“We Needed That”

By BRIAN McNICOLL

Since its loss to Oakton two weeks ago, a number of players and coaches on the South Lakes High football team have suggested that the team “needed that.”

They needed the reminder that the little things add up, mistakes can be deadly, poise is crucial and it’s important to play the full 48 minutes.

They needed that lesson on Friday night. Just as had happened two weeks earlier, South Lakes built an early lead only to have Madison score two quick touchdowns to pull within five points. But this time, the Seahawks didn’t fold, didn’t commit the critical penalties, didn’t suffer the game-changing turnovers.

In fact, they stiffened on defense and even added a fourth quarter touchdown to seal the deal and claim a 40-28 victory that has them right back in the Concorde District race.

The victory puts South Lakes at 7-1 overall, 2-1 in the Concorde District with games left against Centreville and Westfield, both of whom already have lost to Madison.

“We really needed that kick in the gut (two weeks ago),” South Lakes Coach Jason Hescock said after the Seahawks’ biggest victory since the 2023 season. “They got close, but we calmed down and did what we had to do. This is why you coach. You see a team come together like this. It’s these amazing moments.”

There were indeed a lot of amazing moments in this game. By the game’s third play from scrimmage – just 51 seconds after kickoff – both teams had scored a touchdown. South Lakes scored in two plays on a 65-yard pass from Christian Wyatt to Joshua Dagbe, then Will Smoot responded with an 80-yard run on Madison’s first play from scrimmage.

Smoot would later score on a 58-yard run on a statue of liberty play the Seahawks did not diagnose. South Lakes would later score on a double-pass – a play right out of the playground playbook - Wyatt firing a throw backward to Nick Picarelli, who hit Dagbe in stride in the end zone to make it 33-14 South Lakes with 10:13 to go in the third quarter.

And that’s when the Oakton vibes kicked in.

Madison responded to that score with perhaps its best offensive drive of the night outside of those quick and long gallops by Smoot, who rushed for 247 yards, by far the most anyone has gotten off South Lakes this season. The Warhawks moved 74 yards in 10 plays that included a 32-yard run by Smoot, a 4-yard scoring run by Smoot and a defensive pass interference penalty on South Lakes.

Because of misses on one extra point kick and one extra point run, the Seahawks led 33-21. Then, South Lakes’ offense bogged down briefly, and the Seahawks punted it back to Madison. Smoot then scored on the trick play, and suddenly South Lakes found itself in a 5-point game.

But there would be no fold this time. South Lakes put together precisely what was needed – a lengthy drive that stretched the lead and eroded the clock. James Smith, who had just 12 yards in the first half, found a crease for seven. Wyatt hit Picarelli for five and a first down. And down the field they went – 14 plays in all – before Wyatt sprinted right and snuck a pass over a defender to Dagbe for a 1-yard touchdown.

The poise problems were on the other side of the field this time. In that scoring drive, Madison penalties moved the ball from the Warhawk 35 to the 18, from the 15 to the seven, from the six to the three and from the three to the 1 ½-yarrd line. Twice they rescued the Seahawks from bad third downs. One penalty even wiped out a lost fumble.

When it was over, the Warhawks had endured 12 penalties for 111 yards, including five pass interference calls and three unsportsmanlike conduct calls.

South Lakes never scored again – its next two possessions ended in missed field goals after time-consuming drives.But Madison’s possessions after that ended in a fumble, an interception by Dagbe and one by Colin Wall, who had a huge game at linebacker for South Lakes.

“It was a matter of identifying the right thing to cover and getting to the proper place,” Wall said. “We respected their run enough, and our D line went quarterback hunting all night.”

Wyatt was responsible for five touchdowns in the game – two throwing and three running – which gives him 22 for the year. He was sacked once on Friday night but had enormous time to throw most of the night. Wyatt said the scout team defense rushed at least eight people all week to make sure the Seahawks were ready.

“The effort that went into this is unbelievable,” he said after.

“Our offensive line is so much better than it was just a month ago,” Picarelli added. “Madison wanted to stop our run. We’re like pick your poison. And it’s because of those guys.”

Madison 7 7 14 0 – 28

South Lakes 14 12 7 7 – 40

SL-Joshua Dagbe, 65 pass from Christian Wyatt (James Marburg kick)

M-Will Smoot, 80 run (Alex Marshall kick)

SL-Wyatt, 5 run (Marburg kick)

SL-Wyatt, 4 run (kick blocked)

M-Nicholas Cerefice, 65 pass from Lucas Vacaflor (Marshall kick)

SL-Wyatt, 1 run (run failed)

SL-Dagbe, 31 pass from Nick Picarelli (Marburg kick)

M-Smoot, 4 run (Marshall kick)

M-Smoot, 58 run (Marshall kick)

SL-Dagbe, 1 pass from Wyatt (Marburg kick)

Madison SL

First Downs 9 17

Rushes-Yards 26-261 33-78

Passing Yards 129 289

Atts-Complete-Int 21-12-2 29-23-0

Punts-Average 2-35.5 2-44

Fumbles-Lost 2-1 1-0

Penalties-Yds 12-111 8-62

RUSHING – Madison: Smoot 21-247, William Helvey 3-14, Vacaflor 1-minus 3, Lewis 1-3. SL: Smith 19-47, Wyatt 12-21, Dagbe 1-10, Picarelli 1-0.

PASSING - Madison: Vacaflor 21-12-2, 129 yards, TD. South Lakes: Wyatt 28-22-0, 258 yards, 2 TD. Picarelli 1-1-0, 31 yards, TD.

RECEIVING – Madison: Anthony Voinis 2-13, Cerefice 2-69, TD; Joseph Lewis 3-13, Andrew Rowan 1-7, Beau Harrison 2-15, Luke Salvosa 1-1, Smoot 1-11.South Lakes: Dagbe 7-151, 3 TDs; Picarelli 10-94, George Zarechnak 2-11, Dylan Zschunke 1-11, Smith 2-16.