Senior Steps In at QB, Leads Stone Bridge to District Win

By Jeff Nelson

Saturday, October 20, 2007

When trainers began to inspect Patrick Thompson's knee during the second quarter of yesterday's homecoming game against Madison, it became apparent Stone Bridge would be losing its starting quarterback for the rest of the game.

Thanks to Thompson's thumb, though, the Bulldogs were well prepared.

Senior Jeron Gouveia replaced Thompson at quarterback and quickly led Stone Bridge to its third touchdown. From there, the Bulldogs rolled to a convincing 27-7 win in a battle of the AAA Liberty District's top teams.

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Stone Bridge Defeats Madison

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Stone Bridge's No. 11 Ryan Moody catches a touchdown pass, beating Madison's No. 21 Taylor Meade during the first quarter of Saturday's game. Stone Bridge beat Madison, 7-0. (Joel Richardson)

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Head Coach Mickey Thompson, at rear, looks down to see if his son, the team's quarterback, Patrick Thompson, is OK during the first half. (Joel Richardson)

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A reflection of Stone Bridge's football field can be seen in the sousaphones as the band plays during halftime. (Joel Richardson)

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Stone Bridge's football field is reflected in this marching band member's sousaphone. (Joel Richardson)

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Stone Bridge's No. 11 Ryan Moody catches a touchdown pass in the first quarter. (Joel Richardson)

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Stone Bridge's No. 11 Ryan Moody catches a touchdown pass in the second quarter, upping the score to 14-0. (Joel Richardson)

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Stone Bridge's marching band offers up some halftime entertainment. (Joel Richardson)

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Stone Bridge Head Coach Mickey Thompson paces the sideline during the coin flip. (Joel Richardson)

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Stone Bridge quarterback Patrick Thompson is taken off the field at halftime. (Joel Richardson)

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Principal Jim Person crowns homecoming queen Casey Henderson during ceremonies before the game at Stone Bridge High School on Saturday. (Joel Richardson)

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"That [third touchdown] was a big moment," Stone Bridge Coach Mickey Thompson said. "Because [Thompson] goes down, it's 14-0, and you don't know how you're going to throw it. But we had been preparing for [Thompson] not to play all week."

Gouveia, regularly a running back, wide receiver and safety for the Bulldogs (7-1, 5-0), had been practicing at quarterback after Thompson jammed the thumb on his throwing hand in last Friday's game. Had this game been played two days ago as originally scheduled, Thompson would not have suited up.

But rain fell Friday, postponing the contest 19 hours, just enough time for Thompson's thumb to improve. The injury didn't seem to bother the junior as he completed 4 of 4 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns, both to Ryan Moody, before hurting his knee with 3 minutes 30 seconds to go before halftime. Thompson will have his knee examined today.

Gouveia stepped in, and Coach Thompson decided his offense, which is built around running, would let it fly against the Warhawks (7-1, 4-1).

"If something happens to one of our guys, I expect our playmakers to step up," he said. "And if you don't give your playmakers the ball, then how can that happen? So immediately, my thought is I'm going to give it to Jeron and Moody and the guys who can make some plays."

The result: Gouveia to Moody for 29 yards. Gouveia to Matt Irwin for 38 yards. Gouveia over right end for a five-yard touchdown.

"You always want to gain momentum and keep it," said Gouveia, a Virginia Tech recruit who finished with 68 yards rushing, 67 yards passing, 44 yards receiving and two touchdowns. "I think those three plays really gave us momentum and put their defense down."

Madison's touchdown drive, which started with 7:26 left in the third quarter, took 22 plays and covered 82 yards in 11:37. It also featured conversions on fourth and 16 and fourth and 17.

Extra Points

By Paul Tenorio and Matt Brooks