Defending Div. 6 Northern Region football champion Lake Braddock remained unbeaten last Thursday night, Sept. 16 with a defensive-led, 12-7 win over perennial region contender Westfield.
The visiting Bruins (3-0) scored all of their points in the first half – a 14-yard scoring run by quarterback Michael Nebrich (19-of-28, 278 yards) in the first quarter, and a 50-yard Nebrich to receiver Matt Zanellato (10 catches, 207 yards) passing strike in the second quarter.
Prior to Lake Braddock’s second quarter touchdown, Westfield, earlier in the quarter, took a 7-6 lead when QB Matt Pisarcik (13-of-27, 127) connected with Mitch Castleberry (4 catches, 47 yards) on a nine-yard touchdown pass play. Matt Delaney’s extra point kick put the Bulldogs ahead.
But following Zanellato’s long TD pass reception, Lake Braddock carried a 12-7 lead into halftime. Neither team would score in the second half as the two defenses clamped down.
Westfield running back Brian Monticue rushed for a hard-fought 70 yards on 26 carries.
Lake Braddock will host T.C. Williams this Friday night at 7:30. The Titans are 1-2 and coming off a 29-14 loss at Oakton.
Westfield (1-2), looking to get on a roll, will play at Lee this Friday night. The Lancers (1-2) are coming off a 27-20 loss at Woodson.
<b>THE FAIRFAX REBELS</b> followed up their upset win over Robinson two weeks ago with a 35-21 road win at Stuart last Thursday night. The Rebels had big success running the football with Marcus Bailey (14 carries, 125 yards) and Anton Burns (9 for 95) picking up most of the yardage. Bailey opened the game’s scoring with a 38 yard TD run in the first quarter, and Burns found the end zone on a 10-yard run in the second quarter to put Fairfax ahead, 14-0. The Raiders got within 14-7 before Fairfax QB Spencer MacLeod tossed a 14-yard scoring pass to junior tightend Chris Robic to give the guests a 20-7 lead. Stuart, however, scored again before halftime and trailed just 20-15 at the break.
Fairfax gained some breathing room on a huge defensive touchdown in which Burns returned a fumble 20 yards for a score. The Rebels, a little while later, all but put the game away when MacLeod threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Austin Perryman. Following the point-after kick by Kevin Playuk, Fairfax led 35-15. Stuart scored the game’s last touchdown to create the final score.
Fairfax (2-1), a week earlier, had won its first game of the season by defeating visiting Robinson, 20-12. Next up for the Rebels is a Friday night home game at 7 versus Langley. The game will be a part of Fairfax High School’s 75th Year Anniversary Weekend.
<b>SOUTH COUNTY</b> slipped to 1-2 on the still-young season with a 7-3 loss at Annandale last Thursday. Annandale running back Steve Cook broke a scoreless tie with a one-yard scoring run in the third quarter.
The Stallions, trailing 7-0, got within 7-3 in the fourth quarter when junior kicker Mike Ferguson knocked a 17-yard field goal through the uprights.
South County’s offense was limited to just under 150 yards. Defensively, the Stallions held the Atoms to 13 passing yards. Annandale accumulated 177 yards on the ground.
South County plays against home team Centreville this Friday night. The Wildcats, under former Fairfax High head coach Chris Haddock, are 3-0.