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Practice makes perfect for Park View
A week of practice can do wonders for a high school football team.
Park View, for example, had a week to prepare defensively for Dominion’s Wildcat-like offense – in which Titan running back Deandre Reaves takes a direct snap – after giving up 161 yards and two scores to Briar Woods’ Michael Brownlee on direct snaps in a 24-10 loss Oct. 23.
Reaves and the Titans rolled into the home contest on the heels of a big 46-20 win over South Lakes, in which the junior back rushed for 221 yards and four touchdowns. But the Patriots tamed the Wildcat Oct. 30, holding Dominion to 23 total rushing yards, in a 31-0 Dulles District victory.
“We knew they were going to try and run all over us,” said Park View junior linebacker Eric Palma, who had an interception to set up one of two second-half scores generated by the Patriot defense, the other coming on a blocked punt. “After Briar Woods, we knew they were going to come in with the Wildcat. The defense stepped up big time.”
Dominion (2-3 in district, 4-5 overall) is still in the Region II Division 3 playoff hunt as the two teams they are battling for the final two playoff spots – Millbrook and Skyline – both lost Friday. A win at Briar Woods in the final week of the regular season could secure the Titans the school’s first-ever football playoff berth.
“We have a great opportunity to rebound,” Dominion second-year coach Karl Buckwalter said.
Park View (3-2, 6-3) is assured a Division 3 playoff bid but could still get a bye in the first round, something that Patriot head coach Andy Hill actually doesn’t want.
“We don’t do well playing after a bye,” said Hill.
Hill had stressed with his defense against Dominion to keep all the cutback lanes filled and the Pats did just that, stringing out Reaves on most of his rushing attempts. At one point in the contest, Reaves had just five yards rushing on 17 attempts, though some of negative yardage was picked up on sacks as he attempted to pass.
Dominion’s starting quarterback Trey Baxter was healthy enough to get back on the field but his shoulder injury limited his action to one carry, two receptions and some option pitches to Reaves.
Park View, meanwhile, displayed a balanced three-pronged rushing attack with Brandon Lee, Daryus Beale and Tommy Sedeski combining for 224 yards on 42 attempts, including four scores with Lee and Sedeski each finding the end zone twice.
The only area of concern for Park View, as they host Freedom to finish the regular season, is the passing game where Lee was 1-of-7 for four yards and an interception against the Titans.
“We need to be able to throw,” Hill said.
Dominion’s hard-hitting defense kept the game close with Park View only ahead, 10-0 going into the half as Kevin Flamenco hit a 29-yard field goal as time expired. Turnovers by the Titans, however, on two of their first four snaps of the second half put Park View firmly in control.
Park View 31, Dominion 0
Second Quarter
PV: Lee 3 run (Flamenco kick) 11:17
PV: Flamenco 29 field goal, 0:00
Third Quarter
PV: Sedeski 1 run (Flamenco kick) 1:57
Fourth Quarter
PV: Lee 15 run (Flamenco kick) 7:47
PV: Sedeski 4 run (Flamenco kick) 5:08
Individual Leaders
Passing: PV-Lee (1 of 7 for 4 yards, Int.); D-Reaves (6 of 15 for 62 yards, Int.)
Rushing: PV-Sedeski (15 for 99 yards, 2 TD), Beale (15 for 71 yards), Lee (12 for 54 yards, 2 TD); D-Reaves (21 for 24 yards)
Receiving: PV-Sedeski (1 for 4 yards); D-Coleman (3 for 32 yards), Baxter (2 for 21 yards)
-Read more of Dan "Practice makes Perfect" Sousa's work at VivaLoudoun.com .
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