Rams Must Win to Keep Playoff Hopes Alive
Strasburg (1-4, 0-0 Bull Run) begins district play this Friday night when they travel to face Manassas Park (5-0, 0-0 Bull Run). In the past three years, this game has received considerable hype, and for good reason. The matchup has overwhelmingly determined which team advanced to the playoffs and claimed the district crown.
Fast-forward to 2003, and the implications are slightly lower for the Cougars. Manassas Park has moved up to Division 2, giving them a more reasonable chance of post-season play. For the Rams, however, the game retains its immense significance. After a disappointing start to their schedule with four losses, Strasburg likely needs to win the district title outright to extend their season.
Achieving this against the explosive Manassas Park team will be a challenging task. One advantage the Rams possess is historical dominance. In the past 15 years, the Cougars have only defeated Strasburg once, a 22-14 victory in 1999. This win came under head coach Jeff Lloyd, who holds a 1-5 all-time record against the Rams.
Leading Manassas Park’s offense for the second consecutive year is the talented Zack Terrell (5-10, 190). The junior enjoyed a sensational season last year, passing for 1,394 yards and rushing for another 439 yards in twelve games. He also scored 25 total touchdowns. However, his performance against Strasburg was less impressive. The Rams’ defense limited him to 13 completions in 19 attempts for 119 yards, most of which came late in the game. Strasburg also intercepted him once and held him to zero rushing yards on 15 attempts. This year, Terrell has been instructed to prioritize passing over running.
The Rams also effectively neutralized Terrell’s favorite target, A.C. Fitchett. Another junior, Fitchett had a productive sophomore season, catching 20 passes for 546 yards and eight touchdowns in just eight games. Against Strasburg, he caught four balls for 45 yards. Joe Greene is another potential pass-catching threat.
Manassas Park’s rushing attack has struggled against the Rams in recent years. In the past three meetings, the Cougars have gained only 256 yards on 78 carries, averaging a meager 3.28 yards per attempt. The graduation of three-year starter Price Ward left a significant void in the backfield for Lloyd. Seniors Michael Roberts and Ivan Fitchett have attempted to fill this gap admirably. Their combined career statistics against Strasburg consist of one carry for a loss of nine yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, Manassas Park was forced to replace four starting linebackers. This was evident in their first game, where they surrendered 34 points to the pass-heavy William Monroe. However, the Cougars have allowed only 6 points since then and have shut out three teams. Notable players include second-team all-state defensive tackle Sam Wright. Lining up outside of him at defensive end is all-region standout Howard Mighty. Ivan Fitchett occupies Ward’s former position at free safety.