In a rematch of last season’s Group AAA, Division 5 semifinals, Stone Bridge (Ashburn, VA) will take on Phoebus (Hampton, VA). This time, the Bulldogs, which captured last year’s contest en route to winning the state title, will travel to Hampton to face the Phantoms in a match-up of undefeated programs.
For senior defensive lineman David Wang, the rematch is yet another big test for the Stone Bridge class of 2009 to face.
“Phoebus is just a real athletic team,” Wang said. “Throughout the week, we’re coming up with a game plan and we hope to get out with a win. Phoebus is a great test.
“Nothing compares so far to the state championship we won last year. It is probably the best thing I’ve ever had as far as football. We’re looking forward to Phoebus this week and hopefully we can get out with a win to get back to the championship game.”
Wang knows several Phoebus stars, including star senior quarterback Tajh Boyd and offensive lineman/defensive lineman Dominik Davenport. He knows, though, that the Phantoms are a deep and talented team.
“I met all of them at football camps and they are great people,” Wang said. “They are probably the nicest kids you could possibly meet. But I’m looking forward to playing Phoebus as a whole.”
One of seven team captains, the 6-2, 300-pound prospect is playing a different role for the Bulldogs this season. More of an offensive lineman last year, he has primarily played defensive tackle this season for head coach Mickey Thompson.
“I think I’m doing pretty well,” Wang said of his senior season performance. “I’m just trying to get better every week. As a captain, mostly I try to keep everybody focused. This year, we had seven captains because our seven seniors are so closely tied in to the team. It was a good feeling to know the team wants me to be captain. I’ve just tried to do my best.”
At 12-0, the Bulldogs have yet to be truly test on the gridiron. Wang hopes their dominance continues this week as the team aims to reach Blacksburg next weekend for the state championship game. The winner of tomorrow’s match-up will meet the winner of the Liberty (Bealeton) versus Dinwiddie match-up.
“Everybody is playing well,” Wang said. “We have such great chemistry on the team. We have all known each other for a long time and that helps us on the field.”
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More VT commits in playoff action…
Top recruit Logan Thomas will lead Brookville in a Group AA, Division 3 state semifinal against Richlands tomorrow. The winner will face the winner of the Monticello/James Monroe contest. Last week, the 6-6, 225-pound quarterback/linebacker, a projected wide receiver at Virginia Tech, led the Bees to a region championship win over Robert E. Lee.
In the region championship game, Thomas ran for a score and threw for another. Both of his touchdowns came in the second quarter, giving Brookville a 14-0 advantage at halftime. Brookville had a comfortable 33-7 margin heading into the fourth quarter, ending up with a 40-14 win.
DE/LB Tariq and LB/TE Tyrell Edwards helped Marlboro County (Bennettsville, S.C.) capture a Class 3A state quarterfinal victory over Camden. Marlboro County won 35-28 and will now face Myrtle Beach in the state semifinals tonight.
Myrtle Beach, which boasted current Tech freshman Bruce Taylor last season, features top sophomore quarterback Everett Golson. The 6-0 signal caller, a prospect Virginia Tech is expected to pursue in the 2011 class, is a standout in football and basketball.
Daniel (Central, S.C.) star cornerback/return man Jerrodd Williams helped his team to a 28-7 win over Lugoff-Elgin in another Class 3A state quarterfinal match-up. Daniel faces Chester this evening in the state semifinals, with the winner getting the winner of the Marlboro County/Myrtle Beach match-up.
Williams seemingly had been wavering on his June commitment to the Hokies, but now seems a bit more firm according to this report from PalmettoSports.com. He is expected to be in Blacksburg unofficially tomorrow for the UVa game.
Pulaski (Dublin, VA), featuring Tech athlete recruit Nubian Peak, will meet Amherst tomorrow in the Group AA, Division 4 state semifinals. The Tech recruit dominated last week’s Region IV, Division 4 championship, rushing for 223 yards and two scores in Pulaski’s 38-0 thrashing of Salem. Peak had touchdown runs of 67 and 66 yards, respectively.
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