After an opening-game loss, the Potomac School Panthers (3-1) have found a winning formula and bounced back strong to win three straight football games.
The private-school team’s latest victory was 20-14 in McLean over the visiting St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes Saints of Alexandria on Sept. 28 in non-conference play.
The Panthers have won behind solid defensive play, the rushing attack of running back Lucas Boulter and the offensive line, and limiting mistakes.
“We made a lot of first-game mental mistakes in our first game that teams typically make,” Potomac School coach Dan Wolff said. “Now I’m happy where we are as a team. Our defense has been solid and our offensive line they find holes for Lucas and we limit mistakes.”
Boulter had 175 yards rushing against the Saints, including touchdown runs of seven and 55 yards.
“I was able to capitalize on what our offensive line created for me, so I give them credit,” Boulter said.
That line consists of Sam Kim, Luke Steindler, Calvin Dabbiere, Lancer Weimer and Graham Leforce.
Potomac School, which had a modest 166 total yards, built a 20-0 lead through three quarters against the Saints, with a 62-yard punt return for a touchdown by Akim Iscandari and two extra points by Stefan Harvey accounting for the other points. Iscandari had 81 yards in punt returns.
In the fourth quarter, the Panthers hung on to win, getting a final defensive stop after St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes scored a pair of touchdowns to pull close.
“We started fast against them early like we needed, then they scored a couple of touchdowns,” Wolff said. “We made a good adjustment after that on defense to stop their screen passes and sweeps.”
On defense, Aarez Ahmed had an interception for Potomac School, Gus Tierney had two sacks and Mack Repke had two tackles for losses. Richard Perry and E.J. Schneeberg had sacks and other tackles for losses, and Laforce and Jag Gioia had a tackle for a loss.
Also on offense for the Panthers, quarterback Sean Sutherland went 5 for 9 passing for 61 yards. Brendan Sutherland caught two passes, and Schneeberg, Iscandari and Kai Jefferson each had one catch.
Potomac School won just one game last season. The last time it won three games in a row were to start the 2022 season.
