Potomac Falls Makes a Statement

Panthers Jump on Heritage in District Opener

By Matt Brooks (Contact)

Saturday, September 27, 2008

The Potomac Falls Panthers just can't seem to get any respect. After a 3-7 2007 season, they returned almost their entire starting lineup this season, including a three-year starter at quarterback and three talented wide receivers. But when Coach Scott Woodlief stood on the podium at preseason media day and announced his team would contend for the Virginia AA Dulles District title, members of the media and rival teams scoffed.

Then the Panthers stampeded through three solid West Virginia high schools in their nondistrict schedule, putting up a total of 138 points, but they still came into Friday’s district opener at home as underdogs against a Heritage team that was 7-3 in each of the past two seasons.

The Panthers felt they needed to make a statement to open their district slate and that's exactly what they did on a rainy night in Sterling, jumping on Heritage from the opening kickoff and running away with a 48-21 victory.

"We started off great – 3-0 against three great teams," Potomac Falls senior quarterback Gregory Woodlief said. "I think that people were starting to believe in us, but there was still a little doubt. This game, I feel like we needed to make a statement. This was our statement week and I feel like we did that."

From the opening kickoff, Potomac Falls flashed their big-play ability as senior wide receiver Chad McMichael took split the Pride’s coverage and took the ball 73 yards to the Heritage 12 yard line. Three plays later, McMichael was on the receiving end of the first of Woodlief’s three passing touchdowns and the Panthers opened to floodgates.

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Potomac Falls Knocks Off Heritage

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Heritage defensive coordinator Choppy Burke and senior linebacker Russell East discuss defensive strategies before the Pride's game at Potomac Falls on Friday night. (Matt Brooks)

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Heritage senior running back Ross Madison (20) and his teammates file into the locker room just before kickoff in their Friday night matchup against Potomac Falls in Sterling. (Matt Brooks)

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Potomac Falls captains Michael Baker (21) and Gregory Woodlief (10) are shown the coin before the coin-toss for Friday night's Dulles District home opener against Heritage. (Matt Brooks)

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On Heritage’s first offensive play, Potomac Falls junior defensive back/receiver Tarrell Owens stepped in front of a Zach Gordon pass and returned it 17 yards for a score. With only 1:48 gone in the first quarter, the Panthers led 14-0.

“We talked about that,” Panthers Coach Scott Woodlief said. “We said, ‘Let’s jump on them early and get them down and let’s see how they respond to that.”

Potomac Falls (4-0, 1-0 Dulles District) scored twice more in the opening quarter on 58- and 1-yard touchdown runs by senior running back Michael Baker. With 120 yards and three scores on Friday night, Baker has amassed 558 yards and 12 touchdowns to lead the district in both categories.

“It makes life easy,” Woodlief said of having an array of playmakers around him. “All I have to do is get them the ball and I trust in them to make a play. Michael Baker, he did great tonight. It’s rained all four games we’ve played this year, and you need to be able to run the ball. We realize that and the line realizes that and Michael Baker, he stepped up.”

The Pride (3-1, 0-1) finally got their offense in gear late in the first half when sophomore quarterback Brian Rody – who replaced Gordon on the team’s third offensive series – found senior running back Ross Madison open down the middle of the field for an acrobatic, 26-yard touchdown reception that cut the lead to 28-7. But the Panthers answered, needing only four plays to find the end zone yet again on a 38-yard touchdown pass from Woodlief to Owens. Heritage responded with Rody’s 31-yard touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Dan Dykema just before halftime and the Panthers went into the lockerroom with a commanding 35-14 advantage.

Heritage started the second draft with a promising drive, but Rody’s second of three interceptions ended the threat. The Panthers scored twice more on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Woodlief to McMichael in the third quarter and a 10-yard Baker run with Rody’s third touchdown pass sandwiched in between.

Rody completed 15-of-29 passes for 197 and the three touchdowns in his best performance to date. However, his three interceptions, combined with Gordon’s initial pick were too much for the Pride offense to overcome. Madison, the district’s second-leading rusher, was held in check aside from the touchdown reception, managing only 60 yards on 17 carries against an aggressive Potomac Falls defense. He was barely used in the second half with the Pride trying to play catch-up.

“They were well-prepared,” Heritage Coach Wes Driskill said of his team. “We made some mistakes, they took advantage of it and we just got in too big a hole that we couldn’t climb out of.”

For the Panthers, Woodlief accounted for three touchdowns for the fourth straight week and now has nine passing TDs this season. The senior signal-caller finished 9-of-14 for 104 yards, with four passes and 56 yards belonging to Owens. The youngest of Potomac Falls’ three big-play receivers, Owens made several leaping catches on high passes and was huge defensively, coming up with three interceptions. By halftime, the Panthers had already eclipsed last season’s point total of 164. Through four games this year, the high-octane Potomac Falls offense has scored 186 points.

“They can’t cover everyone,” McMichael, who now has four touchdown receptions this year, said. “We have three good receivers, a running back and a quarterback that can run and pass and the line’s doing a fantastic job. They’re blowing people off the ball like I’ve never seen before. So we have a very dynamic offense.”

Both teams have big matchups next week with Heritage looking to rebound in their district home opener against 4-0 Broad Run – which shutout Briar Woods on Friday – and the Panthers traveling to Leesburg to take on the surprising Loudoun County Raiders (3-1, 1-0).

“We’ve talked about it all year,” Woodlief said. “We take what you give us. Can you really sit on one guy or sit on our running game or sit on our passing game? I don’t know. I think if the kids continue to do what we’re doing, believe in our system and make plays, I think we can continue to play good football.”

Tagged: football, Heritage High School, high school sports, Potomac Falls High School

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