It is a situation area high school football

players, coaches and fans know all too well and one they hoped not to have to

deal with this season.

But for the third time in three years, outside events have

altered the high school football schedule. Most football games scheduled for

last Friday will now be played tonight. Two more have been moved to Tuesday

evening, and the Lee at South Lakes contest is scheduled for Wednesday night.

"I think DSAs and coaches are used to making important

decisions quickly with as much input as possible from as many people as

possible,'' said Fairfax County Director of Activities and Athletics Paul

Jansen. "In this case, we actually had ample warning of the storm, and it

played out pretty much as it was supposed to, so we were ready.''

Fairfax County decided to allow high school football teams to

hold an afternoon practice on Saturday. It was the only sport allowed to hold

such a practice.

"You can make the argument that every team and every

sport could have used the practice, but with football there is a common sense

understanding that those players need so many practices between events,'' Jansen

said. "Being our only full-contact sport in the fall, we have to make sure

it is medically safe for the players to play, and by giving them permission to

practice, we feel that we've done that.''

Jansen said he knew of no athletic facilities in Fairfax

County damaged by Hurricane Isabel on Thursday, but that some vandalism did

occur at Robinson High School sometime late Thursday evening or early Friday

morning when someone drove a vehicle on the football field, causing damage.

Robinson had lawn care specialists on site Saturday repairing

the damage, and it should be ready in time for Monday night's game against

Oakton. Football games originally scheduled for this Thursday because of the

Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah now must be moved as well. Prince William county

school officials were granted permission by area Jewish leaders to hold games

after sundown on Saturday night. Jansen said Fairfax officials would explore the

same option, but as of now Week 4 games in the Northern Region will be

rescheduled for Monday, Sept. 29.

A lesser concern for area administrators is the economic

impact of holding games on nights other than Friday. Crowds at most games in

Week 2 were smaller than normal because of that night's heavy rains. With Week 3

and possibly Week 4 contests held on weeknights as well, it will hurt the gate

for most schools' largest revenue-producing sport.

"There is no question that the economics are a secondary

concern and that the safety of our athletes and the spectators come first,''

Jansen said.

"But there is an economic reality to this. We are losing

three Friday nights so that will have an impact.''

The Journal's game of the week in Northern Virginia, No. 7 W.T. Woodson (2-0) is

looking for its fourth straight win over the Rebels in this annual Fairfax City

rivalry. The Cavaliers clinched their first playoff berth in 21 years by beating

the Rebels at home last November, 9-0.

One of only two games between ranked opponents this week and a crucial

early-season contest in the Northern Region Division 6 playoff race. The Hornets

(2-0), coming off an impressive 28-6 win over rival South Lakes, must slow

Hayfield senior quarterback Carlo Sandiego, who has three rushing touchdowns

this season. Herndon senior running back Brandon Guyer is averaging 150 rushing

yards per game.

"When you're talking Division 6 football, it's like the

playoffs every single week,'' said Hayfield coach Billy Pugh, whose team is

facing Herndon for the fifth consecutive year. "Our loss to them last year

started our downfall. Hopefully, our kids remember that.''

A new cast of characters on both sidelines doesn't lessen the importance of this

compelling matchup. The Rams look for revenge after last season's 31-29 loss to

Oakton in the Northern Region Division 6 final, 31-29.

Robinson senior quarterback Andy Hartigan has developed into

one of the area's most accurate passers, completing 15 of 24 passes in two

games. The Cougars' defense has allowed just 19 points so far this year.

A chance for both teams to make up for disappointing early-season losses. The

Spartans (1-1) rebounded from a 28-7 Week 1 loss at Centreville with a win over

Washington-Lee. Chantilly (1-1) must shake off a 40-0 home loss to Robinson.

Coming off its first win over a Cardinal District opponent since 1998, Osbourn

(1-1) looks for its first-ever win over Hylton (2-0), the defending Division 6

state champion. The Bulldogs hearts' are still pounding after a last-minute

touchdown pass from junior quarterback Tristen Simmons to senior wide receiver

Deion Butler last Monday pulled out a 36-29 win over No. 10 Osbourn Park - a

game the Bulldogs led 28-0 at one point.

Centreville (1-1) looks to bounce back from last week's upset loss to Annandale.

Lake Braddock (1-1) faces its second straight Concorde District and Top 5

opponents after falling to Westfield, 36-0, last week.

Jefferson (0-2) had a fourth-quarter lead against Lake Braddock in the opener

and was in the game against Langley late last week, but came up short in each

game. The Colonials need an even better effort this week against the Bulldogs

(2-0), who dominated Lake Braddock in Week 2, 36-0.

Woodbridge (1-1) comes off a 10-7 loss to Osbourn, but junior running back Andre

Bratton rushed for 175 yards in that contest, including a 95-yard touchdown run.

Osbourn Park (1-1) must recover from Monday's thrilling Northwest Region

Division 6 final rematch with Hylton.

Fresh off its dramatic upset of Gar-Field, Potomac (1-1) looks for its second

consecutive victory. The Bruins (0-2) are still searching for their first win.

Gar-Field's travelling road show will continue for a while longer. Hurricane

Isabel has slowed the installation of the school's new turf field, meaning the

Indians (1-1) will continue to play their home games at neutral sites. Mental

mistakes and turnovers plagued Gar-Field in the loss to Potomac last week.

"If we were getting whipped physically, then I'd

definitely be more concerned,'' said Gar-Field coach Jim Poythress. "But

that hasn't been the case. We've made a lot of mental mistakes, so we are trying

to simplify our system a little bit.''

Stonewall (1-1) looks to continue its winning ways after

breaking an 11-game losing streak by beating Forest Park.

The biggest matchup in Prince William County this week doesn't involve any Group

AAA schools. It may no longer be a Group A Bull Run District rivalry, but that

doesn't lessen the importance of this contest to either team. Both Brentsville

(2-0) and Manassas Park (3-0) enter the game undefeated and in search of added

momentum heading into district play.

The game was moved to Monday even before Thursday's hurricane because of the

death of a T.C. Williams student in Old Towne Alexandria last Saturday. West

Potomac (1-1) lead the alltime series against the Titans (0-2), 11-8.

Both teams come off one of the biggest wins for their program in several years.

The Atoms (1-1) knocked off No. 4 Centreville at home one week after playing

competitively with No. 2 Westfield. Stuart (1-1) earned its first win since

September of 2000 by beating Marshall, 10-7, on the road to end its 25-game

losing streak.

The Patriots' offense, led by senior quarterback Joe Albritton and senior

running backs John Crone and Duane Tigney is already in high gear, having scored

52 points in two games. Yorktown (1-1) pounded T.C. Williams last week, 28-0.

McLean (0-2) still seeks its first win.

The Jaguars (1-1) want to prove they are title contenders in the National

District this season and would make a big statement with a win at Edison (1-1),

the three-time defending National champion.

"We're looking at this game as a measuring stick as our

program to see how far we've come,'' said Falls Church coach Anthony Parker.

"We feel like we match up well with Edison's speed and we're looking

forward to the challenge. This game should tell us a lot with where we are.''

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