W-L Knocks Off District Champions

The Washington-Lee Varsity Football team (1-2) defeated the 2009 National District Champions, Hayfield (2-1), 23-7, Thursday.

"It's a big win for our school," said Head Coach Josh Shapiro. "They're the 2009 National District Champions, our home-opener to get a shot at them and to knock them off is great. They're a good football team so this was a big win for us, very exciting."

During the on-again, off-again rain-filled game, senior running back Anthony Taylor and junior quarterback Rigo Salguerro ran the show for the Generals. Taylor scored all three W-L touchdowns.

"Our (Taylor and Salguerro) chemistry was on point," Salguerro said. "I gave him some cues, he gave me some cues, we both just linked up, we were perfect."

The Generals went into the second quarter leading 7-0, but with only a few minutes into the second quarter, Hayfield senior wide receiver Hashim Sesay scored on a long run to tie up the game.

Returning to the field after an entertaining half time performance by the Marching Generals, the crowd and cheerleaders greeted the W-L players with screams and cheers.

At 6:26 in the third quarter, senior Nate Young kicked a 31-yard field goal just over the crossbars, brining the Generals back in the lead, 10-7.

"This was a tremendous effort by the team," Shapiro said. "Great individual and collective effort, by everybody, it was solid."

Things could have turned for the worse at 3:30 when Salguerro threw an interception at the Hayfield 29-yard line.

The Generals regained possession and scored on a five-play, 45-yard drive when Salguerro threw to Taylor for a touchdown with 0:06 left in the quarter. W-L then had the lead by 10.

"Rigo's just gutty," Shapiro said. "He just had a great performance, did a lot with his legs, threw a couple of great third down conversions. Anthony's been great since he has been here as a freshman. Very consistent, just a great running back. Both of them are great kids to coach."

At the 11:00 minute mark in the fourth quarter, the Hawks scored a touchdown on a breakaway run that was called back due to ineligible lineman down field.

The Generals answered this threat a few minutes later with more Salguerro to Taylor action. Taylor dove into the end zone for a touchdown after a 27-yard run.

During the extra-point kick the ball was ruled dead after a false start on the offense resulting in a five-yard penalty. After another penalty, the Generals attempted a two-point conversion by Young, who was brought down. W-L had a strong lead on Hayfield with 5:21 left in the game.

With 3:35 left to play, Hayfield had the chance to put points on the board but were unable to follow through after an incomplete touchdown pass.

The Generals won their first game of the season, which happened to also be their district and home-opener.

"Everything just went great, no one put their heads down and that's what we did for the past two games," Salguerro said. "For pep talk we talked about keeping our heads up and that's what we did and we came out with a 'W.'"

The Generals return to action next Friday at 7:30 at Falls Church (0-2).