As part of Loudounextra.com's 2008 football preview, we ask four questions of a key member from each of the Loudoun County high school squads. Today, it's Stone Bridge QB Patrick Thompson.

Thompson hurt his throwing hand during the Bulldogs' scrimmage with Broad Run last week. The diagnosis was a ruptured tendon in the ring finger of his throwing hand. Read about it here.

Talk about the play and how the [finger] injury happened. Did you know it was hurt right away? How is it feeling now?

I basically just threw it and some lineman's hand went up and I just jammed my finger into his hand. I dont really know how it's going to turn out but that's how it happened. ... Right when it happened I went down holding my hand. It felt really weird and I looked at it and it looked a little weird and it was shaking. I went to Coach and said 'Coach, my hand's really messed up.' And he called [trainer Mark] Wagner to take a look at it. I knew right away, right when I threw it. ... It doesn't hurt at all which is a good thing. I started putting a glove on it and trying to throw with a glove on so the splint doesn't come off but I think I can throw with a glove on right now but I'm just trying to keep the splint on for at least two weeks before the first game and see how it feels and then trying to take the splint off and see if I can throw with just my hand how it is and see if it works out well.

How disappointing is it to have this injury happen going into your senior year, knowing how much you mean to the team?

It bummed me out. I was really upset when it happened. I talked to Wagner and the doctor and they said keeping a positive mindset is really important so that's what I'm trying to do right now is keeping a positive mindset and saying I'm going to be back for the most of the season if not the whole season.

You've got a couple guys looking to step up for you in Kyle [Gouveia] and Nick [Sheehan] as well as [RB] Daniel Allen, can you talk about those three and what they'll bring to the table?

Well Nick Sheehan transferred from [Loudoun] Valley and he played quarterback there for a couple games so he's not new to the spot. He has a really good arm and I think he can win some games there at quarterback. Kyle knows our offense really well and he can obviously win some games also. I think we can still games without me back there.

Is the goal to try to get back for that first game or are you thinking more like Week 2 and Week 3?

Well I really want to get back for that first game because I'm excited for it. I really want to get back but if I'm not completely healthy or if there's a chance I can get worse I'm not going to risk the whole season. [But] I really want to be back, that's what my goal is, to be back for that first game.