After Seneca Valley scored a touchdown in overtime Friday, it appeared the Whitman football team would be on the short end of a close game for the second straight week. Seneca Valley needed only to make the ensuing extra point to win.

"We were all kind of holding our breath," Whitman coach Jim Kuhn said. "All you have to do is kick the extra point and we’re done."

But the Vikings weren’t done, as junior Jeff Gruen blocked the extra point, keeping the score tied at 13 and sending the game into double overtime.

"It was a big momentum lift," Kuhn said of the block.

After a defensive stop, Whitman’s Danny Lee kicked a 26-yard field goal to give the Vikings a 16-13 victory in the heat of a playoff race.

Kuhn said the Vikings struggled in the kicking game earlier in the season. But Lee had a strong offensive and defensive performance against the Screaming Eagles, Kuhn said, so the coach decided to go with the hot hand.

"Kicking it was our best option," Kuhn said. "It all just worked out."

Seneca Valley faced fourth-and-goal from inside the Whitman 1-yard line during its possession in overtime No. 2, but Lee stopped the Screaming Eagles short on the fourth-down play.

The win improved Whitman to 7-2 overall. The Vikings are in a third-place tie with Churchill in the 4A West division, with the top four teams making the playoffs. Whitman travels to take on Churchill at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the final week of the regular season.

A win over Churchill would assure Whitman of a playoff spot. If Whitman loses, the Vikings would need Springbrook (6-3) to lose to Paint Branch (8-1) in order to make the playoffs.

Whitman’s Kevin Cecala rushed 32 times for 121 yards and a touchdown against Seneca Valley.

"He carried the load," Kuhn said.

Henry Kuhn completed 5 of 22 passes for 45 yards. He also scored on a 1-yard run.

Churchill Comes up Short against BCC
The Churchill football game lost its second consecutive game, falling to Bethesda-Chevy Chase 20-13 on Friday.

The loss dropped Churchill to 7-2 after a 7-0 start. The Bulldogs are tied with Whitman for third place in the 4A West division, with four teams making the playoffs. Churchill hosts Whitman at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the final week of the regular season. Churchill would qualify for the playoffs with a win or a Springbrook (6-3) loss to Paint Branch (8-1).

Churchill head coach Joe Allen said the Bulldogs overlooked BCC, which entered the game with a 3-5 record. Allen was the Barons’ head coach before taking over at Churchill this season.

"The kids overlooked them," Allen said. "We expected to win. We weren’t as focused as we usually are."

Churchill forced five turnovers, but managed only one touchdown. The Bulldogs’ triple option offense was limited to 80 rushing yards.

"There were some adjustments we didn’t make that we had worked on all week," Allen said.

Churchill’s Alex Kantor completed 7 of 21 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown. Matt Risk caught five passes for 100 yards and a score.

Ryan Quinn rushed 17 times for 67 yards. Nadim Elhage finished with a team-high nine tackles.

Wootton Football Loses
Another week, another disappointing result for the Wootton Patriot football team.

On senior night, the Patriots lost 28-21 to a Walter Johnson team that had won just one game on the year. After a 7-3 playoff season in 2008, Wootton’s record stands at 2-7 heading into the final week of the campaign.

"If I had to say why we lost, I think it was because nobody stepped up and made big plays," senior linebacker Adam Solomon said. "We’ve been inconsistent with our discipline this year and I think we really showed a lack of discipline against WJ."

The defense struggled to stop WJ’s option rushing attack, giving up the go-ahead touchdown with 42 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

"We were extremely inconsistent and what it really came down to was that we didn’t step up at the right time and they did," senior quarterback/cornerback Alex Kelly said.

The loss was Wootton’s fourth straight.
"We have competitive leaders," Kelly said. "I can guarantee that just like the past nine weeks, the team will be leaving it all on the field."

"As I look back at this season, I knew we had the talent and dedication to win, but it just didn't work out the way we wanted it to," Solomon said.

The Patriots will look to play spoiler on the road against Clarksburg on Friday.

"It’s very important that we end the season on a positive note," Solomon said. "Not only would it be a great feeling to crush Clarksburg's playoff hopes, but we need this win for the program. We need to earn our self-respect back and regain confidence in ourselves because whatever happens this Friday night is what carries over to next year."

Bullis Football Loses
The Bullis football team lost to Landon 31-8 on Saturday.

Bullis’ Nick Fisher rushed 12 times for 73 yards and a touchdown.

Bullis travels to take on Episcopal on Saturday.