Dan Sousa
Ashburn (Nov. 22, 2012) – Last year the Stone Bridge High School football team had a rare Thanksgiving off after an earlier than expected exit from the playoffs but the Bulldogs were back to working out on Turkey Day after a 33-14 win over a tough Langley squad in the Northern Region Division 5 semifinals on Nov. 16.
Bulldog junior Sterling Dailey had a career-high 192 yards rushing on 28 carries and two TD runs as Stone Bridge (12-0 record) advanced to their 10th regional final in 11 seasons.
“Our goal is to definitely get to States,” said junior DB/WR Tyler Banks.First Stone Bridge must host undefeated Yorktown (12-0) at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the regional finals. The Bulldogs are looking for an 8th regional title since 2002.
Coming into the Langley game, the Bulldog boosters were confident as Stone Bridge faced a Langley squad they had beaten 27-6 in the regular season and the Bulldogs record vs. Liberty District foes is a mind-blowing 64-1 all-time.
“Considering Stone Bridge beat Langley last year (in the playoffs), I’m confident that we’ll win again,” said sophomore Isaac Sheikh, in the bulldog marching band.
“It’s good to play Langley again,” said Nicolas Marchio, head cheerleading coach. Neither team, however, could score in the opening quarter, which didn’t surprise Marchio: “They were our toughest competition during our regular season,” said Marchio.
The 0-0 stalemate continued until 4:02 was left in the first half when the Bulldogs finally broke through with a 3-yard TD run by senior Christian Strahin. Brendan Smedley’s extra point made it Stone Bridge 7-0.
With sixteen seconds left of the second quarter Stone Bridge scores a second touchdown. This time it was Dailey on an 8-yard run. The extra point failed making it Stone Bridge 13-0 going into the half.
The Stone Bridge team felt good about making it to the regional finals this year, said Banks, especially since this time last year Stone Bridge lost to South County at home, ending their season short of the regional finals.
During halftime, while Langley was busy reorganizing and creating new strategies. The fans were talking amongst themselves and going to the concession stands for hot chocolate.
“We beat Langley last time and we’re amazing,” said sophomore Brady Smith, in bulldog marching band.
In the third quarter with 6:31 minutes Stone Bridge added insurance with a 6-yard TD pass from senior Ryan Burns to senior Jimmy Higgins. Another failed PAT made it 19-0 Stone Bridge.
In the fourth quarter Langley scored finally against the stout Stone Bridge defense on a 1-yard run by Philip Novacki. Brian Ochoa’s PAT cut Stone Bridge’s lead to 19-7.
With only 4:18 minutes left of the game Stone Bridge gave their fans another reason to warm their hands with more applause as Dailey danced in from five yards out. Smedley’s PAT made it 26-7.
Langley didn’t go down without a fight as the Saxons scored on a 20-yard TD pass from Nick Casso to Ochoa. That made it 26-14 Stone Bridge.
With three seconds left in the game, Stone Bridge put the exclamation point on the win as Burns hooked up with junior D’Ante Yarborough on a 50-yard TD pass. Smedley’s PAT left the final score 33-14 as fans filed into the parking lot.
“I want to play South County next since they knocked us out last year,” said Banks.
Yorktown, however, knocked off South County in the other semifinal and the Bulldogs and Banks were busy preparing for the Patriots on Thanksgiving while the rest of Ashburn was busy preparing for their annual holiday meal.
Stone Bridge 33, Langley 14
| Langley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 |
| Stone Bridge | 0 | 13 | 6 | 14 | 33 |
| Team | Period | Scoring Play | Conversion |
| B | 2nd | 3yd run by Christian Strahin | Brendan Smedley kick |
| B | 2nd | 8yd run by Sterling Dailey | Brendan Smedley kick No Good |
| B | 3rd | 6yd pass from Ryan Burns to Jimmy Higgins | 2pt conversion No Good |
| L | 4th | 1yd run by Philip Novacki | Brian Ochoa kick |
| B | 4th | 5yd run by Sterling Dailey | Brendan Smedley kick |
| L | 4th | 20yd pass from Nick Casso to Brian Ochoa | Brian Ochoa kick |
| B | 4th | 50yd pass from Ryan Burns to D’Ante Yarborough | Brendan Smedley kick |
RUSHING -- INDIVIDUAL
| BULLDOGS | Carries | Yards | | OPPONENT | Carries | Yards |
| Sterling Dailey | 28 | 192 | | Nick Casso | 17 | 3 |
| Christian Strahin | 11 | 73 | | Philip Mun | 15 | 136 |
| D’Ante Yarborough | 7 | 29 | | Philip Novacki | 4 | 5 |
| Rassaun Goldring | 3 | 11 | | Team | 2 | -23 |
| Ryan Burns | 3 | 0 | | | | |
| Team | 1 | -4 | | | | |
PASSING -- INDIVIDUAL
| BULLDOGS | Att | Cmp | Yds | Int | | OPPONENT | Att | Cmp | Yds | Int |
| Ryan Burns | 9 | 6 | 101 | 1 | | Nick Casso | 14 | 8 | 166 | 0 |
RECEIVING -- INDIVIDUAL
| BULLDOGS | Catches | Yards | | OPPONENT | Catches | Yards |
| D’Ante Yarborough | 3 | 63 | | Garrett Collier | 4 | 77 |
| Jimmy Higgins | 3 | 38 | | Philip Novacki | 2 | 61 |
| | | | | Brian Ochoa | 1 | 20 |
| | | | | Philip Mun | 1 | 4 |
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