With the Briar Woods Varsity Football team just a few games away from closing out their season and qualifying for playoffs, tension is taut in the air. The Falcons currently hold a record of 6-2, and are ranked first in the Potomac district. This gives them a fair chance at making a run during playoffs, especially after last year’s impressive postseason where they made it to the region finals, showcasing their potential. Building on that success and continuing their legacy from last season motivates them even further this season.
Head Coach Burnett expresses how proud he is of the team this season, stating, “I think our senior leadership is really good and the way that we’ve responded to a lot of adversity and injuries early in the season has been really great. They’re giving their best, and [even though] there are times where we can stay more focused and do better, I am very proud of them.”
“I would’ve thought we’d go 5-5 but a lot of kids who you wouldn’t have expected this year have shown up,” shared Tyler Yoder, senior wide receiver and co-captain. “Since I didn’t really get to play this season, it’s been the team dinners and hangouts with my friends after games or practices [that have been memorable for me],” continued Yoder.
On Friday, Sept. 20, the Briar Woods Falcons went up against the North Stafford Wolverines for their homecoming game, and ended the night with an unfortunate 26-14 loss. Briar Woods kept it close in the first half, but was unable to keep up with a potent Wolverine offense, who outscored the Falcons 12-8 in the second half.
“We got a lot of kids hurt in that game, but that isn’t an excuse. Our line on both sides of the ball just didn’t come to play that game, but we fixed some stuff up so that won’t happen again,” commented Sean Tracey, senior defensive end.
Yoder, sharing his teammates’ feeling, stated, “after the North Stafford game, Coach Burnett told the team that we have to step up. I feel the young guys on this team have really taken that to heart since week four and have been doing really well.”
Facing a formidable Fort Hill Sentinels team on their home turf, the Falcons’ strong offense and solid defense delivered a 28-7 victory on Friday, Oct. 4. Senior quarterback and co-captain Brady Carmical had a strong stat line, ending the game with 18 of 26 passing, four touchdowns and no interceptions. He also ran the ball 19 times for 111 rushing yards. One of Carmical’s favorite targets was sophomore wide receiver Jax McIntosh, and they connected for three touchdowns.
Tracey shares his take on why they won against Fort Hill, commenting, “I would say it was less of the plays and more the performance of Dylan Duffy. No one knew that was in him, and no one still believes that it was him, but he showed up, he showed out and he played a great game.”
Bringing this same winning mindset with them to Riverside, the Falcons beat the Rams 31-21 on Thursday, Oct. 10. Although they allowed a couple of Rams’ touchdowns in the second half, they held them off and won by a comfortable 10-point margin.
Predicting how their game against Potomac Falls would go, Tracey said, “I feel like we’re going to come out strong and put them away early. Starters are out, maybe a shutout, but if we take care of business, there’s no reason this game shouldn’t be done before ten o’clock.”
The Falcons continued their win streak with their 32-0 shutout of the Potomac Falls Panthers on Friday, Oct. 18. The defense was the key to this win, anchored by senior outside linebacker Lucas Roser, who led the team with 11 tackles and 3 sacks. Roser also had an impact on the other side of the ball, with two rushing touchdowns. The outcome was never in doubt, as the Falcons went into halftime with a 26-0 lead, and they remained in control the entire game.
Briar Woods’ latest win was a 32-12 win against the Lightridge Bolts last Friday, Oct. 25. The Falcons led the whole game, with another great performance by their potent offense and robust defense, extending their win streak to four in a row.
As the seniors prepare to leave the football team at the end of this season, they reflect on leaving behind their legacy in good hands. Yoder expressed, “we have a lot of young talented players, many who are starters this year. Players like Jax McIntosh really showed out against Fort Hill, [and] they really did step up.”
Coach Burnett offers his thoughts on the end of the season approaching quickly, mentioning, “right now, we’re ranked number one in our region, so if we continue to play the way that we’re capable of, we can hopefully win the district and the regional championships. [The end] is always bittersweet, but it’s a lot of work, so in that way, I’m looking forward to a little more free time, but I love coaching this team and I like being around the kids so I always miss them when the season ends.”
