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Stone Bridge Repeats as Region Champ

No. 2 Bulldogs Clamp Down on No. 9 Edison

By Paul Tenorio

Saturday, November 22, 2008

With a high-scoring offense that entered last night's Virginia AAA Northern Region Divison 5 championship game averaging an area-best 50.4 points per game, even Stone Bridge's defensive players understood why the defense had been mostly overlooked this season.

Never mind that the unit features four NCAA Division-I bound athletes and nine first-team all-district honorees. Or that it had held opponents to less than eight points per game and an even more impressive 1.5 yards per carry this season.

"We like when the offense gets credit," said senior linebacker Mike Olson, who has orally committed to play for Wake Forest. "Because we kind of sit back and watch it develop."

But with visiting Stone Bridge's offense struggling to replicate the success of the previous 12 games last night against the Eagles, the defense took center stage.

The No. 2 Bulldogs (13-0) forced three turnovers, blocked a punt and were dominant against the run, shutting out No. 9 Edison until late in the fourth quarter to guide Stone Bridge to a 35-6 win and a second consecutive regional championship.

"That was the key," Bulldogs Coach Mickey Thompson said. "Offensively we struggled a little bit, it was hit and miss. . . . The game really was about our defense."

Stone Bridge managed only two first downs in the first quarter.

But on the first play of the second quarter, with a powerful wind at its back, the Bulldogs looked to throw it deep and Patrick Thompson connected on a 68-yard touchdown to senior John Bladel.

The play ignited the Bulldogs, and after forcing an Edison punt, a nine-play drive was capped with a four-yard touchdown run by Brian Slay to increase the lead.

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Stone Bridge Repeats as Region Champ

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Stone Bridge fans bundle up as they watch their team play against Edison. (Richard A. Lipski)

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Stone Bridge linebacker Mike Olson (18) and Brian Slay (9) stop Edison's Corey Washington. (Richard A. Lipski)

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Quarterback Patrick Thompson eludes the tackle of Edison's Donnell Epps and runs for a first down on a fourth-down play in the first half. (Richard A. Lipski)

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Stone Bridge player Marcus Harris, right, celebrate his second-quarter touchdown run with teammate Andre Green. (Richard A. Lipski)

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Stone Bridge linebacker Mike Olson tackles Edison running back Angus Harper for a loss. (Richard A. Lipski)

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Stone Bridge players David Wang (68) and Brian Slay (9) are in on the blocked punt of Edison's Mehdi Charfi in the second half. (Richard A. Lipski)

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Stone Bridge fans have plenty to celebrate. (Richard A. Lipski)

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Stone Bridge quarterback John Bladel turns the corner and eyes an empty end zone to score his second touchdown of the game. Bladel replaced starter Patrick Thompson, who left with an injury. (Richard A. Lipski)

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Stone Bridge Coach Mickey Thompson celebrates along with his assistants. (Richard A. Lipski)

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An interception by middle linebacker Travis Hannam on Edison's next possession set up Marcus Harris's 24-yard touchdown run just minutes later, and suddenly Stone Bridge held a 21-0 advantage at the half.

In the second half, the Bulldogs ate up the clock, with Edison possessing the ball for just two minutes in the third quarter. And the Stone Bridge defense did not allow a second-half first down until late in the fourth quarter.

"I think this is one of the best teams that this area has ever produced, personally," Mickey Thompson said. "Of course I'm a little bit biased. It was really important that we won this game, to me, and that we won it convincingly because I don't think people realize just how good a team [this is]. If we have a healthy team this is really one of the most remarkable teams in this area in a long time."

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