A football season that began in potential turmoil quickly steadied and became a winning campaign of consistency for the Langley Saxons.
The high-school team finished 9-3, reached the semifinals of the 6D North Region tournament playoffs as the No. 3 seed and tied for second in the Liberty District.
The nine wins were Langley’s most in a season since 2013, when the Saxons also reached the region semifinals.
Challenges began when the head coach had to leave the team during the preseason owing to off-the-field issues. Assistant coach Greg Potteiger took over the head-coaching duties and quickly calmed the waters — and the Saxons won their first five games en route to an 8-2 regular-season record.
Langley went 1-1 in the region playoffs, ending with a 20-14 loss to the No. 2 seed, host and the undefeated Washington-Liberty Generals, 20-14, in the semifinals Friday night (Nov. 22).
The Saxons led 7-3 entering the fourth quarter, then the Generals rallied for 17 points.
“Langley is very efficient on offense, their quarterback [Cole Samburg] is very good and they gave us trouble,” Washington-Liberty coach Josh Shapiro told FFXnow.
Langley also had lost to Liberty District champion W-L during the regular season, falling 28-14 in that game.
In the region semifinal, Langley took a 7-0 first-quarter lead when runningback Robert Roncskevitz ran eight yards for a touchdown and Zand Amani booted the extra point. Washington-Liberty scored the next 20 points, then Langley answered with the game’s final touchdown on a 35-yard pass from Samburg to Cannon Clarke in the fourth quarter.
The Saxons had a final possession that ended with an interception, then W-L ran out the clock.
Samburg was 16 of 28 passing for 188 yards. Roncskevitz ran for 37 yards and caught four passes for 58. Vincent Shen had six catches for 65, Eli Dyrud three for 13 and Lee Evans two for 17. Langley gained 235 total yards and had two turnovers.
On defense for Langley, Clarke had an interception, a fumble recovery and a tackle for a loss, and Bowles had an interception. They also were among tackling leaders, along with Roncskevitz, Brandon Dinh, Chase Langpaul, Ellington Roane, Owen Slamowitz, William Andrle, Hudson Eberline and Asha Ariaban.
Langley defeated the No. 6 seed Marshall Statesmen, 42-14, in its first-round region-playoff game.
For the season, Roncskevitz rushed for 947 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught 27 passes for 380 yards and four TDs. Samburg threw for 1,775 yards and 18 touchdowns. He ran for 602 yards and three TDs.
Shen led the team with 34 catches for 450 yards and four scores, and Dyrud caught 29 passes for 313 yards and two TDs.
On defense, Roane had five interceptions and Langpaul had five sacks. Roncskevitz had three sacks and two interceptions.
