Blake joins century club

It quite possibly could not have been a better night for St. Anne’s-Belfield as the Saints knocked off archrival Blue Ridge 53-36.

STAB coach John Blake picked up his 100th victory of his career — which set off a celebration replete with a banner, balloons and even a cake — and senior tight end Alex Asher set Central Virginia’s career receiving mark with a 39-yard completion on a jump ball in the third quarter. Asher bested former Monticello wideout Daniel Lieb’s record of 2,517 yards, set last season during the Mustangs’ state title run.

Even Quincey September had a monster outing with an 88-yard kickoff return to open the second half.

But perhaps the most important number on the night was junior tailback Will McGhee’s 278 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 34 carries behind a bruising offensive line that could end up setting the tone for the Saints in the playoffs, which start next Saturday at 1 p.m. against Covenant. The offensive line moved the Barons around all night, opening hole after hole for McGhee, who handled the ball on 60 percent of the Saints’ offensive plays.

“We knew they were big but we knew that if we could get leverage on them that we would be able to move the ball,” said senior Brian Stinnie. “And as you can tell, Willie had quite a game.”

Seniors Stinnie, John Chambers, Sean Zirkle, Andrew Albano and junior Matthew Sewell worked together up front like clockwork all night. The Saints ran entire array of toss sweeps, traps and counters, as well as zone reads out of shotgun — nearly everything seemed to work behind the offensive line.

“Our seniors all stepped it up and created nice holes,” McGhee said. “We knew we were going to have to pound it out, and I just thank the line.”

Asher also ran the ball a little against the Barons, stepping in after McGhee left the game in the second quarter with what appeared to be a cramp. Asher rushed four times for 27 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown.

But the senior’s long-awaited moment in the spotlight came on the jump ball in the third. After Asher hugged STAB quarterback Howie Long, Blake ran onto the field and instructed Asher to grab the ball and take it to his parents in the stands.

“It was an interesting play because it wasn’t the best-thrown ball, but I got up there and came down with it,” Asher said. “It was really great sharing it with my parents too, they’ve been so supportive of me.”

Asher finished with 114 yards on five catches.

The win set off a celebration of sorts for Blake as a banner was unfurled from the STAB press box and red and white balloons were released in the coach’s honor.

“I’m just proud of the kids,” Blake said. “It’s been a wild 12 years and it’s been fun — and what a wild game, I mean, that third quarter, could it take any longer?”

Blue Ridge, whose offense was helped by a number of ill-advised penalties by the STAB defense, fought admirably despite not being able to contain the Saints’ rushing attack. The Blue Ridge offense turned the ball over just once, junior quarterback Speedy McCauley threw for 189 yards and Roderick Holloway had a pair of touchdown catches. Denzel Wilson also had a solid night with 99 receiving yards, including a 55-yard score on a swing pass on the Barons’ first possession.

Blue Ridge had a number of missed opportunities, including a series of dropped passes by open wide receivers.

“Our season has come down to a handful of plays,” Smith said. “We’ve got to get over the hump and make those plays, but our guys battled, there’s no question.”

With the victory, St. Anne’s and Covenant will face off in a re-match in the VISAA semifinals at Covenant. It appears Atlantic Shores and Virginia Episcopal will fill out the Division II bracket. The winner of the VES and Atlantic Shores game will then face the winner of Covenant/STAB.