BATTLE OF UNBEATENS: DEEP RUN NIPS PATRICK HENRY, 21-20

DARKNESS CAUSES SUSPENSION OF HERMITAGE-DEEP RUN COLONIAL DISTRICT TOURNAMENT GAME

The first-ever Colonial District field hockey tournament got under way Monday at Deep Run High School,
and 60 minutes of regulation plus 15 minutes of overtime weren�??t enough
to determine a winner between Deep Run and Hermitage. With the score
tied at 1-1 after the end of the first overtime, and with no lights at
Deep Run�??s field, the game was suspended due to darkness.

The next 15 minute �??sudden victory�?� overtime will be played Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. at Maggie Walker High School,
and the teams will continue through the field hockey overtime
procedures until a winner is determined. The winner then will have the
unenviable task of immediately playing Maggie Walker, who received a
first-round bye in the district semifinal match by winning the District
regular season title. (The Maggie Walker playing field has lights.)

When
Hermitage and Deep Run met earlier in the season, Deep Run had little
trouble dispatching Hermitage, 7-1. The Wildcats got off to a stronger
start this time around as well, controlling most of the play during the
first half. The Wildcats created several good scoring chances, but the
Hermitage defense came up with a series of good defensive plays, and
the Panther goalkeeper made a string of nice kick saves to keep Deep
Run off the scoreboard.

Hermitage�??s
offense came to life in the last three minutes of the half, threatening
Deep Run�??s goal with two good shots, but the Panthers couldn�??t find the
back of the Wildcats�?? net.

The
second half was more evenly matched. Hermitage had the best scoring
chances early in the half. Deep Run�??s defense had to be on its toes to
block several Hermitage shots, but the Wildcats quickly turned defense
into offense, storming down the field and pressuring the Hermitage goal.

The
players and the fans picked up their intensity as the clock wound down,
and Hermitage finally opened up the scoring with 12 minutes left.
Kendall West received a pass from a teammate five yards from the Deep
Run goal and hit a hard, low shot past the Wildcat goalkeeper into the
back of the net, launching celebrations from Panther players and fans.

Just
two minutes later, however, Deep Run celebrated its own goal.
Jacqueline Buff reacted quickly to a pass in front of the Hermitage
goal, getting her stick to the ball and sending a shot past the
goalkeeper to tie the score. Deep Run�??s goal set up a frantic final 10
minutes, but neither team could get the winning goal, which meant
overtime.

Overtimes in Virginia
high school field hockey tournament play consist of two 15-minute
�??sudden victory�?� halves. If either team scores, that team wins and the
game is over. If neither team scores in either of the two overtime
periods, the teams move into penalty stroke sets, and then, if
necessary, into sudden victory penalty strokes.

In
Monday�??s overtime, both teams came out determined to score and there
was plenty of attacking on both ends. The best chance went to Deep Run
when Kaitlin Carlyle was one-on-one with the Hermitage goalkeeper, but
her shot was saved. The first overtime ended with the score still tied
at 1-1, and the coaches and officials huddled to decide on the outcome.
For both teams, the season now comes down to one 15-minute overtime
session on Tuesday �?� well, and maybe penalty strokes afterwards.

DEEP RUN CROWNED CHAMPION OF FIRST OUTBACK SHOWDOWN WITH MILLS GODWIN

It
has long been preached that the more penalties a team commits, the less
a chance it has of winning the game. And that theory could have proven
true Friday night at the Mills Godwin stadium, except in-between their
myriad of holding and illegal procedure penalties, the Deep Run
Wildcats ran the ball with extraordinary power and determination.

The
Wildcats�?? 25-12 victory over the Godwin Eagles was as much a toast to
their agile running back and strong defense as it was an exposé on
improper blocking techniques. Unfortunately the Eagles could not
capitalize on the visitors�?? mistakes to give the home crowd a victory.

�??We�??ve
got to clean [our play] up,�?� Deep Run coach Lenny Pritchard said after
the game. �??It�??s crazy to come from a game where we don�??t commit any
penalties, to one where we have 14 or 15.�?�

Deep
Run committed 15 offensive penalties �?? three on one play �?? but still
managed to control the game clock, thanks to Wildcat running back Wes
McDaniel. McDaniel broke for runs of 25, 32, 27, and 20 yards, and
scored one touchdown and one two-point conversion.

His
consistent ability to get into the Godwin secondary gave quarterback
Deck McGuire as much time as he needed for the play-action passing
game. McGuire completed passes of 30 and 23 yards, and narrowly missed
two wide-open bombs that easily would have gone for touchdowns if
completed. He also had two rushing touchdowns.

The
Eagles themselves featured a strong running attack in the first half,
but were forced to abandon the ground game once the deficit grew too
large. Running back Chris Fornataro managed 80 first half rushing
yards, but saw only five more attempts in the second half.

After
a turnover on its first possession caused by a fumbled snap, Mills
Godwin drove 72 yards for the game�??s first touchdown. The Eagles�??
kicker missed the extra point, and from there they would not score
another point until 9:06 remained in the game.

Deep
Run scored a 25-yard field goal with 11:12 left in the first quarter,
then got a touchdown on a quarterback draw by McGuire. The Wildcats
finished the half leading 10-6 and kept their momentum in the second
half.

After
squandering a solid drive that stalled inside the Godwin 40-yard line,
the Wildcats�?? defense forced a three-and-out, which was followed by a
40-yard touchdown drive. With 10:29 left in the game, the Wildcats
further cemented their lead with a 78-yard touchdown drive that started
with a fumble recovery.

The Eagles, sensing that their scoring chances were dwindling, drove 66 yards in 1:23 ending in a touchdown pass from Travis Lane
to Mason Simpson. The crowd noise grew to a low rumble, as students and
parents alike were growing restless and hoped to see the Eagles come
all the way back.

But
after a failed onside kick and two consecutive interceptions �?? one from
Lane and another from Fornataro on a reverse halfback option �?? the game
essentially was over and the Deep Run Wildcats were crowned champions
of the first Outback Showdown. With the victory, Deep Run moves to 7-0
(4-0 Colonial District); Godwin falls to 3-4 (2-2).

JAMES RIVER HOSTS FIRST NIGHT OF DOMINION DISTRICT CHEERLEADING CHAMPIONSHIPS

If
you�??re having a bad day, the Dominion District Cheering Competition
might be the best place for you. On Wednesday night, seven of the eight
Dominion District cheer squads showed off routines that infused spirit,
energy, and excitement into the entire crowd on hand at James River
High.

With
a strong emphasis on sportsmanship and positive attitudes, each team
represented its school proudly �?? screaming cheers, waving banners, and
constantly smiling from ear to ear.

James River played host not only to the Cosby, Monacan, Clover Hill, Manchester, L.C. Bird, and Midlothian
cheering teams, but also to well over 500 spectators. Each school had
its own designated cheering section, but that did not stop the entire
crowd from unanimously cheering for every squad that performed.

Wednesday�??s
competition was the first in each team�??s quest to represent the
district in the Central Region Cheerleading Championships, which will
be held at Virginia Commonwealth University�??s Siegel Center
on Wednesday, November 1. While the teams were judged on their
performances tonight, they will all advance to the next round of
qualifying, which is on Wednesday, October 25 at Manchester High School.

The
scores of tonight�??s performances count for 1/3 of each team�??s overall
district score, meaning that the next qualifying round will count for
the remaining 2/3. Only the top four teams will advance from the
District Finals to the Central Region Championships.

The night began with host school James River�??s
performance, followed by a newcomer to the Dominion League, the Cosby
Titans. Just before they took the stage, Cosby got an emphatic
welcoming cheer from the Clover Hill cheerleaders, which drew
appreciative applause from most of the crowd.

Monacan
followed the Titans with a strong performance, and an equally vibrant
cheering section. Accompanied by its dance team and mascot, the Chief, Monacan may have been a bit too excited, as it had points deducted for unsportsmanlike influence from the fans.

Clover Hill and Manchester performed next, submitting stellar routines that were among the night�??s most impressive. L.C. Bird and Midlothian concluded the competition, during which universal sportsmanship and support for each performance were remarkably prevalent.

Before
the announcer read the final standings he invited every competitor back
to the court for a �??Cha Cha Slide�?� line dance. Fittingly, every team
hustled to center court and stomped around to the song.

When
the announcer read the final results, he withheld the judges�?? actual
scores, as well as the overall rankings. Instead, he listed the top
four finishers in alphabetic order: Clover Hill, Cosby, James River and
Manchester. It provided the perfect ending for one of the most astonishingly wholesome and dedicated competitions in high school sports.

GODWIN TRIUMPHS OVER PATRICK HENRY ON SENIOR NIGHT; Foley Injured in Making Winning Goal

For
Senior Night on Monday night, the Eagles of Mills Godwin hosted the
Patriots of Patrick Henry in a game of field hockey. Luckily for Helen
Holt and Marilyn McCullough, the two seniors on the Eagles roster,
Mills Godwin pulled out a 2-1 victory over the visiting Patriots. These
two seniors and all of their accomplishments were honored prior to the
start of the game.

The
Eagles struck first, early in the first half, with Michelle Foley
scoring the first goal of the night. During the half, Godwin seemed to
be in control, as they were able to stay on the offensive most of the
time. Nevertheless, midway through the period, Patrick Henry�??s Rachel
Hayden evened up the score at 1-1, and the scored remained tied at the
end of the half.

The
second half started off much better for the Patriots, as they were able
to control the ball for much of the half. Patrick Henry had many
opportunities on goal, and the Patriot fans became more and more
energized. But although the momentum had changed, and despite the many
opportunities, Patrick Henry failed to score.

Godwin
also had a handful of chances to put the ball in the net in the second
half, but also failed to score. The second half came to a close with
the score the same as the first, 1-1.

At
the start of sudden death overtime, both cheering sections erupted with
anticipation. The period started out the same way as the second half,
with Patrick Henry controlling most of the play. However, about 5
minutes in, Mills Godwin got their break when the ball rolled away from
their goal. Foley picked it up around midfield. She ran the rest of the
way to the Patriots�?? goal and took her shot. It went in, and Godwin
won, 2-1.

However,
Foley�??s winning shot came with a cost. A Patrick Henry player, trying
to stop the goal, swung her stick as Foley shot, and struck Foley on
the wrist. Foley went down with a possible broken wrist. After a few
minutes, she was able to walk away under her own power, and the girls
were all very supportive for their fallen hero. This game had
everything that a sports lover would love, but we hope that Foley was
not badly injured.