Mason 'O' Firing on all Cylinders

The George Mason varsity football team visited Clarke County High School last Friday night and came away with a 34 –21 victory. The victory keeps Mason’s Bull Run District playoff hopes alive by improving its overall record to 5 – 3; 2 – 0 in the Bull Run District, while Clarke falls to 4 – 4; 0 – 2.

The 34 –21 score does not indicate how tightly the game was played. Midway through the fourth quarter, when yet another rain shower moved away, there was a streak of lightening in the distance. Just as the fans noticed the flash in the sky, senior Mike Isom brought the Mason fans out of their seats with his own brand of electricity by intercepting the ball and returning it all the way down to the Clarke 5-yard line. Junior Travis Greene sealed the victory on the very next play stretching his way into the end zone.

“We played well and according to the game plan,” Head Coach Tom Horn said. “We wanted to shut down the player they like to use to set up their offense, score each time touched the ball and not give up anything in the kicking game. We were pretty successful on all of those.” Mason started all scoring with a five-minute drive, featuring a 42-yard gain by senior Steve Williams. Greene capped the drive with a two-yard run. Junior Gregg Curtin converted the point after to give Mason the early 7 – 0 lead.

After starting with good field position, Clarke controlled the ball for six minutes, marching 47 yards for touchdown and point after to tie the score at seven.

Mason responded with a five-play drive highlighted by a 67-yard pass play from junior quarterback Eric Blush to junior John Schwengel. Williams plunged into the end zone from one yard out, and with another Curtin kick Mason led 14 – 7. Clarke evened the score at 14 just before the half following a 64-yard drive, but Mason picked up the offense immediately in the third quarter with a combination of a 40-yard sprint by Greene and a five yard score by Schwengel to pull ahead 21-14. But again the Eagles answered.

After recovering a Mason fumble Clarke moved the ball 35 yards in five plays for the Eagles third touchdown, tying the score at 21 at the end of three quarters. Williams, who finished the night with 138 yards on 22 carries, broke into the end zone again for another one-yard touchdown to give the Mustangs a seven-point lead and setting the stage for Isom’s pick.

“I think we were physically better than Clarke on Friday night,” Horn said. “This win was an off-season weight room product.” Greene ended up with 134 yards, while Schwengel finished with 41 yards on 10 carries and one reception for 68 yards. Blush completed all three of his passes for 105 yards.

Next up this Friday is a home game against top ranked Bull Run District rival Manassas Park and its productive quarterback Zack Terrell. The Washington Post reported this week that Terrell has thrown for 1,698 yards and run for an additional 1,239 yards this season. Game time is 7:30 pm for the last regular season home game for the Mustangs.