There are turnovers, and then there are critical turnovers, strung together and instrumental in the outcome of a game. One interception Friday night, a tipped ball snagged by Centreville’s Nick Kuzemka, was happenstance. A fumble on the next possession, forced by Keenan Anunay and recovered by Lamar Horner, was unfortunate.
“This is high school football,” Centreville Coach Chris Haddock told his team after its 30-14 upset of No. 8 South Lakes. “Things happen. It’s not always pretty.”
But a third takeaway on three consecutive third-quarter possessions, resulting from a bone-jarring hit on a kickoff return that popped the ball loose, provided more opportunity than the Wildcats’ offense typically needs.
“Turnovers are great, but three in a row,” junior quarterback Presley Egbers said. “You can’t ask for more.”
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And for the Seahawks, such mistakes were a bridge too far for a comeback, even with an offense that was averaging 44 points per game coming in.
South Lakes (4-1) is certainly explosive. Its two touchdowns came on drives of five and three plays in the first half. The combination of quarterback Devin Miles and running backs Spencer Alston and Albert Mensah combined for all but three yards of the Seahawks’ offensive output.
Centreville, still reeling from a two-point loss in Reston in last year’s Virginia 6A playoffs, was equal to the task.
Junior running back Jordan Wright ran for 76 yards and a touchdown on his first two touches. He finished with 106 yards on 12 carries. Egbers was an efficient 8-of-12 passing for 88 yards and two touchdowns. The Wildcats (4-1) have scored at least 28 points in every game this season.
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A team annually known for its bulky offensive line and sturdy defense can still put up a lot of points. Haddock told Egbers before the game the Wildcats were planning to air it out more than usual.
“Loosen up a little bit,” Haddock told him before the bus ride over. “Have some fun out there. Be the gunslinger I know you can be.”
Egbers’s fade to Anunay from 11 yards out, on a drive started by Anunay’s forced fumble, put Centreville up two scores at the end of the third quarter and deflated South Lakes.
For all the offensive firepower on display, the simple plays — two fundamental tackles that caused fumbles, an interception on a tipped ball — tilted the game and helped vault the Wildcats back atop the pecking order of Northern Virginia football.
“If you do the right things and you’re in the right position,” Anunay said, “good things will happen.
“Turnovers will happen.”
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