by Matthew Hochberg

Senior running back Dustin Green ran for a seven-yard touchdown. He then caught a pass that turned into a 37-yard score. Yet, it wasn’t enough for George Mason High School’s football team in their 23-15 Friday night loss against William Monroe High School on the road.

The Mustangs suffered their second consecutive defeat to bring them to 2-2 on the season. Even with the loss, though, head coach Tony Green is not down on his team that lost by just single-digits.

“We played pretty well, and we played with them. Some of our offensive linemen went down and our younger guys had to step up. We fought hard,” he said.

Down by just three entering the second half, the game was still very much a winnable one. “We counteracted to some of what they were doing. They counteracted to some of what we were doing,” Green said.

The play of the senior Green, though, has been impressive to watch throughout the season. “He’s getting more touches and taking advantage. He’s a veteran.” The loss of D’Montae Noble and Hunter Sulc, who both graduated last year, have left the bulk of the carries – and scores – to Green.

Mason, however, is in familiar territory moving forward. Last season, which was the first year the Mustangs’ football program ever won a playoff game, the team started 2-2 before rattling off five wins in six games in the regular season.

Mason’s next game is against Strasburg High School on Friday night at home.