LANDON FOOTBALL 13 LITTLE HOYAS 7

Much is written about weight and height in football, because those measures are readily quantifiable. Terms like execution and effort are not so discernible and those do not get as much attention.

Yesterday’s annual battle between Georgetown Prep and Landon was won because a smaller team outexecuted and showed more effort than its opponent. Precise timing on the O side and the D’s adjusting to the Hoyas offensive set are the result of careful review by the coaches and players of game film, identifying what sets/initial movements must be attacked from specific blitz packages/offensive cuts, repeating those sets/responses many times in practice and then executing in real time on the field.

Those elements were in full evidence on Bordley Field at Triplett Stadium on Saturday. Because of the Bears execution and effort, the Davis-Fegan Cup is now in the trophy case on the Lehrman Atrium. BEARS 13 HOYAS 7.

The visitors from Rockville Pike have gained twice as many yards on the ground as through the air and most of the game they handed the ball to their stable of horses. On the first drive, they followed that game plan but on a second down, a GP pass was caught and then fumbled.

The Bears took possession at 8:14 of the 1^st quarter at the Prep 43. The winged T depends on misdirection, well timed cross blocks and speed to offset an interior line average differential of 62 pounds (Bears line—Keith Simms, Tom Evans, Ian Dabney, Charlie Millsbaugh, Paul Padalino, John Slowinski, Steven Gee, Tommy Crittenberger anddisguised lineman/wing back Mike Rallo [backfrom an injury]{NOTE: all except Rallo are juniors}.

It worked; seven consecutive runs (Kyle Hartman (1), Johari Johnson (3)and Colton Rupp (3)) moved the ball 53 yards. Johari scored from 1 yard out  @ 5:23 and the PAT missed to make it BEARS 6 HOYAS 0.

(note the block by Ian (LG) on the right side for Domo)

The visitors received the ensuing kickoff at the Landon 30. One run was Tackled For a Loss by Jake Harris and a pass was knocked down by Greg Avedisian. The visiting team was forced to punt.

Landon took over 74 yards from a touchdown and 13 plays later they scored again.  Colton, Johari and then Dominique Seagears moved the ball mostly on the ground plus a Kyle pass to Colton did not allow the defense to assume that they would only see running plays. In the midst of this possession, the clock moved into the 2^nd Quarter and on the first time that wingback/defensive back Domo touched the ball, he scored from one yard out. Jake Harris converted @ 9:33 of the 2^nd Q to make it BEARS 13 HOYAS 0.

Jake Howard made a soccer style chip of the kickoff down the field where it hit one of the GP return team, bounced off of him and was recovered by Brandon Johnson.  Much to the visitors credit,HOYAS stopped the Bears from a drive which could have created an insurmountable lead. The Bears tried, unsuccessfully, a 30 yard field goal attempt.

The GP team gained 7 yards (1st ½ total 22 yards) and punted to Landon. Due to the blitzing, quick Landon Defense (  D Line—Josh Hunter, Jake Harris, Jules Deroches, Keith Simms, Greg Avedisian, Zach Zulauf, #79{not on the roster}; LBs– Charlie Ellerman, Paul Padalino, Brandon, John Hale, Tommy Crittenberger, Justin Cort; DBs—Johari , Domo, Luke Kurtz, Bernard Akinboyewa; others?—apologies if anyone was missed; note: few seniors in this group; would have been more but for injuries) the Hoyas gained a total of 22 yards in the 1^st halfStarting on their own 35, Landon gobbled up more land with runs by Colton (4 rushes) Johari (1) and Kyle (1) plus one incomplete pass.

HALFTIME BEARS 13 HOYAS 0

The home team received the 2^nd half kickoff and struck with a 25 yard pass from Kyle to Domo followed by seven runs to eat up five minutes. That offensive was for naught due to a fumble. GP took the ball from their own 17 and moved the ball down for a touchdown @ 1:34 to make it BEARS 13 HOYAS 7

The Bears were unable to sustain a drive on offense and once again the visitors were poised to attack. The scoreboard noted that the game moved into the 4^th Q. Behemoth 5’9” DT Jake Harris was able to elude the GP offensive linemen (average 6’2” 257#) and record another critical TFL  turning a 3^rd and 1 yard into a 4^th and 16 yards.

The Hoyas were forced to punt again and a foul against the visitors put the ball into the hands of the Bears 1^st and 10 at the GP 48.Another series of winged T rushes set up the home team for a field goal attempt, but it missed. That possession ate up 4:30 on the clock.

With 7 minutes remaining, the GP shifted their point of attack to the air and mixed in the run. They reached the Bears’ 17 yard line and their QB launched a pass which resulted in a TD. But no, the referees had flagged the visitors for offsides. That was followed by two false starts, moving the ball back to the 33. On 3^rd and 25 yards, another pass was thrown, but Landon LB Paul Padalino made a well-timedjump and tipped the ball. His deflection was caught by fellow junior DB Luke Kurtz @ 2:55.

The Bears ran four times each for positive gains and then killed the clock with 3 successive “taking-of-a-knee” plays

FINAL SCORE BEARS 13 HOYAS 7

LANDON STATISTICS

PASSING

#	ATTEMPTS	COMPLETIONS	YARDS	TDs
Hartman	6	3	39

RECEIVERS

#	RECEPTIONS	YDS	TDs
Seagears	2	29
Rupp	1	10

RUNNERS

#	RUSHES	YARDS	TDs
Seagears	18	123	1
Rupp	21	100
Johnson	3	6	1
Hartman	2	0

SCORING

#	TDs	PATs
Johnson	1 (10 yards)
Seagears	I(1 yard)
Howard		1

BEAT StA

Sunday Edition will be published soon today.