All the talk in the Central Region in 2012 has been about L.C. Bird's passing game, but everyone familiar with the Skyhawks knows that they are a running team, first. Bird had proven this in the regional playoffs behind Paul Robertson's 329 yards last week against Varina and 210 the week before against Hermitage. Still nothing could have prepared the crowd for the treat they witnessed Saturday afternoon at Oakton as Paul Robertson ran for 426 yards on 32 carries and 5 touchdowns to lead Bird to a 41-17 victory over Oakton in a game that didn't even feel that close. Robertson became the first back in VHSL history to rush for more than 400 yards in a state playoff game. 

The game started off looking like it might be a tough, defensive battle as Bird took the opening kickoff and after picking up one first down had to punt after their quarterback, Terrance Ervin, slipped on a 3rd and 4 pass play. Oakton likewise picked up one first down and had to punt after their initial drive. The punt pinned the Skyhawks back on their own 13.

On Bird's first play, however, Robertson took the ball off left tackle and broke through a large hole made by the offensive line and went 87 yards for the score. Only 5 minutes into the game and Robertson already had 100 yards rushing. Oakton answered with an impressive drive. The Cougars got a break with an illegal chop block called on Bird's defense and then quarterback Kyle Downer went 36 yards on a run down to the Bird 9 yard line. However, the Bird defense stiffened and held the Cougars to a field goal to make the score 7-3. 

Bird's next drive looked impressive, but a hold and a false start forced a punt. Oakton failed to get a first down and punted the ball back to Bird, The Skyhawks had a 7-3 lead at the end of one quarter. Bird's next drive started off with an incomplete pass and then Robertson runs of 13, 4, 5 and finally a 25 yard run put the Skyhawks up 14-3. It was starting to look easy as Robertson got his total yardage to 174.  

Oakton had a 3 and out after three runs by Downer. Bird took over on their own 36 yard line and after a five yard run and a no gain by Robertson they struck with a 59 yard touchdown pass from Terrance Ervin to Darius Hawkins who got wide open against Oaktons defense which had begun cheating in against the run. 

Oakton decided to take to the air to get back in the game, but after a couple of complete passes Bird's Brandon Walker intercepted Downer's throw down field and took it back for what appeared to be a touchdown. However, the return was called back due to an illegal block in the back (Bird was flagged seven times on the day versus two times for Oakton). It didn't matter as the penalty only set Robertson up for a 79 yard touchdown run on the next play, an isolation on the right side of Bird's offense. Bird led 27-3 and Robertson was up to 258 yards. 

Oakton then put together a nice drive of their own. It took 11 plays, including a 16 yard run by Downer and a 21 yard completion from Downer to Mike Wandey and another completion of 19 yards over the middle to the one yard line. This time Kelly Brooks-Muse caught the pass. Downer ended up scoring on a quarterback sneak with only about 28 seconds left in the half and Oakton seemed poised to head to halftime with some momentum. However, after a squib kick gave Bird the ball on their own 44 Erivn hit Hawkins again on a play action pass for a 50 yard gain down to the six and Robertson took it six yards on the next play for his fourth touchdown of the half. Bird had a 34-10 lead and all the momentum and Robertson had 264 yards at the intermission.

Oakton took the opening kickoff of the second half and used 5:15 of the third quarter to cut the score to 34-17 on a drive that felt much like their final drive of the first half. A nice mix of runs and passes capped off by a 1 yard run by Wandrey. Robertson shut that door quickly as he took the ball on all 4 plays of the next drive on runs of 13, 4, 6 and a 39 yard td run to put Bird up 41-17 and put Robertson at 326 yards and 5 touchdowns.  

The rest of the game saw Oakton struggle to make much happen and Bird hold the ball on long drives that were both squashed by penalties. Still, the Skyhawks burned the clock and Robertson added another 100 yards to get his state record 426 yards on 32 carries. 

The story of the game was that Bird threw the ball just enough to keep Oakton from packing the line of scrimmage and quite simply dominated the line play. By the end of the game, even the most casual fan was in awe of the gigantic holes the Bird offense was opening up and the patient way Robertson followed his blocking and waited for a lane to appear. 

Coach Bedwell wanted the team to enjoy the win: "I told the team 'business' on the way up, 'party' on the way home." When asked about how the Skyhawks managed such an overwhelming offensive performance he said, "We're just going to do what we do. We tell the kids every year, 'win the district, try to practice on Thanksgiving, and then shoot for playing in the last game.'" Bird has achieved those goals. The storied program will go for their first ever state title on Saturday at the University of Virginia against Ocean Lakes who held off C.D. Hylton 21-14 in the other state semi-final.

The line:
LC Bird 7 27 7 0 - 41
Oakton 3   7 7 0 - 17

First Quarter:
Bird Robertson 87 yard run (Ayala kick), 7-0 Skyhawks
Oakton Burns 22 yard field goal, 7-3 Skyhawks

Second Quarter:
Bird Robertson 25 yard run (Ayala kick), 14-3 Skyhawks
Bird Hawkins 59 yard pass from Ervin (Ayala kick), 21-3 Skyhawks
Bird Robertson 79 yard run (kick fails), 27-3 Skyhawks
Oakton Downer 1 yard run (Burns kick), 27-10 Skyhawks
Bird Robertson 6 yard run (Ayala kick), 34-10 Skyhawks

Third Quarter:
Oakton Wandey 1 yard run (Burns kick), 34-17 Skyhawks
Bird Robertson 39 yard run (Ayala kick), 41-17 Skyhawks

Bird rushing totals 40-454, Robertson (32-426, 5 TD), Brown (4 -23), Wright (2-11), Ervin (2 - -6)
Oakton rushing totals 39-151, Downer (20-83, 1 TD), Lam (4-38), Wandey (11-21, 1 TD)), Brooks-Muse (3-9), Boone (1-0)

Bird passing totals: Ervin (3-9-117-1 TD, 0 Int)
Oakton passing totals: Downer (13-19-131, 0 TD, 1 Int)

Bird Receiving: Hawkins 3-117
Oakton Receiving: Wandey 5-49, Brooks-Muse 3-26, Kurtzman 2-22, Nadeau 1-19, Ott 1-14, Lam 1-1

 

This post was edited on 12/5 9:20 AM by GilliamRatings