P. Thompson Out 6 Weeks

Hand Injury Forces QB to Miss at Least 3 Games

By Preston Williams

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Stone Bridge senior quarterback Patrick Thompson, who helped lead the Bulldogs to the Virginia AAA Division 5 state championship last season, ruptured a tendon on the ring finger of his throwing hand in a scrimmage Friday and is expected to be out for about six weeks, said Thompson’s father, Stone Bridge Coach Mickey Thompson.

Thompson, who threw for 31 touchdowns and more than 2,300 yards last season, sustained the injury when his right hand came down on a Broad Run helmet after releasing a pass, Mickey Thompson said.

“It totally disrupts everything because you have to move a lot of people around in preparation,” the coach said. “In the long run, maybe it will be a good thing because it pushes other people to make sure they’re sharp in other positions. But it doesn’t allow you to progress as an offense.”

Sophomore Kyle Gouveia, the junior varsity quarterback last year, and Loudoun Valley senior transfer Nick Sheehan, a projected tight end, are vying to replace Thompson. The Bulldogs scrimmage Thursday at Woodbridge.

Stone Bridge’s season opener is at home Aug. 29 vs. West Springfield (10-3 last year). The next two games are against Robinson (6-6) and Marshall (8-4).

“It might be the third game before he comes back,” Mickey Thompson said. “If you’re playing 15 [games], it’s not that big a deal. But if you’re only playing 10, it’s a third of your season. It depends on where you end up.”

Tagged: football, high school sports, Stone Bridge High School

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