When Clarksburg's 5'7'' inch QB/CB Andrew Veith returned a Seneca Valley interception 55-yards for a touchdown with five seconds remaining in the game, the improbable occurred. A football program in its formative years of competition defeated one of Maryland’s legendary high school football teams, 15-8.
The Seneca Valley Screaming Eagles football program has won 10 Maryland State Football Championships in the school's 35-year history. The Germantown, Maryland school is nationally recognized for accomplishments few programs can match.
The Clarksburg Coyotes, in only their fourth season of existence, made the jump to the Maryland 3A division in 2009.
Clarksburg has had a great deal of success at the 2A level compiling a 22-2 record the last two seasons. With bottle removed, the infancy stage of the Coyotes' football program was officially over when they were pitted against Seneca Valley to open their 2009 football season.
Separated by three miles, students from both schools grew up playing youth football with and against each other.
"I've been preparing for this game for five years," one Clarksburg player was overheard saying prior to pre-game warm-ups.
Many familiar with Montgomery County, Maryland football, expected the giant—Seneca Valley—to rudely welcome their newly anointed rival—Clarksburg—to 3A football. And for the better part of three-and-half quarters the Screaming Eagles did just that.
Clarksburg did everything they could to hand the victory to Seneca Valley. Given the double-digit penalties, four fumbles, three interceptions, and dropped passes, the Coyotes appeared to be overwhelmed by playing on the big stage—an estimated 4,300 fans observed the game—against a big-time opponent.
“We have them where we want them,” Coyote coach Larry Hurd shouted to his team at halftime. Hurd refused to allow his players to quit and he knew his squad was fortunate to be in the game, facing an 8-0 deficit at the break.
But the Coyotes' nervous play continued well into the third quarter as it appeared “David’s” psyche was no match for “Goliath’s” reputation.
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