The two Northern Virginia private schools each have long rich histories, but until this week the varsity high-school football teams at Flint Hill and Bishop O’Connell had never met in competition.
The squads weren’t supposed to meet this season either. That changed Sept. 23 when each had games against other opponents canceled because of weather issues. Not wanting to lose a contest, that same day administrators and coaches from Flint Hill and O’Connell made contact and arranged for the teams to meet the afternoon of Monday, Sept. 25 in a non-conference contest.
“No way,” Flint Hill coach Kirk Peterson said when learning the teams had never met. “We are very excited to play them.”
First-year O’Connell coach Todd Sabatino also had no idea the teams had never met.
“Oh, wow,” he said.
The schools are located about 12 miles apart along the Route 66 corridor, O’Connell in Arlington and Flint Hill in Oakton.
The schools have played in many other sports over the years, but never varsity football.
Flint Hill won that Sept. 25 game, 32-3, to even its record at 2-2 and snap a two-game losing streak. O’Connell fell to 1-3. Check back later for a story and details about the game.
In those Sept. 23 contests, O’Connell was supposed to host Annapolis Area Christian School and Flint Hill was on the road in Alexandria against St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes. When those games were canceled, makeup dates with those teams could not be arranged, leading to the Flint Hill vs. O’Connell matchup.
