By Michael Pittinger
LoCoSports Staff Writer
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Sterling (September 27, 2015) — On September 25, John Champe High School (4-0) went to Park View High School (2-3) looking to remain undefeated on a night the Patriots celebrated their homecoming. The Knights would use five first half scores to cruise past Park View, 44-0.
“Overall I’m very proud,” John Champe head coach Jason Dawson. “I can’t be upset winning 44-0.”
The Knights would strike first with 3:30 left in the first quarter, when running back Connor Jones ran it in from 1-yard out, making it 7-0.
With 1:25 left in the quarter, the Knights would block Park View punter Anthony Lampe’s punt and John Champe’s Steve Kurlton would recover it in the end zone for another touchdown.
“I thought special teams did an excellent job tonight,” Dawson said.
While the Knights’ special teams stood out throughout the game, the Knights’ offense would have some big plays during the first half. The biggest play came when quarterback Zach Burdick found wide receiver Kuony Deng on a screen play that he took 65 yards for John Champe’s fourth score of the first half.
“I thought offensively, as the game went on, we adapted and adjusted,” Dawson said. “I wish we had done it a little bit quicker.”
At halftime of the homecoming football game, the Patriots Student Council Association sponsor Michael Verb announced senior Tisha Lim as the 2015 Homecoming Queen.
The Knights’ offense did most of their work in the first half, but John Champe’s defense was active all night, including two forced fumbles, an interception, three sacks and a shutout. They were also able to stop Park View’s powerful run game, only letting them rush for 91 yards on the game.
“We really only have one team goal at Champe football and it’s to compete,” Dawson said. “I thought we played real well defensively.”
Not to be looked over, the Patriots defense had some bright moments in this game also including three forced turnovers and four sacks.
The Patriots head to Leesburg to take on a winless Loudoun County High School on October 2, while the Knights head to Front Royal to take on Skyline High School.
Scoring Plays:
1Q 3:30 JC Connor Jones 1-yard TD run (Nichols PAT)
1Q 1:25 JC Steve Kurlton blocked punt recovery TD (Nichols PAT) 2Q 11:02 JC David Cousino 5-yard TD run (2pt good)
2Q 6:43 JC Zach Burdick to Kuony Deng 65-yard TD pass (2pt good)
2Q 1:23 JC Zach Burdick 1-yard TD run (Nichols PAT)
3Q 10:33 JC Carl Gamon 10-yard TD run (Nichols PAT)
Stats:
Passing
John Champe
Zach Burdick 4-for-5, 157 yards, 1 TD
Scotty Schaffler 3-for-4, 70 yards, 1 INT
Park View
Chase Jefferson 1-for-3, -1 yards, 1 INT
Adam Thorne 0-for-1
Rushing
John Champe
David Cousino 5 carries, 23 yards, 1 TD
Carl Garmon 2 carries, 10 yards, 1 TD
Zach Burdick 3 carries, 9 yards, 1 TD
Connor Jones 2 carries, 5 yards, 1 TD
Devin Nichols 1 carry, 31 yards
Gray Baker 4 carries, 12 yards
Jack Walker 2 carries, 11 yards
Cameron Parson 3 carries, 11 yards
Damon Evans 2 carries, 5 yards
Park View
Nikolai Hopkins 11 carries, 26 yards
Adam Thorne 3 carries, 19 yards
Chase Jefferson 9 carries, 17 yards
Michael Hernandez 5 carries, 15 yards
Herbert Martinez 4 carries, 8 yards
Giovanni Lopes 1 carry, 4 yards
Anthony Lampe 1 carry, 3 yards
Jose Hernandez 1 carry, 1 yard
Receiving
John Champe
Kuony Deng 3 receptions, 157 yards, 1 TD
Carl Gamon 1 reception, 45 yards
Brandon Burdick 1 reception, 14 yards
Trevor Cosenke 1 reception, 11 yards
