The game was a struggle because multiple mistakes kept the score close in what otherwise could have been a comfortable victory margin for the host Bishop O’Connell Knights in their 2023 season opener.
In the end, O’Connell held on to defeat the Virginia Academy Patriots of Ashburn, 10-7, Aug. 27 in non-conference high-school football action. The season-opening victory was the Knights’ first since the 2014 campaign, and came during Todd Sabatino’s first year as the team’s head coach.
“We’ll take the close ones like this,” said Sabatino, who previously was an assistant football coach about a decade ago at O’Connell. “It’s great to come back 10 years later and win a game.”
O’Connell led 7-0 at halftime, then 10-0 late in the third-quarter thanks to Tyler Fontenot’s 40-yard field goal. Then, the game got close in the final three minutes when Virginia Academy returned a fumble for a touchdown, got one last possession and threw a deep desperation fourth-down pass that fell incomplete with four seconds to play.
In the first half, Aidan Munroe’s punt return for an O’Connell touchdown was called back because of a penalty, then an interception in the end zone ended the Knights chance to score after having a first-and-goal situation.
“Too many big mistakes made it harder, and we struggled to run the ball,” Sabatino said.
The Knights had fewer than 75 yards rushing, but quarterback Jonathan Nguyen was productive through the air, completing multiple slant passes to multiple receivers before suffering a late-game ankle injury. He was 15 of 23 passing for 182 yards and ran for the team’s only touchdown on a three-yard second-quarter run, followed by Fontenot’s extra point run. The TD run capped an eight-play, 70-yard scoring drive. Nguyen completed his first 10 passes and added 53 yards rushing.
Zach Harrison had four catches for 70 yards, Aidan Joseph four for 43, Munroe three for nine and Frank Johnson two for 25. Douglas O’Connell had one catch and 22 yards rushing, and Joe Williams had a 25-yard catch.
“We will work on running the ball better,” Sabatino said.
Leading O’Connell’s defense was Kellen McConnell (sack) with nine tackles, three assists and a pass deflection; Jack Digges had two sacks; Munroe had an interception; R.J. Marable deflected a pass; Matthew Harnisch had a breakup; and Nathan Harrison, Joe Wall (sack) and Williams made multiple tackles.
Munroe had a 25-yard punt return and Fontenot had good hang time on his lofty punts.
