Wakefield goes out with its only victory of the season

Davis's touchdown is the difference in battle of 0-9 squads

Wakefield football Coach Keith Powell had a theory about his team's game Friday night at Mount Vernon, one that pitted 0-9 squads trying to salvage a victory to savor during the offseason.

Call it the Desperation Bowl.

"The situation is whoever wins goes into the wintertime with a little less questions about what went wrong," Powell said. "Whoever loses, it's just rock bottom."

It was Wakefield that salvaged some respect Friday night. The Warriors drove for the decisive touchdown in the closing minutes and intercepted a pass two plays later to find themselves in two strange places -- the win column and in a victory formation, kneeling twice to run out the clock and start the celebration of a 34-29 road triumph.

It was their first season-closing victory in 12 years.

"People may think that we're [0-9], that we don't got nothing to play for," said junior running back Terry Davis, who scored the winning touchdown on a nine-yard run called "34 Scissors." "This game right here meant everything. If we would have come out here and lost, that would have started [next] season out bad already.

"This was our state championship right here."

Needless to say it was a difficult year for both programs. Powell said he and Mount Vernon Coach Tom Glynn commiserated early in the week as they watched their freshman and junior varsity teams play.

Wakefield has not had a winning season since 1983 and weathered winless seasons in 2004 and 1996.

Powell, who when hired in 2007 was the program's eighth coach in 20 years, felt uneasy about the Warriors on the last day of weightlifting before practice began in August. There were six players in the weight room. He turned to his defensive coordinator, John Thomas, and said, "We're in trouble."

Days later, Wakefield's starting center transferred to Annandale. A top defensive lineman was lost to major knee surgery.

"I think that they understand that they've got to commit," said Powell. "We're not good enough to show up in August. I hope they learn from the seniors' mistakes. We're counting on those guys to lead us in the right way. I think you'll see a big change next year."