By Jim McGrath | jmcgrath@alextimes.com
The Episcopal High School and Alexandria City High School football teams kept their records perfect for another week. The Maroon shut out St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School 42-0 for bragging rights in the rivalry.
The Titans raised their record to 6-0 with a 24-14 victory over district opponent West Potomac, and Coach Rodney Hughey’s team is drawing more attention in region and state rankings while several tough foes await.
Shutout by Maroon
The anticipated matchup between the schools turned into a one-sided affair as the Maroon scored early and often against the Saints.
Episcopal’s defense put on a clinic. It held Saints’ star passer Anthony Youngblood to five completions on 14 attempts for 21 yards, while the rushing attack accounted for minus 22 yards on 13 carries, making for a grand total of minus one yard gained by the SSSAS offense.
Episcopal coach Zach Matthews noticed the contrast between the two units early in the game.
“It took us a bit to settle in offensively. I thought that our defense carried us early. Credit to SSSAS on playing hard defensively and giving us some issues on our first couple series. After the first two series, I thought we did a great job of controlling the line of scrimmage and executing on offense,” Matthews said.
The Maroon opened up a 7-0 lead after the first quarter, but rolled for 21 points in the second and coasted from there.
Lukas Lalji was efficient at quarterback, completing five of eight passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns, both to Daniel Pilkington. The Episcopal rushing game was sturdy, if not eye popping. Richard Long led the ground crew with 53 yards on nine carries, including two scores. Mason Hayhoe and William Presson added touchdowns and the Maroon totaled 180 yards on 25 rushes.
Titans reach 6-0 with run over West Potomac
ACHS had a tougher time in their game, but pulled out a 24- 14 win over the Wolverines.
The key play of the contest was an 89-yard “pick-six” interception by cornerback Paxton Davis, which broke open a 14-7 lead for the Titans. West Potomac High School pulled within seven points again at 21-14, as Wolverine quarterback Henry Packard pushed the ball in from the two-yard line. Sean Mitchell’s 29-yard field goal with 19 seconds remaining in the game sealed the win for the Titans, who will play winless Fairfax High School this weekend.
The Titans won despite gaining only 143 total yards, all on the ground. Kevin Coates (nine carries, 97 yards) gained almost half of the output on one play, a 65-yard scamper through the middle for a touchdown. D’Angelo Duarte opened the scoring with a two-yard burst in the first quarter.
Ireton drops Homecoming contest to O’Connell, 34-7
Bishop Ireton High School’s Homecoming festivities were spoiled by their long-standing rivals from Bishop O’Connell High School, who traveled to Fannon Field and rolled past the Cardinals 34-7. Knights quarterback Ryan Turpin tossed five touchdowns, including an 80-yarder to Jake Sikra. Turpin finished with 295 through the air. Ireton is now 2-5 and will face WCAC South division foe Archbishop Carroll High School (3-3) Saturday at noon.
The post Maroon football team shuts out Saints, 42-0 appeared first on Alexandria Times.
