Football: Stone Bridge at Langley Preview

By Phil Murphy

Senior Multimedia/Content Manager, Washington D.C. Metro Area

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Stone Bridge (6-1, 3-1) at Langley (3-4, 2-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday

Last Week: Stone Bridge lost to Madison, 28-14; Langley beat Jefferson, 46-14

PowerPoints: Stone Bridge – T1st (Div. 5); Langley – 13th (Div. 6)

Offensive Rank (Pts/Game): Stone Bridge – 3rd (Div. 5); Langley – 13th (Div. 6)

Defensive Rank (Pts/Game): Stone Bridge – 4th (Div. 5); Langley – 8th (Div. 6)

Last week, Stone Bridge suffered its first loss to a district opponent in seven years to the day.

This week, it faces the team that is tied for the closest loss in that span, Langley, who was within seven points of Mickey’s club on Oct. 2, 2005.

The Saxons have won three games in a row after an 0-4 start this season, but face the three top Liberty teams — all with just one district loss — in the final weeks of the season. That back-loaded strength of schedule keeps them mathematically alive for the postseason, but it will be an uphill climb.

Last week, the Bulldogs had two long touchdowns in a 28-14 home loss to the Warhawks, but only 118 yards of offense aside from those plays. Stone Bridge struggled to slow Madison’s predictable weakside power sweep, especially on the Warhawks’ game-clinching, 7-minute, 71-yard scoring drive in the fourth quarter.

Langley features a similarly renowned ground game, though its running backs are less experienced. Saxon sophomore Marcus Harvey returned from a foot injury last week, gaining 77 yards on seven carries, taking two for touchdowns.

And senior Austin Pritchett is earning a reputation as one of the best goal-line backs in the district. He scored three times on four touches last week and twice on four carries in Week 5.

Stone Bridge, for its part, still has the other two one-loss Liberty teams on its schedule and will take the district outright if it wins out. The Bulldogs need to get an early lead to counteract the Saxons’ running game to have that opportunity — no easy task.

In the first halves of its wins over Herndon and Jefferson, Langley junior quarterback Braden Anderson completed a combined 20-of-34 passes for 384 yards with four touchdowns and one interception.

Stone Bridge is 4-0 all-time in this series and has never allowed more than 14 points. The Bulldogs average 35.8 points per game against the Saxons.

Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com