By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Manager, Washington D.C. Metro Area
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Oakton (2-1) at Annandale (3-0)
The Atoms are the best team that no one is talking about.
Their defense ranks second to Madison in scoring — yielding 10.7 points per game — and, if the playoffs started today, they would be the No. 1 seed in Division 6.
Last week, Annandale beat South County, 7-6, on the road thanks to a circus, 26-yard touchdown catch by junior receiver Melvin Robinson and the late-game playmaking of its unChuong hero.
Atom senior defensive back Nick Chuong had the lead-saving extra point block after the Stallions scored early in the fourth quarter. Minutes later, he locked up the win with a diving interception.
The worst thing that could have happened for under-the-radar Annandale, though, was Oakton’s stunning, 15-9 loss at T.C. Williams last week.
The Cougars led for over 46 minutes, but a fumble with 1:51 left led to a Titan recovery and, worse, a 59-yard touchdown return that proved the game-winning score.
It was Oakton’s first regular-season loss since Nov. 2, 2007, another result that causes cringes around Vienna at its very mention.
Annandale, very quietly, has shared or won outright three of the last four Patriot District titles and appears well on its away to be silent contenders this year.
Aside from blue-chip Robinson, few individuals garner much attention or numbers, but six yards at a time, this team can pick almost anyone apart.
Oakton has won six of the seven meetings this decade, including two wins en route to the 2005 Northern Region title and 37-7, Week 2 win last year.
Simply put, whoever gets that extra yard — cue Al Pacino — will win this game. The Cougars rarely have back-to-back down games and the Atoms rarely lose the time-of-possession battle.
It’s almost impossible to predict, so I won’t try.
Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com
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