All-Decade All-Northern Region
It was tough to play a state championship
game in the 00's without a Northern Region program's involvement as the
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NoVa area placed teams in twelve of the twenty AAA contests. From 2000 - 2009, the
Northern Region won five state AAA championships as Westfield grabbed
the D6 title in both 2003 and
2007, Oakton won the 2005 contest, Centreville the 2000 game and Robinson captured the crown in
2001 while Stone Bridge took home the D5 championship in 2007. The region also produced seven state runners-up (Lake
Braddock and Stone Bridge in 2009, Chantilly and
Thomas Edison in 2006, Stone Bridge again in 2005, Robinson in 2004 and Oakton
in 2002).
With many team and
individual standouts coming through the region over the course of the
past ten years, making picks for an all-decade all-region squad,
especially one limited by such few numbers (twelve players on each side
of the ball and four special teams selections), some tough decisions had
to be made. More than anything, we attempted to reward players for
their high school productivity more so than what they have
accomplished at the college and pro levels as many of the top stars have
gone on to build outstanding athletic careers.
Some choices were
no-brainers (guards and linebackers), while others were discussed at length
(quarterback and running backs) with differences in
productivity being razor-thin. So, without further ado, VirginiaPreps.com
is proud to present our All-Decade All-Northern Region team starting
with our Player of the Decade selections.
Offensive Player of
the Decade - Evan Royster, Westfield
Defensive Player of
the Decade - Jeron Gouveia, Stone Bridge
All-Decade Northern
Region Offense
QB - Mike Glennon, Westfield
Completed 171 of 265 passes his senior season for 2,557 yards and 32
touchdowns also rushed the ball for 129 yards and seven TDs. Led
Westfield to the D-6 Championship his senior season with an
undefeated 15-0 record. Named first-team all-state, all-region and
all-district as well. Named the Coaches' state player of the year.
As a junior he was named first team all-district, district player of the
year and Washington Post All-Met honorable mention.
Selected to the 2008 Parade All-America team
RB - Mike Imoh,
Robinson
Rushed for 5,268 career yards in high school and
scored 67 touchdowns. In his senior year he led Fairfax Robinson (12-1)
to the Virginia AAA State Championship. In that state title game against Thomas Dale, Imoh ran for 222 yards, had 59 receiving yards and
scored four touchdowns as the Rams rolled 40-7. Thomas Dale Coach
Vic Williams said of Imoh "He was a little guy with tremendous heart and
great quickness. He made our team look like youth league players, not
that he wasn't surrounded with some good talent. He proved himself when
he went on to star at Va. Tech. All our kids said he was the best player
on the field."
RB - Evan Royster,
Westfield
Concluded his brilliant career with 6,384 yards on
750 carries (8.5 avg.) and 90 touchdowns. As a sophomore, Royster ran
for 1,690 yards and 22 touchdowns, helping Westfield win the 2003
Virginia AAA Division 6 state championship. Royster helped
Westfield win three Concorde District Championships.
WR - Eddie Royal,
Westfield
"Teams felt like they
had to put two people on him to cover him," said Westfield coach Tom
Verbanic. In his junior year, Royal had 48 pass receptions for 905
yards and 11 touchdowns. Royal returned for his senior year
to have 41 pass receptions for 875 yards and 11 touchdowns. Seven of the
fourteen games that Westfield played that year, Royal, as well as most
of the team's starters, didn't play in the second half because they were
leading by four touchdowns at the half. The season culminated with
the state championship game in which Royal added a one-yard touchdown
run to 47 yard punt return for a touchdown.
WR - Andy
Stallings, West Springfield
One look at the VHSL
record book shows exactly how productive the Spartans wideout was during
his career as he caught 190 passes for 2,773 yards and 34 touchdowns,
each ranking him among the top ten in the state's history within the
categories.
TE - John Kinzer,
Robinson
Graded out at over 85 percent in his blocking
assignments as a senior. Played tight end and defensive end for
Coach Mark Bendorf and handled the punting and kicking duties. Had 31
catches for 457 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior
OT - Patrick Sheil,
Centreville
Earned VHSCA and AP AAA
All-State first-team honors and All-Northern Virginia first-team honors
as a senior offensive tackle in 2004 as the 6-foot-6, 270-pounder served
as a captain on the Wildcats 2004 team that advanced to the postseason
where they were edged out by eventual regional champion Robinson 14-9.
OT - Andrew Nuss,
Stone Bridge
As a senior, blocked for a running back that
shattered the school record with 1,744 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns
as the Bulldogs rolled up over 3,000 yards on that ground in 2006, a
year after he helped the Northern Region power program reach the Group AAA Division 5 championship game
for the first of three appearances this decade.
OG - Trevor
Springman, Stone Bridge
Two-year letterman at
Stone Bridge High School for head coach Mickey Thompson, helped team
post a 13-0 record during senior season before losing in the state
semifinals as the 6-foot-4, 270-pounder anchored a line that helped the
squad average over 40 points per contest in 2008.
OG - Tyler
Barfield, Westfield
Was named first-team
All-Met on offense by The Washington Post as a senior. A two-time,
first-team all-district, all-region and all-state pick. Helped
team to a state title and a 37-3 record over four seasons. In 2008,
captained an offensive line that plowed the way for running back Jordan
Anderson's 1,500-plus yard season.
C - Scott
Jones, Langley
The 6-foot-5,
250-pounder was a three-year starter for the Saxons where he earned the
first-team center spot on
the Liberty District, Northern Region, and all-state teams in 2008. Ranked second in the state as a
heavyweight wrestler, Jones won his district's championship as a junior
and was described as a "phenomenal athlete" by head coach John Howerton.
ATH - Keith Payne,
Oakton
2005 AAA Player of the Year, first-team all-state,
all-region and district player of the year. As a senior had 273 rushes
for 2059 yards and 26 touchdowns. In the 2005 state championship game
against undefeated Landstown, Payne played every down on offense and
defense and ran for a career-high 250 yards on 25 carries and scored
four touchdowns.
All-Decade Northern
Region Defense
DL - Adam
Fassnacht, Robinson
Fassnacht was twice a
first-team, all-state selection on the defensive line. As a senior, he
was named the Virginia AAA defensive football player of the year. He
also anchored a punishing defensive unit that led the Rams to the AAA
state championship in his junior season. Was a state champion
wrestler as a senior and excelled in three (lacrosse) sports at
Robinson. Fassnacht had the rarest of achievements in high-school
sports: winning a state title in three different sports, in three
different seasons.
DL - Olu Hall,
Robinson
The three-year
starter has a rare combination of speed (4.7-second 40-yard dash) and
size. He had 11 sacks and 93 tackles on a team that opened the season
with four consecutive shutouts. During his senior season Robinson
yielded only one 100-yard rushing performance.
DL - Zach Hally,
Chantilly
Recorded 128 tackles,
13 sacks and 16 quarterback hurries as a senior to earn first team
all-state and Concorde District Player of the Year honors to help spur
the program's turnaround from 0-10 in 2004 to state runners-up finish.
DL - Zach
Thompson, Stone Bridge
A first team All-Met selection by
the Washington Post in 2008, Zach was an all-state selection as a defensive
lineman in both 2007 and 2008, first team All-Liberty District as both a tight
end and defensive end and earned first team All-Northern Region at both
positions as well.
LB - Cody Grimm,
Oakton
Lettered three years
in football as a strong safety for Coach Joe Thompson. Earned first-team
all-state and Northern Region Defensive Player of the Year honors as a
senior. Finished his senior season with 127 tackles, seven interceptions
and three sacks. Also lettered three times in lacrosse and led team to
three state championships.
LB - Jack Curtis,
Robinson
Two time All-Met
selection by the Washington Post, As a senior was First Team
All-Concorde District and the District's Defensive Player of the Year,
First Team All-Northern Region and the Region's Defensive Player of the
Year
LB - Jack Tyler,
Oakton
A four-year letterman
for Joe Thompson at Oakton. Played linebacker, fullback and tight end
during his career. Was named the state defensive player of the year as a
senior after posting a school-record 147 tackles to go with five
interceptions three sacks and a pair of defensive touchdowns also named
the district and region defensive player of the year. Had 398 tackles
and 10 interceptions for his career. Set a school mark for tackles
in a game with 27
LB - Brian Laiti,
Robinson
Named first-team
all-state by The Associated Press and the VHSCA for the AAA level as a
linebacker. An All-Met selection by The Washington Post. Was
named the Defensive Player of the Year after registering 123 tackles,
including nine for loss and four sacks. Was Robinson's leading
tackler for three seasons
DB - Jeron
Gouveia, Stone Bridge
The
Washington Post All-Met Defensive Player of
the Year his senior season. Named first-team Group AAA all-state
as a defensive back by The AP his senior year, also earned first-team
all-state honors from the VHSCA and was named Defensive Player of the
Year. Led Stone Bridge with seven interceptions, including two in the
AAA Division 5 state championship game which the Bulldogs won.
DB - Chase
Anastasio, Robinson
A three time
all-state selection (twice at Robinson, once at Bishop Ireton -
sophomore season). Helped lead the Rams to the State title as a junior
(2001) and he recorded two interceptions in the state championship game.
Two way performer also excelled at running back scoring 30 touchdowns
during his junior and senior seasons, while pulling down ten
interceptions on the defensive side of the ball.
DB - Blake
Warren, Centreville
In 2000 was named the
Group AAA Defensive Player of the Year in Virginia by the state coaches.
Helped Centreville post eight shutouts and win the state Division 6
championship as a senior. Finished his career with the most
tackles by a defensive back (190) and a school-record 11 interceptions.
Helped Coach Mike Skinner's team to three consecutive district and
region titles.
ATH - Brian
Kennedy, Westfield
No one may have
packed a big 'punch' pound for pound than the 5-foot-8, 162-pound
Kennedy was region defensive player of the year as a junior and a
first-team pick again in 2007. He finished with 66 tackles, three
interceptions, including one in the state championship, two defensive
touchdowns and three fumble recoveries.
All-Decade
Northern Specialists
K - Donald Murphy,
Oakton
In his first game on
the varsity, Murphy, then only a sophomore, kicked a game-winning
24-yard field goal with 14 seconds left to clinch a 13-10 win over rival
James Madison. Over the course of the next three years, the Cougar
connected on 21 of 25 field goals, converted 85 successful extra points
and earned a state championship ring in 2005.
P - Brent
Bowden, Westfield
Although not called
upon to punt often for Westfield, Bowden proved his worth when they did.
As a senior he averaged 43.5 yards per punt with a season long of 58.
Fifteen punts landed inside the 20, nine inside the 10 and five inside
the 5. Did not have a punt blocked.
KR - Lucas
Caparelli, Robinson
The explosive player
averaged 29 yards per return and was named all-Northern Region at kick
returner and running back. He rushed for 1,466 yards, notched 29 total
TDs and had 490 receiving yards, averaging 37 yards per catch. His
three-year totals are 4,063 rushing yards, 1,007 receiving yards and
66so TDs.
PR - Jared
Velasquez, Robinson
Robinson coach Mark
Bendorf says the following about his two-way standout: "I've talked
about this before, but he's such a good character kid. He's a team first
guy and he doesn't care one bit about his statistics. He is Robinson
first and wants to win. He plays both ways for us and ran for
1,311-yards last year and didn't come off the field, regardless of how
tired he was. He's got a passion for the game and is a great team
member."
All-Decade Northern
Coaches
Division Five -
Mickey Thompson, Stone Bridge
Stone Bridge opened
in 2000 and Mickey Thompson quickly established the Bulldogs as a Regional
and State power. For the decade his record was 102-17, an .857
winning percentage. In 2007 Thompson and Bulldogs brought home the
Division Five State Championship and finished the season 14-1.
Thompson has coached the Bulldogs to eight straight regional finals,
winning the region in `05, `07, `09 and `09. Stone Bridge has had only one losing season with that coming in their first year of existence.
Division Six - Tom
Verbanic, Westfield
Like Stone Bridge,
Westfield opened in 2000 and quickly rose to football prominence.
The school and Verbanic have only experienced one losing season, that
coming in 2001 in which the Bulldogs finished 4-5. But the
memories of that season have been erased with the help of the success
that followed during the remainder of the decade. Like Stone
Bridge, Westfield has advanced to the postseason for eight consecutive
seasons and were undefeated Division Six champions in
both 2003 and 2007.
All-Decade
Northern Programs
Division Five
Program - Stone Bridge Bulldogs
Opening in 2000, the
Ashburn school quickly turned into a regional and state powerhouse
qualifying for the postseason for the first time in 2002 and they've not
missed a playoff appearance since advancing to eight straight regional
championship contests. How dominating has the program been?
Consider that, over the course of 119 games this decade, the Bulldogs
have won by an average margin of nearly three touchdowns scoring 34.5
points per game while allowing only 14.6 per contest.
Division Six
Program - Westfield Bulldogs
Playing in what is
perhaps the state's most competitive district from top-to-bottom year in
and year out, the Bulldogs have been the best of a very good bunch as
they are the only Division Six program in the state to have collected
two state championships (2003 and 2007) this decade en route to posting
a 94-23 record (.803). They've won two-thirds of their playoff
games (12-6) in the 00's and, during a three-year stretch from
2006-2008, posting an impressive 7-2 mark in the postseason.
Second Team Offense
QB - Sean Glennon, Westfield
RB - Cedric Bryant, Edison
RB - Torrian Pace, Chantilly
WR - Ryan Moody, Stone Bridge
WR - Ben Barber, Edison
TE - Brian Calloway, Stone Bridge
T - Khameron Kolb, Lake Braddock
T - Beau Warren, Centreville
G - Andrew Bernard, Langley
G - Will Wilson, Langley
C - Austin Mayhugh, Oakton
ATH - Johnny Pickett, Westfield
Second Team Defense
DL - Brian Slay, Stone Bridge
DL - Jared Ruppert, Oakton
DL - Derik Qadir, Robinson
DL - Will Montgomery, Centreville
LB - Blake Schubert, Robinson
LB - Danny Prentice, Oakton
LB - Josh Hogan, Woodson
LB - Jason Myers, Centreville
DB - Darryl Hamilton, Centreville
DB - Andrew Leonard, Oakton
DB - Marcus Hamilton, Centreville
ATH - Thomas Stickford, Lake Braddock
Second Team Specialists
K - John McConnell, West Springfield
P - Chris Hall, Centreville
KR - Marcus Harris, Stone Bridge
PR - Devon Brown, Stone Bridge