By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Manager, Washington D.C. Metro Area
**Click HERE to see other previews from around the Northern Region!**
South County (3-1, 0-1) at West Potomac (1-3, 0-1)
Last Week: South County beat Centreville, 30-14; West Potomac lost to West Springfield, 38-28
Current Playoff Seeding: South County T-5th Div. 6; West Potomac 14th Div. 6
Had the Stallions beaten the Atoms in Week 3, they would have more Power Points than any team — Division 5 or 6 — in the Northern Region.
As it stands, South County sits sixth in Division 6 and could ill-afford a loss at West Potomac, losers of three straight.
The Wolverines feature a threat more formidable than their record would suggest. Backup quarter, junior Nik Dimitrijevic, completed 8-of-16 passes for 180 yards and three scores against West Springfield last week — in the second quarter alone. The Wolverines outgained the Spartans 189 to negative-1 in that period.
West Potomac, though, was held to 25 net yards and one first down in the second half and fell, 38-28.
Senior Shawn Lee, in his first start at halfback, carried 15 times for 46 yards and a score, but 45 of those yards came in the opening two quarters.
South County, meanwhile, only led Centreville by seven points at intermission after a Wildcat blocked punt led to a one-yard touchdown run as time expired in the second quarter.
The Stallions pulled away late, allowing 42 total second-half yards and one play longer than 10 yards. For the game, aside from a 61-yard Wildcat touchdown run on their second rushing play, South County held Centreville to minus-20 rush yards in the 23 yards.
With senior quarterback Aaron Andrews sidelined, junior quarterback Evan Beal went 12-for-21 passing for 157 yards and a touchdown with no picks.
Whether or not the starters return may prove inconsequential; Dimitrijevic and Beal are two of the most capable No. 2 quarterbacks in the district, if not the Northern Region.
To win, South County needs to limit keep the West Potomac receivers in front of them. The Wolverines are 0-3 when averaging less than 8.4 yards per pass attempt.
For West Potomac to snap its skid, it needs to slow South County on the ground. In the Stallions’ three wins, they have posted 4.87, 4.68 and 4.64 yards per rush.
In its loss to Annandale, South County had 2.97 yards per rush.
Last year, the Stallions beat the Wolverines for the first time in four all-time meetings. West Potomac entered the game as the only Patriot District team South County had never beaten.
Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com
Processing your request, Please wait....
