Throughout the metro area, playoff picture takes shape

Westfield turns it around, other teams look to end long postseason droughts

Walking off the field following what is believed to be the first football homecoming loss in school history was a rotten feeling. Traditionally a football power with seven consecutive playoff appearances and two state titles, Westfield had won just one of its first five games, and in early October its season was going nowhere.

"It's senior year, and football means a lot to all the kids on the team so even though we had doubts on the season, we never wanted to give up," senior linebacker Dylan Doty said. "But it felt terrible coming off the field, knowing you might not be able to make the playoffs, and it might be your last time playing football."

Somehow the Bulldogs turned things around. Westfield (5-4) has won four consecutive games entering Friday's regular season finale against Herndon (4-5), and one more victory will clinch a Virginia AAA Division 6 Northern Region playoff berth.

"We kind of hit a low point there at 1-4, but our kids kept working," Westfield Coach Tom Verbanic said. "We've won quite a bit over the years we've been open. It's tough on kids, coaches, everybody. You're expected to win."

Westfield's turnaround was more sudden, on the heels of a three-game losing streak, but a few other Fairfax County teams are enjoying their most success in some time.

In the Division 6 Northern Region, T.C. Williams (5-4), which has not finished .500 since 1996, can earn its first playoff berth in 19 years by beating Lee (6-3). Fairfax (5-4) has not played in the postseason since 1999, Verbanic's last year coaching the Rebels.

In Division 5, McLean bounced back from last season's 0-10 mark and can advance by beating Langley (4-5). The winner between Yorktown and Washington-Lee also will get in.

In the Northwestern Region, No. 9 Battlefield (9-0), No. 12 Woodbridge (9-0) and No. 14 Colonial Forge (8-1) have all qualified for the Division 6 playoffs, which should be a power-packed six-team tournament.

In Maryland, at least one team will end a brief drought in the 4A West region. Churchill (7-2) has not made the playoffs since 2004, but the winner of its game against Whitman (7-2) will get in. Springbrook (6-3) can qualify for the first time since 2003 by beating Paint Branch (8-1), which is in for the first time since 2000. If the Blue Devils lose they will be done for the season and the Whitman-Churchill loser also will advance.

In the 4A East, Annapolis (7-2) can secure its first playoff bid since 2002 by beating North County (6-3) or having Broadneck (7-2) lose to No. 17 Old Mill (8-1).

The 4A South features an unusual playoff-preview doubleheader of sorts with No. 2 Wise (9-0) playing No. 19 C.H. Flowers (8-1) and No. 8 Suitland (8-1) playing Eleanor Roosevelt. Those four teams will meet again the following week in the first round of the playoffs, though this Saturday's outcomes will determine the pairings.

In the District, Dunbar (9-1) clinched the DCIAA West Division with a 14-7 victory at Coolidge, while Wilson (5-4) can earn the division's second seed by beating Theodore Roosevelt (3-6) on Friday. In the East, barring a major upset, Ballou (7-1) and H.D. Woodson (6-4) appear headed for the top two seeds. That would set up intriguing semifinal pairings of Dunbar-Woodson and Ballou-Wilson -- the same games as in 2006, when Ballou won its first Turkey Bowl.

In the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, No. 1 DeMatha (9-0), No. 7 Good Counsel (8-1) and No. 13 Bishop McNamara have qualified for the league's four-team tournament. The final spot will go to the winner of Saturday's rivalry game between St. John's (5-4) and Gonzaga (5-4).

Staff writer Alan Goldenbach contributed to this report.