In the case of the North Stafford High School football team, two years and a relentless approach made all the difference in the world.
Two years ago, the Wolverines went 0-10.
Now they’re just two wins away from a state championship.
North churned out 414 yards of total offense and got a pair of defensive touchdowns en route to a 49-33 victory over visiting Woodbridge in the Region 6B championship game on Saturday afternoon.
It’s the first regional title for the Wolverines since 2019. They’ll host Region 6C champion West Springfield (11-2) in a Class 6 state semifinal matchup next Saturday at 2 p.m. The Spartans defeated Lake Braddock 28-14 in the Region 6C title game, also played Saturday.
“When we went 0-10 in [2023], that was rock bottom,” fourth-year North head coach Marquez Hall said. “It was the most humbling experience ever. But we’ve built this thing from the ground up, brick by brick. I feel as proud as a newborn father watching the hard work these kids have put in start to pay off.”
The third-seeded Wolverines (10-3) trailed the No. 4 seed Vikings (11-2) 6-0 after a 28-yard scoring pass from Caleb Tucker to Vinnie Hill Jr. with 8:55 to go in the first half. But they scored 21 consecutive points before intermission to take command, and they never trailed again.
Chase Sullivan connected with Antwan Barnes for a 38-yard touchdown pass to get the ball rolling. Barnes made a leaping, one-handed grab along the left sideline, then broke one tackle and outran a host of Woodbridge defenders to the end zone for a 7-6 North lead with 5:55 left in the half.
Sullivan and Barnes hooked up again on an 11-yard scoring pass to make it 14-6 with 1:12 until intermission, and then Javier Hubbard returned a fumble 45 yards for a touchdown with 37 seconds on the clock to give the Wolverines a 21-6 halftime advantage.
Sullivan completed 9 of 12 passes for 102 yards on the afternoon, while Barnes finished with five receptions for 84 yards.
For their part, the Vikings tried to keep it close. A 3-yard scamper by Marquece Sharp pulled them within 21-13 at the 9:46 mark of the third quarter. North responded with a 35-yard touchdown run by Alon Lester midway through the period.
Lester rumbled his way to 206 yards and a pair of scores on 19 carries.
After Tucker’s 10-yard touchdown strike to Righteous Hill cut the Wolverines’ lead to 28-19 with 4:38 left in the quarter, they answered again. This time, it was another fumble return by Hubbard, covering 50 yards and giving North a 35-19 edge through three quarters.
Lester broke free for a 69-yard scoring sprint and Kayden Bowens added a 61-yard touchdown run of his own as the Wolverines opened up a 49-19 lead in the final period, slamming the door shut on Woodbridge’s comeback hopes.
Bowens complemented Lester’s stellar rushing performance with a standout effort of his own, finishing with 106 yards on 11 attempts.
“We’re a very balanced team,” Hall said. “We’ve got a lot of guys who can hurt you. Alon [Lester] ran hard, and he and Kayden [Bowens] both had big days on the ground. Antwan [Barnes] had two big TD catches to get us going today. … So pick your poison.”
Hubbard’s two fumble returns and an interception paced a North defense that forced six turnovers, overshadowing a big day by Tucker. The Vikings quarterback finished 28 of 43 for 348 yards and four touchdowns.
Vinnie Hill Jr. hauled in eight passes for 140 yards and a pair of scores for Woodbridge, and Sharpe racked up 96 yards rushing on 22 attempts.
Hall spoke confidently about his squad’s chances as the calendar turns to December and the state playoffs begin.
“Our goal from the beginning has been state title or bust,” he said. “I wholeheartedly believe no other team in the state can beat us. The only way we lose is if we beat ourselves, and I’ve continued to preach that to the guys.”
Friday’s game
Region 5D Championship
Stone Bridge 20, Riverbend 19 (OT)
The Bears came up short against the Bulldogs after a pair of miscues in overtime.
After Dwayne Stewart bulldozed his way over the goal line for a 4-yard touchdown to pull Riverbend within 20-19, the Bears lined up for a game-winning two-point conversion attempt. But before they could run the play, they were whistled for a false start penalty.
Riverbend head coach Ed Webb then opted to go for the extra point to tie the score and extend the overtime period. But the snap was low, forcing Bears kicker Eymen Tufan to rush his kick. The kick was too low to clear the crossbar, sending Stone Bridge (10-1) to its eighth straight win and a berth in next Saturday’s Class 5 state semifinals against two-time defending champion Maury (12-1).
It was a rough ending to a historic season for Riverbend (11-1). The Bears made program history on multiple fronts, completing their first undefeated regular season and winning their first outright Commonwealth District title. They also set program records for most points scored (543) and fewest points allowed (118).
“Riverbend doesn’t have a long history of success, so what this team was able to accomplish this year is pretty special,” Webb said. “A lot of pundits in the area and across the state saw this as a rebuilding year for us. We don’t have the high-end D-I talent like some other 5A teams. We have a lot of tough, hard-working kids who have bought in since day 1. They genuinely care for each other and push each other to be better.”
Among the players expected back for the Bears next season is all-purpose junior Cam Simmons, who was named district player of the year. Against Stone Bridge on Friday, the versatile Simmons broke free for a 73-yard touchdown run and also returned a kickoff 75 yards for a score.
Behind Simmons’ two scores, Riverbend held leads of 7-0 and 13-6. Joey Johnson’s 2-yard touchdown plunge tied the score at 13 late in the third quarter, and it stayed that way until overtime.
The Bulldogs scored on the first play of overtime, courtesy of a 10-yard run by Chase Geter. That set the stage for the Bears’ heartbreak.
