Fairfax is one of the oldest high schools in Virginia'sNorthern Region, but in the past six decades, the Rebels' boyssports teams haven't brought home many regional championship bannersto hang from the gymnasium rafters.
However, the school's football team Friday won its 10thstraight game, 15-14 over West Potomac in the AAA Northern RegionDivision 5 final. It was Fairfax's first regional football title andjust the second in any boys sport since the school opened in 1935.The victory moved the sixth-ranked Rebels (11-1) into a statesemifinal meeting with Patrick Henry-Ashland at Richmond Stadium onSaturday afternoon at 1:30.
'I guess the difference is getting over the hump finally,' saidFairfax Coach Tom Verbanic. 'We almost felt like we had thereputation that we could win our district, but we couldn't win ourregion.'
Fairfax's football team never has been known for saving itsbest for last. The Rebels advanced to the regional final only oneother time (1987). Since then, they twice completed undefeatedregular seasons (in 1988 and '91) only to lose in the first round ofthe playoffs.
One big reason this year has been different is quarterback GregMaddox, voted Northern Region offensive player of the year by theregion's coaches.
'Obviously, they would not be nearly as good without him,' saidLee Coach Joe Muskett. 'He is a winner. The kid knows how to getthe job done.'
Maddox, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound senior, can get the job done inseveral ways. He has completed 55-of-119 passes for 965 yards and 11touchdowns and has rushed for more than 500 yards and 16 touchdowns.After throwing only two interceptions in the first 11 games, hethrew three against West Potomac. But with the region title on theline, he led the Rebels on a 63-yard drive in the final 3 minutes 10seconds that resulted in a touchdown and decisive two-pointconversion.
When Fairfax defeated Lee, 23-6, in October, Lee concentratedon stopping the passing game, Muskett said. The Lancers limitedMaddox to 17 yards through the air, but he carried the ball for 90yards and two touchdowns on six carries. 'He's a kid who can just doit all,' Muskett said.
Maddox also draws praise for leadership and humility.
'Fairfax has played some teams that had more individualtalent, but Maddox was the difference,' Marshall Coach Dean Sislersaid. 'He elevates the players around him. ... He just has theother intangible qualities that go along with quality athletes.'
Maddox and his teammates are aware of the school's humbletradition in football.
'No one has ever {won a region title} before,' Maddox said.'The way I looked at it, if we lost, oh well ...'
But now that the Rebels are so close to a state championship,Maddox said he believes they could add a few more firsts beforetheir season ends - especially if running backs Charlie Turner andJohn Moore play well.
'I think I'm just one of the many people we have on offense,'Maddox said. 'When Charlie is running and John is running, it'salmost impossible to stop us.'
Maddox and the Rebels faced new circumstances in the regionfinal, falling behind for the first time since their only loss -17-0 to No. 1 Annandale early in the season.
The Rebels won when holder Chuck Freeman turned a bad snap onthe potential tying extra-point conversion kick into a winningtwo-point conversion run. 'People said we got lucky on Friday,'Maddox said. 'I say so many times, other teams have been luckyagainst me, it is about time we got lucky.'
