It was a common theme in the preseason chatter about Dulles football. It would be fiercely competitive, and more than half of the district's eight schools would be considered legitimate title contenders.

Coming off a healthy 31-14 home victory Sept. 12 against Jefferson County (W.Va.), the Potomac Falls Panthers have outscored opponents 138-44. The victory completes a three-game sweep of West Virginia foes, including Martinsburg and Hedgesville.

"The Dulles District's gonna be tough this year, but I feel that the three teams we've played this year are going to prepare us for the big teams of the district," Panthers senior running back Michael Baker said.

Senior quarterback Gregory Woodlief agreed.

"I honestly feel in my heart that we played the hardest out-of-district schedule this year," he said.

Despite only three victories last year (and one more via forfeit), the Panthers came into 2008 with a talented senior class looking for the 10-year-old program's first playoff berth.

Woodlief is a third-year starter at quarterback, while serving as punter, punt returner and defensive back. Seniors Baker, Chad McMichael, Chris Pelto and Matt Kaeser also provide important ball-handling roles.

Ricky Lovelace is a bowling-ball-type fullback, while big (6-foot-2, 245-pound) Trevor Cottom plays on both lines and Asa Fox is a dependable placekicker -- all seniors.

"We have a lot of leadership, and we came into the year with confidence," Woodlief said.

Much of the credit for Potomac Falls' promising start goes to the aggressive defense that coach Scott Woodlief and defensive coordinator Jerry Gordon employ.

"They're being aggressive, they're running to the football, and they're playing hard," coach Woodlief praised after the Panthers held Jefferson's complex offense to less than 200 yards total offense.

"It's kinda hard to rate any one of them. When you see 10, 11 hats run to the football, that's what you ask for."

In their last nine quarters, the Panthers have permitted just 14 points, with eight coming against the second unit. Woodlief's staff doesn't utilize any particular defensive philosophy other than studying their opponent, attempting to take away what the offense wants to do.

"We have a versatile defense," said coach Woodlief, most of whose defensive starters are upperclassmen. "This is a senior group. They're mature, and they've got great leaders."

That maturity, says the coach, has been successful at preventing big plays by playing assignment football and avoiding breakdowns. Against Jefferson, the Panthers allowed just one play of more than 25 yards.

Woodlief didn't have a defensive coordinator in his previous coaching job at Gloucester High School. The veteran Gordon, a former defensive coach at Yale University, makes the play-to-play defensive calls for Woodlief.

"I'm lucky to have Jerry around," says Woodlief, who has had Gordon on his staff since taking over the program in 2006.

Whether this can become the year of the Panther will depend upon how Potomac Falls fares in their district matchups, beginning with an undefeated Heritage squad Sept. 26.

"The next seven games is what's important to us," Woodlief said. "We have a goal of what we want to do. Right now we're 0-0 [in the district]. But I've seen what kind of football team we have, and I think it's a pretty good one."

By Jason S. Rufner, reprinted with permission.

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