South Lakes To Face Liberty District Champion Yorktown

By BRIAN McNICOLL

On Friday night in Arlington, the South Lakes High football Seahawks will get a rare opportunity to take on a team for the second time in a given season. South Lakes, which finished fourth in the Concorde District, will play at Yorktown, whom the Seahawks defeated, 29-28, in the regular season opener for both teams.

That game ended with South Lakes, now 5-5, coming from two touchdowns behind to take the lead, then hanging on when Yorktown kicker Max Yoon hit the right upright on what would’ve been a game-winning field goal with 37 seconds left.

After that, the Seahawks ran off victories against Robinson and West Potomac and took state-level contender Battlefield to the wire before falling on a late kickoff return. The Seahawks then won their first two Concorde District games over Oakton and Chantilly, then fell to the Big Three of the district – defending state runner-up Madison, league champion Centreville and league runner-up Westfield.

Yorktown went on to also lose to Centreville, and by a bigger margin (38-14) than South Lakes (49-35), which was in the game with a chance to win into the final minutes. The Patriots also crushed Jackson Reed, 50-0, and lost to West Springfield, 31-7, in the non-district portion of the schedule.

But against the Liberty District, the Patriots were perfect. They played only two close games, a 21-20 victory over Langley and a 31-24 overtime decision over arch-rival Washington-Liberty.

So which Yorktown will the Seahawks get on Friday night? The team that allowed them four touchdowns, and more than 400 yards of total offense? Or the team that held three district opponents to a touchdown or less?

And which South Lakes team will be on hand? The one that got 104 yards rushing on 20 carries from senior running back Dalton Blakeney in the first Yorktown meetup, or the team on which Blakeney was limited to just 56 yards over the last three games?

South Lakes Coach Jason Hescock said we could see either kind of game – another 57-point shootout or one with both teams in single digits. But he does expect the Seahawks to be able to move the ball.

“In the first meeting, we were scared at halftime because we were down and not moving the ball,” he said. “But we knew then there were a lot of plays we’d left out on the field, and we just needed to go call and execute those plays.”

That’s what happened. After allowing the Patriots to run 32 of the first 37 plays from scrimmage, the Seahawks ended the first half on a 10-play march, then began the second half with a turnover, a touchdown, then a 15-play drive of its own to close within 28-22.

The Seahawks didn’t take the lead until just 2:21 remained in the game when George Zarechnak hauled in a 20-yard touchdown pass. Yorktown, which had mounted only one successful drive since halftime, then hit three big pass plays to reach the South Lakes six. That’s when Yoon, who had flashed a powerful leg all evening, missed his field goal.

For those who had suffered through the previous season, when the Seahawks seemed besieged by bad luck in a 2-8 campaign, the doink was a sign that better things were ahead.

But Hescock said he already knew.

“Since the start of Green Days (offseason workouts), we could see the enthusiasm, the consistency on the field and in the weight room. Multiple kids stepping up into new roles and taking on leadership and learning to work together.”

As for this Friday night, Hescock said it’s hard to judge too much based on what happened in Week 1. “We know we’re not the same,” he said. “We’ve gotten better at managing moments, at immersing ourselves in the material and executing on Friday nights. We’re a team now where the guys take care of each other and do what we’re supposed to do. We call our games totally differently now.”

Scheme-wise, the Seahawks hope to establish the running game. Hescock said opponents have stacked the line to make sure they couldn’t run, so his team has responded with more growth among the receiving corps than in any other area. The group is led by junior Nick Picarelli, who set a school record for receptions this season, but also Zarechnak, sophomore Joshua Dagbe, a team captain, and all-district tight end Nate Zschunke.

“They’re making us pass the ball, and our receivers have responded. And Christian Wyatt (the quarterback) is sharper, tougher and making better decisions than when we started.”

As for the offensive line, a repeat of the second half of the first game would be huge. “They dominated physically during that game,” Hescock said. “They need to be clean and sound and avoid hip tackling guys when they’ve already blocked them. We can’t shoot ourselves in the foot, but they are plenty good enough to do the job if we don’t.”

As for the defense, Hescock said the secondary has to have a big day. The Seahawks were plagued by big plays in the first matchup, including a 44-yard touchdown pass, the three big passes in the final drive and three others that covered 20 or more yards.

“They get some chunk plays on you, and you have to respond,” Hescock said. “

Of course there is history between the two schools beyond the Game 1 matchup. South Lakes won a playoff game at Yorktown in 2022. In 2023, the Seahawks went 10-0 in the regular season and won the Concorde, but they lost a tragic 7-6 decision to the Patriots on a late touchdown.

Hescock is aware of the stakes. “It’s a huge game. I’d love to have a blowout, But I don’t think that’s going to happen. We need to do our things and do them right. If we do, we’ll be good.”