Navigating Peaks and Valleys
Northern Region Teams Battle Through Ups, Downs This Season
James Johnson, above, and W.T. Woodson scored an upset win over Lake Braddock to improve to 2-0, but fell in Week 3 to Lee.
(By John Mcdonnell -- The Washington Post)
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Tuesday, September 22, 2009
T.C. Williams senior linebacker Chelo Abbe's 50-yard fumble return for a touchdown with 90 seconds left in a 15-9 upset over then-No. 3 Oakton on Thursday has become the signature play of the 2009 season in the Virginia AAA Northern Region.
Abbe's fumble return is the most notable play among a merry-go-round of upsets in the first three weeks that has left many fans, coaches and players confused about which team is the region's legitimate Division 6 front-runner.
Following W.T. Woodson's manic first three weeks is appropriate for two reasons:
It shows the peaks and valleys teams will face this season, and it also reveals the Cavaliers' move from the Liberty District to the Patriot District is perhaps the sole change that has caused a power shift from the Concorde District to the Patriot District, at least for this season.
W.T. Woodson (2-1) opened with a 33-14 victory over Fairfax but then shocked the region with a 43-42 victory over Lake Braddock in Week 2.
Woodson's victory over Lake Braddock -- a team many had pegged to win the Division 6 region title this year -- ushered the Cavaliers and 499-yard passer Connor Reilly (a Temple recruit) to the forefront of the region title conversation.
However, Woodson followed up the shocker with an equally shocking outcome in Week 3, when its potent offense sputtered in a 27-7 loss to Lee.
That game has now hoisted Lee (3-0) and its stable of running backs in Jazmier Williams and Idreis Augustus, a Paul VI Catholic transfer, into the title talk.
Woodson's roller-coaster ride is just one example among many within the Northern Region this season.
"I think, at this point, everybody is trying to figure out who's who and what's what, but it certainly seems more so than ever that you can't predict that 'these guys are going to blow these guys out' because every time you do that, somebody's coming back or making it a close game," W.T. Woodson Coach Trey Taylor said. "It's confusing to me, but it seems like to me that everyone is pretty much on even-footing."
Other teams experiencing these emotional peaks and valleys:
