By Dena Parnis
Special to Loudoun Prep Sports
Sterling (Oct. 8, 2006) – The Martinsburg (WV) High School football
team came to play Friday night with a single game plan: give the ball
to Josh Twyman and the plan worked as Twyman rushed for 159 yards in
rainy conditions as the Bulldogs handed the Patriots their first loss
of the season, a 14-7 defeat.
Martinsburg scored first on a 45-yard pass play in the first quarter
from Dustin Peters to Xavier Peters. Twyman then scored just before the
half on a 45-yard run to put Martinsburg on top 14-0.
The Bulldogs were able to contain Park View running back Deric
Dudinski – who had 406 yards rushing the previous week against Briar
Woods — in the first half, but various other members of the Patriot
team stepped up their game to accommodate. Park View got a big
interception from Eric Johnston to help keep the Patriots in the game.
In the second half Park View came alive and finally put some points
on the board in the third quarter. In an offensive drive that included
back-to-back flea flickers, Dudinski scored a touchdown on a 2-yard
run. The first flea flicker that set up the score came off a double
reverse with C.J. Leizear throwing for 33 yards to Dudinski. On the
very next play, the ball was again pitched back to Leizear and he found
Danny Foley for a 34 yard gain to the Bulldog 9. Two players later
Dudinski hit the end zone.
With 5:19 left in the game, the Patriot defense was able to hold the
Bulldogs on 4th-and-goal from the 1. Taking over on downs, Park View
was able to advance the ball to midfield but the Patriots were unable
to tie the game.
“Martinsburg was an excellent team and we weren’t focused in the
first half and it cost us the football game,” said Park View coach Andy
Hill after the game.
Leizear, who had three interceptions on the night, put it another way: “We were bullied.”
But Deric Dudinski summed it by stating that: “We realize that when
we come out slow against a team like Martinsburg, the end isn’t going
to be what we wanted and it’s a lesson learned.”
Park View (4-1) now opens its Group AA Dulles District campaign with
key game against Heritage (3-2). Both teams were co-district champions
last year but the Patriots advanced to playoffs with a better VHSL
points rating.
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