Millbrook Halts Dominion Running Game for Win

By Levi Chronister

Saturday, September 15, 2007

With rain continuously falling from before the National Anthem until after the final seconds ticked off the clock Friday, Dominion High School's football team went with the double-wing formation instead of the spread offense against Millbrook.

Unfortunately for the Titans, the Pioneers knew just how to defend such an offense, stymieing Dominion's running game and cruising to a 34-22 victory.

"Well, last week we saw a little bit of that with Spotswood," Millbrook senior Butch Kaczmarzewski said. "We played against that, and we were ready for it. It was easier tonight, you know. We've already seen it. It was just like we've had two weeks of practice for it, basically."

The Pioneers (2-1) held the Titans (1-1) to minus-11 yards in the first half and 124 for the game. The precipitation kept Dominion from going to a passing attack after falling behind by as many as 20 points, and senior quarterback Geoff McCowat completed just one pass in eight attempts when the team did throw downfield.

Rain didn't help the Titans keep their hands on the ball, either. The team fumbled seven times, turning the ball over twice.

"We didn't respond well to the conditions," DHS coach Mike Dougherty said. "There's no excuse. We didn't execute, and they did. They were doing what everybody does to stop the double wing -- submarining and grabbing our guys before they pull."

Dominion improved its running game in the second half, gaining 135 yards on 32 carries. After gaining just six yards in the first half, Deandre Reaves broke free for four runs of more than 10 yards after halftime and finished with 114 yards on 23 carries.

Reaves cut the Titans' deficit to just 13 points at 27-14 on the first play of the fourth quarter, finishing an eight-play, 74-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown plunge.

However, Kaczmarzewski answered three plays later with a 44-yard scoring scamper, his second touchdown of the night.

Dominion moved the ball to near midfield on the ensuing possession, but was forced to go to the air down 34-14 with less than eight minutes to go. McCowat threw back-to-back incompletions before TJ Williams picked off a third-down pass.

"We made a couple of adjustments and we wore 'em down a little bit," Dougherty said, "but when you're down by 20, the double wing's not the best place to be."

The Titans forced a fumble on the Pioneers' next possession and closed to within 12 points on a 1-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion by Henry Lobo, but couldn't get the ball back until the final minute and a half of the game and failed to score again.

Senior running back Todd Lancaster (5-foot-7, 155 pounds) finished with 42 rushing yards on 16 carries and scored the game's first touchdown with a 90-yard return of the opening kickoff.

"He's a leader," Dougherty said. "He comes to play, he never comes off the field. I wish I had 11 of him, even though he's five-nothing, and a hundred-nothing. He's a great kid."

Dominion next plays at Tuscarora at 7 p.m. Friday. "We're looking forward to winning next week," Reaves said, "and that's all that really matters to us right now."

Extra Points

By Paul Tenorio and Matt Brooks