They stood dejected over another devastating loss, their third of the season, which was almost inevitable. An instant later, the same players piled up in the end zone in a celebration that rivaled the one after their Group AAA Division 6 state championship last December.
Everything changed for the Cougars when sophomore Orlando Bryant took a Centreville kickoff sliced through the middle of the defensive coverage and exploded down the right sideline for a remarkable, game-winning 73-yard touchdown with no time left on the clock. It gave Oakton a thrilling 34-32 victory on Monday afternoon at Centreville.
“I’ve never run that fast in my life,” said a breathless Bryant, who also had a 2-yard TD run earlier in the fourth quarter. “We have great special teams blocking and all I wanted to do was catch the ball and make them tackle me.”
It was a fitting end to a game that started with Oakton senior Ervin Garner returning a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. In between was a roller-coaster ride of emotion for two teams still smarting from losses in their Concorde District openers last week. Oakton fell to Chantilly, 21-0, while the Wildcats were humbled by Westfield, 27-7.
“We definitely needed this after last week,” said Garner, who totaled 171 return yards. “I just wouldn’t let myself think it was over. I kept saying that something freaky was going to happen and go right for us for once.”
The final play left Centreville stunned with Wildcats strewn all over the field, some in tears. It also capped a wild final 7 minutes, 47 seconds where the teams traded the lead five times. Centreville thought it went ahead for good when senior wide receiver Nick Basalyga caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Phillip Dunegan with just 12 seconds remaining to put the Wildcats ahead, 32-28. That capped a 13-play drive that began with 1:36 to go and saw Centreville convert two fourth downs, one on an Oakton pass interference penalty.
Claw marks
» Centreville junior QB Phillip Dunegan has taken over full time at that spot for senior Van Chew, who moves to WR. Dunegan completed 27 of 44 passes for 295 yards and four TDs. Chew had 15 receptions for 151 yards and a TD.
» Centreville fell to 4-2 overall, 0-2 in the Concorde District. Oakton, led by senior FB Jon Kedrock (10 carries, 105 yards, TD), is 3-2, 1-1 in district play.
» Oakton senior WR Ervin Garner made three catches for 24 yards, including a leaping grab in the corner of the end zone for a go-ahead TD from 15 yards out to put the Cougars up 28-25 with 1:36 to go.
