Author: Dave Facinoli

Dave Facinoli grew up in Prince George’s County, Md. and attended Friendly High School. After attending Prince’s George Community College and James Madison University, where he covered sports on both college papers, he launched a local newspaper career that included roles as the sports editor of the Alexandria Gazette, the Arlington Sun Gazette and GazetteLeader, and other local papers.

Sports

Madison football team rallies to remain undefeated at 7-0

By Dave Facinoli
Madison's Dominic Knicely (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

For one dominant local football team, its most recent success can be summed up in two words: Knicely done.

Trailing a couple of times in a Concorde District high-school football game against the visiting Westfield Bulldogs, the Madison Warhawks’ star runningback and kick returner, Dominic Knicely, responded with different types of touchdowns to rally his undefeated team for a 26-21 victory Oct. 10 in Vienna.

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Sports

Flint Hill girls volleyball team’s lineup changes are paying dividends

By Dave Facinoli
Flint Hill volleyball team (courtesy of Flint Hill School)

It took a few weeks of tinkering for the lineup to be firmed up for the Flint Hill Huskies.

Now firmly in place, the arrangement has helped the perennial power girls high-school volleyball team improve, own a 17-2 overall record, and as has been the case for so many seasons, be ranked No. 1 in the Division 1 Virginia private-schools state poll.

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Sports

Two district football showdowns for first place on tap Thursday night

By Dave Facinoli
The Madison High School defense (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

There will be no “Friday-night lights” for local public high-school football teams this weekend.

Instead, contests will be played a night earlier on Thursday (Oct. 10) at the traditional 7 p.m. starting time, in order to accommodate the observance of Yom Kippur.

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Sports

0-5 Flint Hill football squad looks toward first win of 2024 season

By Dave Facinoli
Flint Hill quarterback Caleb West (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

This weekend, a victory for the currently winless Flint Hill Huskies is quite possible.

Host Flint Hill (0-5) on Oct. 12 faces the 0-6 Catholic Crusaders of Virginia Beach in a battle of private-school football squads. While Flint Hill has been competitive in most of its losses, Catholic has been blown out three times.

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Sports

Showcase basketball event draws dozens of high-school players

By Dave Facinoli
Fred Priester talks to players (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

Dozens of star players were out for a recent girls high-school basketball event in Fairfax.

The 24th annual local College Showcase girls hoop competition was held the morning of Sept. 29 at Fairfax High for high-school-age players from Northern Virginia and surrounding jurisdictions. Some 67 players participated, displaying their skills in refereed games with running clocks and drills for college coaches, who were on hand to watch.

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Sports

Win streak ends in Pennsylvania for Potomac School’s football squad

By Dave Facinoli
Potomac School quarterback Sean Sutherland (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

The Potomac School Panthers’ three-game winning streak ended Oct. 5 on a road trip to Pennsylvania.

The Panthers (3-2) lost to The Kiski School Cougars (3-3) of Saltsburg, Pa., a bit northwest of Johnstown, 47-13, in the non-conference high-school football game.

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Sports

Unfriendly guest Madison improves to 6-0 with gridiron victory over South County

By Dave Facinoli
Madison players and coaches watch from the sideline (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

So much for being friendly guests.

In three road games against perennial Patriot District high-school football powers from the close-proximity neighborhoods of Burke, Fairfax and Lorton this season, the undefeated Madison Warhawks (6-0) are 3-0 with blowout victories.

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Sports

Marshall football team tops Langley, ties for first in district

By Dave Facinoli
The Marshall High football team is now 5-1 (courtesy of Marshall athletics)

Pay attention to the Marshall Statesmen.

The high-school football team’s biggest win so far this season was the night of Oct. 4 as the Statesmen improved to 5-1 overall and are tied for first place at 2-0 in the Liberty District. That victory was 28-21 over the previously undefeated and host Langley Saxons (5-1, 1-1).

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