Leesburg, Va. — Regulation wasn’t enough for Rock Ridge High School and Loudoun County High School to determine a victor in their varsity football matchup on September 8 in Leesburg. As a matter of fact, the first, second and third overtimes also weren’t enough.
But as Rock Ridge junior defensive back Mo Khatib hauled in an interception in the fourth overtime, the Phoenix realized their chance was on the horizon.
On their fourth overtime possession, Rock Ridge senior kicker Ben Wright drilled the 25-yard game-winning field goal, giving the Phoenix a 47-44 win – their first win of the season.
“We’ve been practicing kicking field goals a lot more this season, so when I was back there, I was confident that I’d make it,” said Wright, who plays on both sides of the ball and kicks and punts for the Phoenix. “Coach said he needed a kicker and I volunteered a few years ago. I just try to help my team in anyway I can.”
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After trading touchdowns in the first two overtimes, the Raiders controlled their own fate in the third overtime, after Rock Ridge scored a touchdown but missed their PAT.
On 3rd-and-8, Loudoun County junior quarterback Nick Barts connected with senior receiver Cam Corbett for an 8-yard touchdown, needing just the extra point to seal the three overtime win. But, like the Phoenix, the Raiders failed their PAT, quieting the Raider Riot heading into what would be the fourth and final overtime.
Khatib’s interception in the next period put Rock Ridge back in the driver’s seat as Wright stepped up and knocked down the game-winning field goal.
“To win that way for your first win ever is an unbelieveable experience. We went through a lot of emotions there, and I’m just so happy for the kids,” Rock Ridge head coach Bobby Lalli said. “These kids have worked so hard. They hadn’t had the result they really should have earned sooner. I’m just really proud of them.”
In his first season at Rock Ridge, Lalli earned his first career coaching victory after taking over for former Rock Ridge head coach turned Tuscarora athletic director Tony Tallent.
The win, however, wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for the nimble legs of Rock Ridge senior kick returner Cole Butler. After Barts put the Raiders up 24-17 with six minutes left in the fourth quarter, Butler returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards to even out the score once again.
“I was on the sideline trying to figure out how we were going to score seven points. We couldn’t find our rhythm on offense,” Lalli said. “That return gave the kids hope.”
That hope will need to carry over as the Phoenix attempt to navigate their way through the daunting Potomac District in 2017. After their bye week on September 15, the Phoenix (1-2) will host the red-hot Broad Run Spartans on September 22 before hosting the Tuscarora Huskies on September 28. Loudoun County (1-2) looks to bounce back when they travel to Freedom High School on September 22.
“We can’t worry about the Potomac District. We play who we play,” Lalli said. “Win or lose our goal is to always earn the respect of the other team. We don’t want them to say ‘that was easy.’ We want them to say that we fought hard for four quarters.”
Scoring:
1Q 6:07 LC Cameron Carson for 28-yard field goal
1Q 2:13 RR Aryan Hegde for 1-yard TD run (Wright PAT)
2Q 6:26 LC Jacob Wilson to Zac Beal for 11-yard TD pass (Carson PAT)
2Q 0:32 RR Ben Wright for 30-yard field goal
3Q 6:41 RR Zakius Moore for 3-yard TD run (Wright PAT)
3Q 0:55 LC Nick Barts to Derek McCandless for 30-yard TD pass (Carson PAT)
4Q 6:10 LC Nick Barts for 3-yard TD run (Carson PAT)
4Q 5:55 RR Cole Butler for 95-yard kickoff return TD (Wright PAT)
OT RR Zakius Moore for 10-yard TD run (Wright PAT)
OT LC Nick Barts to David Harris for 15-yard TD pass (Carson PAT)
2OT LC Nick Barts to Matt Berard for 10-yard TD pass (Carson PAT)
2OT RR Tristan Berry to Ben Wright for 10-yard TD pass (Wright PAT)
3OT RR Tristan Berry to Corey Brown for 7-yard TD pass (PAT failed)
3OT LC Nick Barts to Cam Corbett for 8-yard TD pass (PAT failed)
4OT RR Ben Wright for 25-yard field goal
