Behind a potent running attack, the McLean Highlanders’ football team opened the new 2010 Northern Region high school season with a 14-6 non-district home win over Washington-Lee last Thursday night, Sept. 2.
McLean, which two years ago went winless before turning its fortunes around dramatically last year with a 6-5 overall record and an appearance in the Div. 5 region playoffs, rushed the football for over 200 yards in the win over Washington-Lee, an Arlington school and a member of the National District.
The Highlanders got touchdowns in both the first quarter and fourth quarters. The team’s first score came on a four yard run by junior Ryan McColgan (10 carries, 48 yards), and the fourth quarter touchdown came on a one-yard run by Chase Mills (9 carries, 89 yards).
Another big contributor to the Highlanders’ running effectiveness was Jimmy Ludwick (76 yards on 15 carries). McLean sophomore Chris Rosenbaum converted both of his extra point kicks in the win. Washington-Lee’s lone points came in the second quarter on a two-yard run by Anthony Taylor.
Overall, it was a big night for both the McLean offensive line, which supplied the running holes for the Highlander backs, and the Highlander defense, which allowed just the six points.
McLean, under third-year head coach Jim Patrick, is a member of the Liberty District. The team will again be at home this Friday night to take on the Herndon Hornets, members of the Concorde District. The Hornets were 41-0 winners over visiting Jefferson last week.
While McLean began the football season in strong fashion, cross-town neighbor Langley lost its opener – falling to defending Div. 6 region champion Lake Braddock, 49-10, last Friday night, Sept. 3, in Burke.
The Saxons, who were 4-6 a year ago under head coach John Howerton, fell behind 14-0 after one quarter. Saxon quarterback Braden Anderson (20-of-39 for 243 yards) connected with Troy Scharfen (13 catches, 201 yards) for a 58-yard touchdown pass play to get Langley on the score board in the second quarter. Langley’s lone points thereafter came on a 29-yard field goal by Farhun Khan, who had earlier converted his team’s extra point attempt.
Lake Braddock, last year’s State AAA runner-up, took control of the game in the second half.
Langley, members of the Liberty District, will travel to Chantilly High this Friday night for a 7:30 p.m. meeting versus the Chargers, who are part of the Concorde District. Last Thursday night, Chantilly, under head coach Mike Lalli, opened its season with a 28-13 victory over visiting South County out of the Patriot District. The Chargers rushed for nearly 270 yards in the win.
<b>THIS SATURDAY MORNING</b>, both the McLean and Langley High boys’ and girls’ cross country teams will be competing at the annual, early season Monroe Parker Invitational competition at the 2.98-mile Burke Lake Park.
The McLean boys are coming off a 2009 postseason which saw them finish fifth place at the eight-team Liberty District championships. The Saxons will look to better last year’s last place standing in the district.
On the girls’ side a year ago, Langley finished second place at the district championships while McLean was fifth. Langley went on to finish a solid seventh place at the 16-team Northern Region championships last November.
Gifford Krivak is back as the Langley program’s head coach this fall season, while Jason Simoni is at the helm of the Highlanders.