The fourth game of the regular season became the biggest and most important so far for the Yorktown Patriots, as a home victory earned the high-school football team a share of first place in the Liberty District.
Yorktown (2-2, 1-0) held on to nip the Langley Saxons, 21-20, the night of Sept. 19. Yorktown, Langley (2-2, 1-1) and the defending champion and undefeated Washington-Liberty Generals (4-0, 1-0) are the favorites to contend for the 2025 league crown.
The win also was a big bounce-back game for Yorktown, which lost its previous contest to the Centreville Wildcats.
“Every player worked hard all week to have a big rebound game like this,” first-year Yorktown coach Alec Hicks told ARLnow. “Everyone contributed to this win. We made some plays we had to have.”
Three of Langley’s four turnovers helped set up Yorktown touchdowns. Langley turned the ball over on its first two possessions, giving the Patriots a short field as they scored to build a 14-0 first-quarter lead.
After Langley rallied to tie the score at 14, another Saxon turnover set up Yorktown’s third touchdown and a 21-14 fourth-quarter lead.
Langley scored with 2:28 left in the game to cut the lead to 21-20, but its two-point conversion run was stopped just short by the Yorktown defense.
The Saxons got one last possession, which ended when senior defensive back Jammoris Watts intercepted a pass with 1:33 to play. Yorktown then ran out the clock.
The interception was Watts’ second of the contest. His first came earlier in the fourth, setting up Langley’s third touchdown, a 21-yard run by Jack Ezzedin, followed by Max Yoon’s third extra point with 8:32 to play.
“The interceptions were big. The game was on the line so we needed to have them,” Watts said. “The second one I just ran up and got.”
Collin Damato had Yorktown’s first interception in the first quarter, setting up quarterback Samson Schneider’s one-yard scoring run and Yoon’s extra point for a 14-0 lead.
Langley fumbled the game’s opening kickoff, with Yorktown’s Owen Quentin recovering at the Langley 13-yard line after Justin White caused the fumble by ripping the ball out of the returner’s hands.
“That was the best kickoff coverage I’ve seen for years out of our guys,” Hicks said.
Three plays later, Ezzedin ran nine yards for a score and Yoon converted, giving Yorktown a 7-0 lead just 90 seconds into the game.
Early in the second period, the Yorktown defense stopped Langley on a fourth-down play at the Patriots’ five-yard line.
“Our defense gave up some yards but played well when we had to, and so did our special teams. They were tremendous,” Hicks said. “Yoon had a big night punting and kicking.”
Yoon backed Langley up at its 3-yard line with a deep punt with 1:56 left in the game. Prior to that, Brady Owens recovered an onside kick for Langley.
Yorktown won despite being significantly outgained in total yards. The Patriots had 168 total yards to 432 for Langley, which held possession of the ball for 36 minutes to only 12 for Yorktown.
“Langley’s defense schemed us up pretty good,” Hicks said.
Yorktown was hurt on offense when starting running back Nate Randles was injured during warmups for the game and did not play.
Ezzedin led Yorktown in rushing with 52 yards and had one catch for 17 yards. Colt Monticello ran for 31 yards and completed a 36-yard halfback option pass to Alex Hans (two catches for 38 yards). Schneider was 3 of 13 passing for 30 yards and he ran for 15 yards. Yorktown did not turn the ball over.
“Jack and Colt ran well and Samson hung in there and played tough,” Hicks said.
Also on defense for Yorktown, Henry Midberry had a sack, Jack McCorry broke up a pass and Landon Foose, Seva Raine, Isaac Eckrote and Nicky Palma were among those with tackles for losses.
Bobby Shea was among the tackling leaders and pressured the Langley quarterback consistently. McCorry, Andrew Cole, Chandler Brown and Banks Byrum were other tackling leaders.
Next up for Yorktown: The Patriots travel to McLean High School for action Friday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. in district competition.
