By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Manager, Washington D.C. Metro Area
Third-year Herndon quarterback Zack Ozycz had his name misspelled “Ozyck” on the back of his Homecoming jersey.
The Hornets’ day went downhill from there.
Langley erupted for 227 yards in the first 14 minutes, 19 seconds — compared to 35 for Herndon — and never looked back, beating the Hornets, 28-13, Saturday.
It was the Saxons’ first win of the season.
“We’ve been close every game, but we came out firing on all cylinders this game,” said Langley senior Austin Pritchett, a team captain who scored twice. “We put everything together and got the win. It feels great.”
Added seventh-year Saxon coach John Howerton: “We’ve been close a couple times. We’ve got a very young team — or seniors that have never played for us until now.
“I’m happy for the kids to come together and put it all together.”
Even with such a potent start — and 228 first-half passing yards by junior quarterback Braden Anderson — Langley only led 15-8 after two quarters.
Herndon’s proximity brought on flashbacks of a Week 2 loss to Chantilly.
In that game, the Saxons intercepted the Chargers four times in the first half, but only led 20-14 at intermission. Chantilly scored 22 unanswered second-half points in a runaway victory.
The Saxons could have had more breathing room at the break, but came away empty-handed on two fourth-and-goal situations.
“It could very easily have been 30-0,” Howerton said. “First half, we blew some opportunities. [I] just told them that we’ve been in this position already and let’s go out there and let’s get it done.
“We were beating Chantilly at halftime and were blowing them out, then it went the other way.”
Added senior tailback Abe Yi, who rushed for 65 yards and a touchdown: “[Coach said] to finish our runs and hold our blocks. We didn’t have our kicker, [senior Farhan Khan], in the first half, but no excuses.
“We should have punched those in.”
The Saxons made sure to punctuate those runs and lock up the elusive first win of the year.
Behind its patented offensive line, which has sent 11 linemen to college football in Howerton’s first six seasons, Yi recorded 14 of his 16 carries and 55 of his 65 yards in the second half.
Langley ran 10 plays in the fourth quarter. Eight were runs by Yi.
“Our offensive line was huge. They opened up holes, they opened up cutback lanes and I was able to get five-to-six yards every time,” he said.
Added Howerton, a member of the Shepherd University Hall of Fame: “As my old coach in college told me, ‘Stick with what you believe in. You have to ride out the tough times and it’ll come.
“Stick to your philosophy and it’ll come.”
Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com
Box Score 1 2 3 4 — F
Langley 8 7 7 6 — 28
Herndon 0 7 6 0 — 13
Scoring Plays
1Q — LG — Welby 92 from Anderson (B. Johnson from Anderson) — 5:29
2Q — LG — Pritchett 1 run (Khan kick) — 9:41
2Q — HN — Z. Ozycz 20 run (Stopa kick) — 7:02
3Q — HN — Thompson 3 run (Stopa kick) — 5:21
3Q — LG — Pritchett 4 run (Khan kick) — 1:06
4Q — LG — Yi 1 run (Khan kick) — 11:52
Passing
LG – Anderson – 16-for-27, 271 yards, TD, INT. HN – Z. Ozycz – 14-for-22, 117 yards, INT.
Rushing
LG – Hofgard – 14 car, 85 yards; Yi – 16 car, 65 yards, TD; B. Johnson – 6
car, 13 yards; Pritchett – 4 car, 7 yards, 2 TD; Amano-Dolan – 1 car, 6 yards. HN –
Totow – 5 car, 68 yards; Z. Ozycz – 9 car, 58 yards, TD; Moore – 9 car, 54
yards; Thompson – 6 car, 35 yards, TD; Schow – 1 car, 11 yards; Anane – 3 car, -7 yards.
Receiving
LG – Welby – 4
rec, 135 yards, TD; Scharfen – 4 rec, 51 yards; McGonigal – 4 rec, 33 yards; Kiffe – 2 rec, 20 yards; Yi – 1 rec, 15 yards. HN –
Impellizzeri – 8
rec, 67 yards; Fehr – 1 rec, 17 yards; Gardner – 1 rec, 16 yards; Leeth – 1 rec, 14 yards; Anane – 1 rec, 6
yards; Moore – 2 rec, 7 yards.
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