[ngg_images gallery_ids=”557″ display_type=”ds-nextgen_royalslider”]
The best kept secret in local high school athletics just might be unfolding in Brentsville this season, as Coach Amy Beard’s ladies of the Brentsville Volleyball Team are spiking, digging, and blocking their way into postseason play.
The Lady Tigers have quietly put together a 12-6 season so far (10-2 vs Conference Opponents, 12-2 vs division 3A opponents), and hopes of a push well into the postseason are high among players and fans.
Opening with a run of 7 straight wins, 6 of them against Conference 28 opponents, the Tigers set and have maintained a pace that looks like it will keep them in first place from season opener to season finale. Led by lone Senior Captain Sarah Wampler, the Tigers are looking to build on last season’s groundbreaking appearance at the district tournament.
A solid core of Juniors, many of whom play volleyball year-round, is providing the fuel for this year’s run.
Dependable setter Allison Tucker manages the court like a metronome, turning hardcourt digs and passes from defensive specialist Kennedy Willey into fat targets for Outside Hitter Kylie Loudermilk and Right Side Hitter Megan Rayno to smash into opposing front lines.
Middle Nicole Bulgrin smashes more than her share of hits, and adds a blocking ability to the team that intimidates some opponents to the point where they simply stop trying to spike.
Finally, like the cherry on top of an ice cream sundae, Libero Bryn Damico regularly displays an uncanny ability to drive balls from the back row to fly low across the net, then drop quickly and heavily into the back row of an opposing team that had been expecting a free ball.
But perhaps the most satisfying aspect of this year’s team is the esprit-de-corps, the unspoken love of being together and pursuing a common goal, which weaves its way through teammates and fans alike.
The ladies chase down errant balls, bringing them back into play, with a surprising regularity that is hard not to get excited about. Excitement, fun, comradery. All the classic elements are here.
This week marks the last week of season play for the Brentsville Volleyballers. After that? We are all eager to find out.
Friday’s conference matchup game between Woodbridge Senior High School and Forest Park High School was kicked off on the Bruins home turf following their homecoming festivities.
[ngg_images gallery_ids=”548″ display_type=”ds-nextgen_royalslider”]
The Hylton Bulldogs charged onto the field for their homecoming game Friday night after an hour-long lightning delay.
DJ Wright received the ball from the Gar-Field Indians and ran it down to the 35-yard line. A pass to Christian Brisueno brought the ball down to the one, where Jared Austin carried the ball in for a touchdown with 11:26 to go in the first quarter, bringing the score to 7-0.
The Indians fumbled the ball with 8:43 left in the quarter, and it was recovered by Albert Nunez. Later, a 19-yard pass to DJ Wright allowed Hylton to score their second touchdown of the night. Hylton was up 14-0 with 7:58 left to go in the first.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
[ngg_images gallery_ids=”541″ display_type=”ds-nextgen_royalslider”]
Stormy weather last week prompted the C.D. Hylton Bulldogs to move up their match with the Freedom Eagles.Â
The game was rescheduled from Friday, October 2 to Thursday, October, 1.
Hylton beat Freedom 34-33.
Mark Lomax was on hand to take photos of the game for Tacketts Mill Football Friday.
Friday’s conference matchup between the Gar-Field Indians and the Freedom Eagles began with a heartfelt moment of silence for former Gar-Field Varsity Football Coach, Mike Madison, who recently past away this week.Â
[ngg_images gallery_ids=”536″ display_type=”ds-nextgen_royalslider”]
The Potomac Nationals expect to announce the naming rights sponsor of its planned $70 million stadium in Woodbridge by December.
The project is slated to be built across the street from Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, at Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center. The stadium's naming sponsor as been a lynchpin in the entire deal, one that does not require any public monies to build the stadium.
The 6,000-seat facility was scheduled to open this year when the project was announced by the ballclub and Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart in 2012. Potomac Nationals Owner Art Silber in January 2014 pushed back the stadium opening date to 2016.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
The Brentsville Tigers was the first team on the scoreboard Friday night.
They played the Warren County Wildcats at home in Nokesville in front of a crowd donned in home team colors orange and black.
Brentsville's DeShawn Denny ran the ball 50 yards for the touchdown with one second left in the first quarter. An attempt at a two-point conversion for the Tigers ended poorly, and the Wildcats took over on downs.
The Tigers had several penalties leading up to the score. Game officials called an illegal shift on the team at the 1:29 mark. The team then turned over the ball to Warren County at 1:25 in the first.
The Wildcats came alive in the second quarter when Jakob Cornwell intercepted the ball from the Tigers with nine minutes left in the quarter. Later in the quarter with seven yards to go to the goal line, Warren County answered the Tigers as Warren County Quarterback Robert Rutherford ran the ball into the end zone for a touchdown.
The score was Warren County, 7, Brentsville, 6 at halftime.
[ngg_images gallery_ids="534" display_type="ds-nextgen_royalslider”]
The crowd then went for the food truck, where fried Oreo cookies, fried, pickles, chocolate-covered French fries, awaited them.
The Tigers came back onto the field to start the second half on fire. Warren County fumbled, allowing Brentsville's Kyle Persons to recover. That set up 16-year-old junior Zack Yates who took the ball in for a touchdown complete with a two-point conversion at 10:40 in the 3rd, bringing the score 14-7. It was the last time Warren County lead in the game.
Warren County came back later in the quarter, as Joshua Butler picked off a pass intended for Brentsville's DeShawn Denny.
Then early in the fourth, another play by Brenstville's Yates who ran the ball 20 yards down to the 10-yard line. That set up Eric Jones for another touchdown, bringing the score 21-7 Brentsville, at 10:42 in the fourth.
With the ball back in hand, Warren County fumbled at 9:11 and the Tigers took over on downs. Brentsville's Donovan Hollins made an impressive 40-yard run to the 20-yard line and jumped into the air before tackled.
Hollins took the ball in for a touchdown with 3:26 left in gameplay, making the score 28-7.
Warren County through several deep passes, and connected with Daniel Spangler who took it in for a touchdown with 2:28 left in play, making the score 28-14.
Warren County was possession of the ball with 53 seconds left in the 4th and fumbled on the 20-yard-line inside Tiger territory. Brentsville took over and took a knee to finish the game.
Win kept alive Brentsville's undefeated streak. The team record stands at 3-0. The Tigers will take on Riverside High School in Leesburg at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
The Brentsville Varsity Tigers may be small, but they have a mighty ability to work together as a team.
The pride of Nokesville (2-0) will take on Warren County Wildcats (1-1) on Friday at home. The team will not only look to their fans to cheer them on but to their coaches, who they credit for bringing focus to a team that finished 2-8 last year.
The majority of the players on Brentsville's varsity squad are new and smaller than average. Players on the team's offensive line average 225 pounds.
