Centreville slips to Oakton 34 to 32
Victory Runs Away
Published October 11 2006
An unusual Monday afternoon Varsity football game ends in defeat as the Oakton Cougars defeated Centreville 34 to 32. The contest was decided in the final seconds of the game, and ended the way it began, with an Oakton kick return for a touchdown. The game leaves Centreville with an 0 and 2 district record as they prepare to travel to Robinson to meet the Rams on Friday, October 14.
Game Stats!
Click here to see game stats! We have published 'year to date' stats - click this to see those.
The contest against Oakton was originally scheduled for the previous Friday, October 6. More than two inches of rain forced the game to be played on Monday afternoon (a federal holiday) and what a nice treat that was! The afternoon was warm, sunny, and perfect for some football.
Can You Hear Me Now?
Wronski: Game Production Specialist.
Start with a Bang!
The game started with Oakton receiving the kick off and running it back for a touchdown. Centreville soon answered with 6 points of their own as Brandon Williams ran the ball into the end zone. Cougars finish the first quarter by popping another 7 points on the scoreboard, making the tally Oakton 14, Centreville 6.
Wildcats make good use of just 60-seconds of game time as P.J.
Dunegan gets
the ball into the hands of Van Chew who slips into the right-side corner
of the end zone for a Centreville touchdown. Oakton thwarted a 2-point conversion
attempt by just inches, leaving the score Oakton 14,
Centreville 12.
As the sun glistened off bright blue Wildcat helmets each team completed a series of drives, each ending with a punt. Then Centreville begins a long, powerful drive. P.J. Dunegan is thriving in his first varsity start at quarterback, sending the ball through the air and hitting his targets. The drive saw a number of first-downs and penalties (on both sides). With the ball just 13 yards from the end zone, Dunegan fires it up the middle at Nick Basalyga who maneuvers into the end zone for a Wildcat touchdown. The attempt for 2 extra points fall short, but it's enough to give the Wildcats the lead as the score ticks up to Centreville 18, Oakton 14. Cougars receive the kick and work their way down field. In a last-second gasp they fail to cross the goal line as the first half ends with Centreville in the lead, 18 to 14.
Fruitless Third
Both teams re-enter the field after half time ready to battle toward a win. Centreville receives the kick and begins a long drive. A nice combination of running game and air attack keep things moving toward the end zone, but Oakton finally takes possession of the ball on downs. Both squads experience fruitless attempts to score and the third quarter ends with no change to the scoreboard, Centreville 18, Oakton 14.
Centreville begins a drive way back at the 5 yard line. That's just a bit much as Wildcats punt to Oakton. Centreville's defense is fighting hard with key tackles by Donnell Carpenter, Mike Upham, and Shemar Woods. Cougars find themselves on the 9 yard line, just a breath away from another touchdown. The Oakton squad sends the ball into the air where Nick Basalyga grabs it and zips to the 20 yard line before he is stopped. Don't blink! Wildcats offense sends the ball into the air and into the hands of an Oakton defender, who hits a big C-ville stopper at the 20 yard line. Still, the Cougars find their way into the end zone, and the extra point pushes Oakton into the lead, 21 to 18.
With 7:47 still to play in the fourth quarter there is plenty of time to play ball. Centreville takes the kick and starts moving that ball down field. The Wildcat offense is muscling their way toward the goal line, when Brandon Davis runs into a tight pack of Oakton defenders and smashes his way through them and into a Centreville touchdown! With 5:25 left to play the extra point is good and the lead back in Wildcat hands with the score Centreville 25, Oakton 21.
Cougars receive the kick and meet with frustration at the hands of the Wildcat defense. The frustration of their drive culminates with an explosive sack by Tommy Dorrzapf that forces Oakton to punt the ball. Centreville struggles with their next possession and has to punt. Scott Behne toes a huge punt deep into Cougar territory, but the play is interrupted by an officials yellow flag, and Behne must re-kick. Oakton finished their drive by re-taking the lead with another touchdown and extra point—the score is Oakton 28, Centreville 25.
Stand in the Corner
Time is taking away with just 1:36 on the clock as Centreville takes possession
of the ball. Their drive toward the end zone is expedited by a number of
Oakton penalties. With just 12-seconds left on the clock Basalyga grabs a
pass while his feet hit the turf just inside the near, right-corner of the
end zone for another Wildcat touchdown! The extra point is good and Centreville
takes the lead 32 to 28.
Kick Return Rerun
Oakton moves into position to receive the kick from Centreville with just 12-seconds looming over their heads on the ball field. The kick bounces out of bounds, drawing a flag, and Oakton chooses to have the ball kicked again rather than move to the 40 yard line. Wildcats kick the ball, Cougars grab it, and just like the first play of this game, run down the field for a touchdown. The clock displays 0:00, the game is over, and Oakton defeats Centreville with a final score of 34 to 32.
This game was the first Glory Days Bowl with a fancy trophy presented to the captains of the winning team by Jimmy Sanabria. The bright sunshine seems to have tarnished a bit as the teams hit the locker room and fans work their way to the parking lot. What's next? A short trip to meet the Robinson Rams in just four days.
More Photos for Ya
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