Clarke Tops Mason Freshmen, Stays Unbeaten in District

The George Mason High School Freshman football team hosted Clarke County High School last week and lost a tightly contested game in the final minute of play by a score of 14 – 13.

The game featured competitive tension and “big play” drama. First place was on the line and the fans clearly loved what they saw, but the game left the Mason coaching staff with an empty feeling like somebody stole something from them. “We had that game won but we learned a valuable lesson,” Head Coach LaBryan Thomas said. “When you’ve got the lead you’ve got to close the game out.”

Clarke County (6 – 1 overall; 4 – 0 Bull Run District) scored first mid-way through the second quarter on one of those big plays, a 50-yard touchdown run. But the conversion failed and the half ended with Clarke leading 6 – 0. Mason (3 –3; 2 – 2) got on the scoreboard at the end of the third quarter on a 33-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Mike Straub to freshman Michael Schwengel. Arthur Wilson successfully converted the point-after kick enabling Mason to take a 7 – 6 lead. Clarke controlled the ball at the beginning of the fourth quarter. After a Clarke first down, eighth grader Taylor Hayes-Leak sacked the Clarke quarterback for an eight-yard loss and two plays later Clarke had to punt. Mason then went on a time-consuming 6-minute drive resulting in a nine-yard touchdown run by Sean Mondragon (15 carries for 90 yards). The touchdown conversion failed but Mason led 13 – 6 with 2:15 remaining.

On the first play from scrimmage, Clarke’s tight end came unchecked off the line and streaked down the right sideline, hauling in a perfectly timed pass for a 41-yard gain to the Mason 20-yard line. Six plays later, Clarke scored on a three-yard run, reducing Mason’s lead to 13 – 12. The two-point conversion was successful putting Clarke in front 14 – 13 with only 50-seconds remaining. Mason could run only three more plays as time expired. And the Mason squad, coaching staff and fans walked away from the field very disappointed. In a heartbreaker like this, Assistant Coach Andre Jackson said, “we told the players not to dwell on this game and make it seem like your last.” Indeed, next on the schedule for the freshmen Mustangs is Manassas Park.