By Allen Kha / Scrimmageplaycva.com contributor
STANDARDSVILLE — Consider William Monroe’s transformation — and Mark Sanford’s second Central Virginia turnaround — a step closer to complete.
After a winless season in 2009 and a step in the right direction last year, Sanford’s team boasts a 7-2 record and is in a position to win the Bull Run District after its 34-20 home victory over district opponent Manassas Park Friday evening.
“We’re competing for the [district] title, and we’re in a position that we’ve never been in before. It’s a great feeling and something we’re all enjoying,” Sanford said.
“We took care of business, handled the weather, and played well against a great team. [Manassas] was competing for the title as well and we handled the challenge.”
On a soggy and cold evening, the Dragons — using a combination of possession football and defense that’s become Sanford’s calling-card — jumped out to an early 20-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
William Monroe capped off a seven-minute drive on its first possession with a Doug Sizemore touchdown run, and held the Manassas Park offense to nine offensive yards and three minutes of possession in the first quarter.
After Sizemore scored a two-yard touchdown run on a fourth-and-one to open the second quarter, William Monroe blew the game wide open when playmaker Jordan Gentry picked off a low and errant slant throw from Cougars quarterback Derek Appleton and returned it 14 yards for a defensive touchdown, making the score 20-0 Dragons with eight minutes remaining in the half.
“It was a good way to start the game. We were expecting a battle with [Manassas Park], with them being in contention for the district title and having an amazing player in [tailback John Byrd]. To jump out the way we did… we weren’t expecting it,” Sizemore said.
After Byrd scored to put his team on the board, Sizemore scored his third touchdown of the half to give the Dragons a 27-6 lead heading into the second half.
With heavier rain and sleet pouring down to begin the second half, both teams committed a litany of fumbles in the third quarter. Manassas Park — who rode Byrd to the majority of possession in the quarter — scored with 14 seconds remaining in the quarter to close William Monroe’s lead to 27-12.
The Dragons responded in the fourth quarter, however, with a seven minute, 67-yard drive — capped off by Sizemore’s fourth touchdown of the evening — to expand their lead to a seemingly safe 34-12 scoreline.
Manassas Park responded on the ensuing play from scrimmage with a 65-yard touchdown run from tailback Ryan Kolb, who replaced Appleton as the Cougars’ quarterback in the second half.
With a little more than six minutes remaining in the game, William Monroe embarked on a three-minute, clock-melting drive. On fourth-and-five, Dragons quarterback Jack Morris threw an interception picked off by Kolb at the Cougars seven-yard line, which “was as good as a punt” according to William Monroe’s coaches.
Manassas Park could not drive quick enough to score, giving the Dragons a well-earned 34-20 victory over its district opponent.
“We were sloppy in the second half, and perhaps a bit complacent after jumping out to such a big lead [in the first half]. But that comes with the growth of this team, and I’ll take the win. We’re still learning how to win,” Sanford said.
With William Monroe, the Cougars, and Central Woodstock all coming into Friday evening with 3-1 district records, the Dragons placed themselves in position to win the District in its inaugural season in the conference.
“We could use a little help from Strasburg [against Central Woodstock, since Central owns the tie-breaker between the two teams via head-to-head], but we can only control how we play next week [at Clarke County],” Sanford said.
Sizemore, who finished with 177 yards on 33 carries, was fired up after the victory.
“I love this team and this program, and have been in it since I was four… wee tall. But it’s an amazing feeling to be in the position we’re in, and I’m so grateful for it.”
William Monroe travels to Clarke County Friday evening to close its regular season. Kick is set for 7:30 p.m.
