Stone Bridge Routs Marshall, 63-0

No. 4 Bulldogs Continue Rampage on Offense

By Paul Tenorio

Originally published at 3:55 a.m., September 13, 2008
Updated at 11:23 a.m., September 13, 2008

In the first two weeks of the season, Stone Bridge quarterback Patrick Thompson, who ruptured a tendon in the index finger of his throwing hand, had shown no ill effects in his passing ability. Still, it seemed as though the Bulldogs had yet to truly open their air attack.

But Friday night, Thompson was let loose, completing 12 of 17 passes for 249 yards and five touchdowns to lead No. 4 Stone Bridge to a 63-0 victory over Marshall (1-2, 0-1) in its Virginia AAA Liberty District opener.

"We came out in pregame, and we were trying to throw the ball, and it kept slipping out of my hand a little bit," said Thompson, who wears a glove on his throwing hand to help with his grip because he has a splint on the injured finger. "So I wasn't sure how today was going to go because we were going to pass a lot today. But then I started to throw the ball well, and we started building on that."

Thompson's performance - paired with that of the secondary, which nabbed three interceptions, returning two for touchdowns - made for another dominating performance early in the season.

Stone Bridge (3-0, 1-0) has now outscored opponents 154-35 with 21 of the 35 points coming late in a blowout over West Springfield.

"We can play anybody, anytime, anywhere, and we still do what we want, score from anywhere on the field," said senior John Bladel, who returned a 55-yard interception for a touchdown and hauled in three catches for 25 yards and a touchdown.

Stone Bridge opened the scoring early in the first quarter, when Patrick Thompson connected with his twin brother, Zach, who rumbled for a 47-yard touchdown, barely outracing a trailing defender.

"He always jokes about he thinks he's fast, but then he gets corners on him chasing him down," Patrick Thompson said. "It was funny watching him."

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Stone Bridge quarterback Patrick Thompson warms up before Friday night's game against Marshall. Thompson would pass for 249 yards and five touchdowns. (Paul Tenorio)

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Stone Bridge Coach Mickey Thompson and the Bulldogs take the field before Friday night's game against Marshall. (Paul Tenorio)

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Injured MLB Travis Hannam leads the Stone Bridge team in a huddle before the game. (Paul Tenorio)

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Patrick Thompson rushed for a six-yard touchdown minutes later, then found Michael Prince on a four-yard pass in the flat to make it 21-0 with 9 minutes, 35 seconds remaining in the half.

Not to be outdone by the Bulldogs' aerial attack, their defense opened the game up from there.

Kyle Gouveia snagged an interception and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown on Marshall's next possession. Bladel made it 35-0 minutes later on his interception return.

"If anyone watched our secondary, they are playing really well," Stone Bridge Coach Mickey Thompson said. "And it starts with John Bladel. And he is able to get everyone in the right place and give us some comfort right there."

Thompson found Marcus Harris on a 48-yard screen for a score, then Bladel for a one-yard touchdown just before the half to make it 49-0. He added a 32-yard touchdown pass to Nick Sheehan early in the second half before the backups were brought in with less than eight minutes remaining in the third quarter.

The win burnished Stone Bridge's status as a powerhouse. But it also showcased the team's balanced offense and put to rest doubts about a young but talented secondary.

"When it counted, when they took the field, they played hard," Mickey Thompson said. "That's all you can ask. I thought we played a great football game."

Notes: The Stone Bridge defensive front seven also turned in a strong performance despite lacking starter Travis Hannam (sprained MCL) and losing backup Connor Calderwood to a sprained ankle during the game. Senior Andre Glenn stepped in and helped limit Marshall to nine yards rushing, as well as pressuring the quarterback and forcing throws to aid the secondary.

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

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