38 points in the second half.
The Spartans' defense bent -- it allowed 21 first downs -- and it also broke the Wolverines' hearts. Two of Davey's recoveries came on West Potomac cough-ups within the 5-yard line when touchdowns seemed imminent.
"Coach has been telling us that we can be the best [defense] in the region, and tonight I think we showed it," Davey said. "On defense we have a mind-set now where every play is a new play. They get a 50-yard down, next time it's a new play."
"It made our job a lot easier," said senior quarterback Bryn Renner, who passed for 235 yards and three touchdowns and led the offense to its fourth consecutive game scoring 48 points or more. "We can come to the bench and know they're going to stop them and not have to go out and score."
West Potomac (5-1, 2-1) entered the game averaging 31.4 points, and senior quarterback Cole Walter had passed for 17 touchdowns, including eight to senior Kristian Rodriguez. Last night, Walter passed for two scores, but the Spartans, namely senior Hayden Angulo, held Rodriguez without a reception and intercepted four passes.
Angulo had one of the pickoffs. Junior Ben Lockwood had two and senior Malek Diaw had one.
"I still think this defense is going to be really good, and they've been on that track, despite what the scoreboard's shown," said West Springfield Coach Bill Renner, whose team's losses were to No. 3 Stone Bridge and No. 17 Edison.
W. Springfield 48, W. Potomac 13 Five Is Enough: The Spartans halted a 5-0 start for the Wolverines for the second consecutive season. Defensive Lift: West Springfield senior linebacker Scott VanBuren got cleared yesterday to resume playing after suffering a knee injury earlier this season, when he had a three-game interception streak.
