The Ireton Cardinals played a valiant game, but dropped a 15-12 decision to the Brentsville Tigers to spoil the Cardinals 2002 homecoming - October 5.The Cardinals dropped to 1-5 on the season.

Ireton spotted the Tigers a 7-0 first quarter lead, before getting their offense untracked in the second quarter.

The Cardinals got on the scoreboard before halftime when sophomore quarterback Charlie West connected with senior tight end Carlos Goldie on a 21-yard scoring pass.

"It was a fade-route. Charlie threw the ball up and I went up and got it," said Goldie.

Senior placekicker Jon Lawler pushed the extra point wide, which would come back to haunt Ireton.

"Goldie snapped the ball well. (Tim) Tassa held the ball well. Somehow Jon overcompensated and kicked it wide," said Cardinal first-year coach Brian Inman, whose team trailed 7-6 at intermission.

In the third quarter, Ireton moved the ball 60 yards on eight plays but fumbled the ball away at the Brentsville 27-yard line.

"That fumble really hurt," said Inman.

After Brentsville punted the ball, Ireton embarked on its longest drive of the game, a 12-play, 83-yard scoring drive spanning the late third and early fourth quarters.

The Cardinals scored when senior fullback William Bryant punched it in from three yards out to put Ireton ahead 12-7 Ireton.

The two-point conversion attempt failed when West headed right and pitched to running back Tassa, who was tackled short of the end zone.

Brentsville then moved the ball 72 yards on 12 plays for the winning score.

Tiger fullback Wes Basham pounded it in from one-yard out with 5:15 remaining in the fourth quarter. Brentsville also added a successful two-point conversion run, to take the decisive 15-12 lead.

Cardinal junior Conor Tracy returned the kickoff 17 yards. West put his head down and ran for 11 yards. West threw incomplete on first down from the Brentsville 49-yard line. However on the play, West was hit hard and came off the field for two plays. Tassa went from slot back to quarterback and nearly generated a first down with his feet two plays, but was tackled by the Tiger’s Basham.

West came back into the game, but was tackled hard on a "keeper" and Ireton turned the ball back over to Brentsville on the Tigers 42-yard line.

The Tigers punted four plays later, after a tackle for loss by the Cardinals sophomore defensive tackle Mark Wu.

On the Cardinals final series of the game, West was sacked; West threw two incompletions and Tassa was tackled at the Cardinal 29-yard line to end the game - 71 yards from the end zone.

"The effort was there but things didn't go our way," said Bryant. "I wish we could've come up with another win."

Ireton visits Episcopal Oct. 11.

With the loss, O'Connell falls to 3-3 on the season (1-2 in conference play). Junior Jeremy Trimble came up with an interception for the Knights defense. Sophomore Brandon Adams had a good game catching and running the ball for the Knights offense.

"We just couldn't stop their running game - especially number 20 - senior Cliff Pearson," said Head Coach Darrell Snyder.

St. John’s bolted to a 20-0 first quarter lead and never looked back. The Cadets led 27-0 after the third quarter.

O'Connell visits Gonzaga Oct. 12.

The Panthers fell to 1-5 on the season. PVI’s defense kept DeMatha out of the end zone in the first quarter, but DeMatha exploded for 35 second-quarter points. The Stags led 42-0 after the third quarter.

"DeMatha is a very good team. They are very balanced offensively. Our defense really did a good job in the first quarter. Their defense was coming after us from all directions. They would frequently blitz their linebackers. It was a tough loss, but we still feel we can win a couple more games this season," said junior quarterback Mike Geraghty.

PVI hosts St. John’s Oct. 11.