By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Manager, Washington D.C. Metro Area
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Yorktown (2-3, 1-1) at Edison (4-1, 2-0)
Last Week: Yorktown won vs. Falls Church, 53-21; Edison won at Oakton, 18-14
Playoff Position (SOS): Yorktown (Div 5) 8th; Edison (Div 5) 3rd
The Eagles have won 19 games against National District teams. The Patriots were the last to beat the two-time defending district champs, back on Oct. 20, 2006, riding running back Max Milien (Virginia) to a 22-14 home win.
Edison has taken the last three games in this season — the last two regular-season meetings by 74-0 on aggregate — but it only holds a 7-6 advantage in wins since 1997, 6-6 in regular-season games.
Yorktown welcomed back senior quarterback Sam Nottingham to full-time signal-calling duty last week and he did not disappoint.
Nottingham went 11-for-14 passing for 199 yards with two scores and no picks, adding 12 carries for 98 yards and a touchdown. Since he’s stepped foot on the field two weeks ago, he has had his hand in six scores.
He was built for the spread offense.
The Eagles’ quarterback, senior Levi Barber, was an efficient 10-for-21 passing for 187 yards and a score at Oakton, as Edison came from behind to win, 18-14, on the road.
That score was a 54-yard screen-pass touchdown to senior running back Angus Harper with just over three minutes remaining to cap a 15-point second half.
The Eagles’ secondary picked off the Cougars three times in the fourth quarter, including a 25-yard return touchdown by senior Jerrell Haywood that turned the tide.
This game will be significantly closer than the records indicate.
The key will be the play of the running backs.
Harper has two sub-40-yard performances to his name and posted over 180 in two other games. If he is near either extreme, it would be surprising — and telling of the result.
For the Patriots, junior Khalil Doles and senior Erik Cardillo had nearly identical numbers — nine carries for 55 yards and nine carries for 54 yards, respectively — and combined for three scores.
The quarterbacks will both have solid nights. Look for the winner of the running game to come out on top.
Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com
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