By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Manager, Washington D.C. Metro Area
Lee coach Rob Everett should expect a care package from Chantilly coach Mike Lalli in the coming days.
The Lancers just saved the Chargers’ season.
In the Northern Region’s regular-season finale, Lee beat T.C. Williams on the road, 27-13, to round out the playoff picture for Division 5 and Division 6.
With the victory, the Lancers secured the No. 2 seed in Division 5, granted the Chargers the No. 7 seed in Division 6 and eliminated the Titans.
Lee opens with run-happy McLean in Franconia in the first round of the eight-team playoffs next Friday night.
The Lancer defensive line will be the focus, as Highlander senior Riley Beiro rushed 46 times for 285 yards and four touchdowns to clinch their berth in Week 10.
“We just have to go down the line like we always do,” Lee junior Konbeh Koroma said, seconds before a water-cooler shower. “Put the speed on the edge, make him go to the middle.
“We just have to play run defense. I think we have a pretty good run defense and that helped us during the season.”
It also helped them Saturday in Alexandria.
The Lancers allowed just 40 rushing yards on 29 attempts. They had 10 tackles for loss and five sacks, taking down a Titan behind the line on 24.6-percent of snaps.
Koroma had three of those sacks and two quarterback hurries. Senior defensive end Michael Whaley added the other two sacks.
With a first-year position coach and four first-year starters along the line, Lee’s perceived preseason weakness has become one of its strengths.
“I knew this was going to happen today, these guys were going to get it done for us,” Everett said. “They’ve had an outstanding week. Konbeh represents what we do on the D-line; we run and we don’t stop.
“A lot of the credit has to go to the secondary, though, for shutting it down and letting these guys go after it.”
Added Koroma: “We just kept trying to run, like Coach Everett is always saying, at defensive end. All of us are small, so we help each other out.
“The middle makes the quarterback bounce outside, we handle him and do what we have to do.”
Offensively, Lee welcomed back senior Idreis Augustus, whose 1,019 yards from scrimmage led the region through the opening five weeks.
It was in Week 6 that he pulled a groin muscle at Lake Braddock. He suited up for every game since, but recorded 12 total carries.
The Lancers went 1-3 with him sidelined.
He rushed 19 times for 129 yards and a touchdown Saturday, not including scores of 80 and 52 yards that were called back by holding penalties.
“He’s hitting his stride right when we need him to,” Everett said. “This was outstanding for the team, to get us right going into the playoffs.
“This is the one that’s important.”
Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com
Box Score 1 2 3 4 — F
Robert E. Lee 0 13 0 14 — 27
T.C. Williams 0 0 0 13 — 13
Scoring Plays
2Q — LE — Yavorski 68 interception return (kick failed) — 10:40
2Q — LE — Jackson 42 from Lopez (Atayee kick) — 0:20
4Q — LE — Ja. Williams 21 run (Atayee kick) — 11:53
4Q — TC — Rossi 20 from Hargrove (kick failed) — 9:52
4Q — TC — Rossi 16 from Hargrove (Benites kick) — 5:37
4Q — LE — Augustus 19 run (Atayee kick) — 0:42
Passing
LE – Lopez – 5-for-10, 95 yards, TD.
TC – Hargrove – 10-for-32, 104 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT.
Rushing
LE – Augustus – 19 car, 129 yards, TD; Ja. Williams – 20 car, 124 yards, TD; Dann. Taylor – 1 car, 6 yards; Do. Taylor – 1
car, -5 yards; Lopez – 14 car, -17 yards; Team – 2 car, -23 yards.
TC – Carter – 16 car, 28 yards; Hargrove – 8 car, 12 yards; Taylor
– 2 car, 6 yards; Garner – 3 car, -6 yards.
Receiving
LE – Wright – 2
rec, 44 yards; Jackson – 1 rec, 42 yards, TD; Augustus – 2 rec, 9 yards.
TC – Rossi – 4 rec, 64 yards, 2 TD; Sitton – 2 rec, 22 yards; Whitehead – 1 rec, 14
yards; Coker – 1 rec, 8 yards; Carter – 1 rec, -7yards.
Total Yards
LE – 309.
TC – 144.
Time of Possession (First Half)
LE – 28:51 (12:05).
TC – 19:09 (11:55).
First Downs (Total; Run-Pass-Penalty)
LE – 17: 12-4-1.
TC – 9; 2-6-1.
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