The numbers speak for themselves: 135 points spread over four quarters and five overtimes.

Last year's Westfield-Annandale matchup, won by the Atoms, 68-67, was the best game of 2001. So how about an encore?

Fourth-ranked Westfield (2-0) travels to No. 8 Annandale (2-0) Friday for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. While each team harbors vivid memories of their previous meeting, all involved assert Friday's rematch holds more significance than a year ago. The Bulldogs and Atoms, both off to great starts after finishing 4-5 a season ago, are fixated on securing playoff berths. Westfield, in its third varsity campaign, has never been to the postseason. Annandale hasn't been since 1994.

Still, the effects of last year's classic run rampant through both teams. For Westfield, thinking back is often more painful than pleasant. The Bulldogs led, 33-17, heading into the fourth quarter. But two Atoms touchdowns, combined with a pair of two-point conversions, sent the game to overtime. But only after Westfield's narrow miss of a field goal with less than a minute left in regulation.

Likely due to fatigue, neither defense had any luck slowing the opposition's offense from then on. Annandale senior Corey Edwards eventually won it for the visitors by blocking Westfield's extra-point attempt in the fifth overtime.

``Everybody thought it was a good game," Bulldogs safety Justin Mosser said. ``But at Westfield, we didn't think that because we lost."

Two Bulldogs, in particular, grabbed the spotlight. Quarterback Sean Glennon, in his first game as a full-time starter, passed for 137 yards and four touchdowns. Then a sophomore, it solidified Glennon as the quarterback of the present, not just the future.

Much of Glennon's success came through his connection with All-Journal wide receiver Paris Jackson, who caught 11 passes for 97 yards and four touchdowns and also returned a kickoff 83 yards for a score. Three of Jackson's touchdown receptions came in overtime, despite double coverage and multiple pass interference penalties. But those highlights don't stick out in Jackson's mind.

``I remember giving up the big lead we had in the fourth quarter," Jackson said. ``I remember us losing."

Westfield coach Tom Verbanic was incredulous on the sideline. After his team gave up a two-touchdown lead, the overtime sessions left him considering whether or not to use one play to decide the outcome.

``It got almost ridiculous," Verbanic said. ``I was just like, `What the heck is going on here.' " I was agonizing in the third or fourth overtime whether or not we should just go for [the two-point conversion]."

The loss began a disturbing trend for the Bulldogs. Over the next seven games, Westfield fell four times when it had the lead or was within three points in fourth quarter.

Finishing strong each week has become the Bulldogs' goal for 2002. Thus far, their starting defense has not allowed any points in preseason wins over Brooke Point and Woodbridge and regular-season victories against Wakefield and Langley.

``We're into our third year and we've got a lot of seniors on the defense now," Verbanic said. ``It's a maturation thing, and the team speed helps, too."

Offensively, Westfield has picked up where it left off last season. Glennon has completed 15-of-22 passes for 302 yards and five touchdowns and is the region's top-rated passer (131.63). Jackson has three touchdown catches, junior wide receiver Eddie Royal (five catches, 165 yards, two TDs) has proven to be a capable replacement for the graduated Brian Vaccarino and freshman running back Evan Royster adds an explosive aspect to the Bulldogs backfield.

The opposition has noticed.

``Westfield's skill players in general can make plays," said Annandale linebacker/guard Ehab Awadallah, an All-Journal choice at center last season. ``If we don't have all 11 guys going after it we'll be in trouble. They have guys that once they see an opening, they'll hit it."

However, according to Verbanic, Westfield's greatest offensive strides have come up front.

``We definitely have some speed and good skill players," Verbanic said. ``But our offensive line has been much better this year. They are the ones who are going to make or break what we're trying to do."

While Glennon admitted the thought of out-dueling Annandale quarterback Travis Johnson in another high-scoring shootout has crept into his mind, the junior signal caller summarized his teammates' outlook on the big picture.

``This is a big game for us as far as getting into the Division 6 playoffs goes," Glennon said. ``Because Annandale is probably going to be another team contending for that."

There is perhaps even more on the line for the Atoms, once the area's standard-bearer of success. Annandale boasts more postseason wins (26) and Group AAA state titles (six) than any school in the region. But the Atoms' win over George Washington-Danville in the 1994 state final was their last playoff game and they are 32-37 since then.

Friday night offers a window to the past and a high-stakes game at J. Wallace Bolding Stadium is a welcome change for the Atoms. Head coach Dick Adams, a fixture at Annandale since the glory days of the 1970s, has attempted to pass that on to his current team.

``I tell our kids this is the way it used to be years ago," Adams said. ``It's what high school football should be about. It's exciting and the way it was. We used to pack the stadium whether the team was good or not."

Ironically, standing between Annandale and the chance to re-establish itself as a region heavyweight is Westfield, the team that reminds Adams of those halcyon days.

``They've got the perfect program," Adams said. ``The fan base out there is phenomenal and I live in that community ... it's the [early 1970s] Annandale of the year 2002. Everybody is into it. Every kid, every parent, which is neat. They are going to bring a heck of a crowd over here. It ought to be exciting."

Annandale's resurgence is due in large part to the arrival of Johnson - who moved to the area from Florida prior to last season - and it can be directly traced back to a conversation between Adams and Johnson at halftime of last year's Westfield game.

``We got into halftime and Coach Adams says, `Well Sunshine, you think you can throw the ball?' " said Johnson, who drew the nickname because of his Florida roots. ``We went out and threw it and came back. The main thing was people were stepping up and making plays."

Since that point, Adams has altered Annandale's traditional game plan. Gone is the grind-it-out offensive style synonymous with past success and Johnson passed for a region-high 1,508 yards last season. Through two games this season, Johnson has completed 25-of-59 passes for 416 yards and three touchdowns, putting him on pace to eclipse last year's numbers.

The Atoms are further along at this point than they were a year ago. Adams now knows how he wants to use Johnson and switching to a pass-happy philosophy was not a difficult one.

``The thing is, I've got a guy I'm just so confident in and I've never felt like that," Adams said of Johnson. ``I really feel like he can find people. He makes mistakes; he throws it where he shouldn't sometimes. But he's a gamer and the kind of guy who if he makes a mistake it doesn't bother you as much. You're willing to take a chance with him and we have to."

Johnson proved in the Westfield game he could bring the Atoms back from a serious deficit. This year has featured more of the same. In the season opener, Annandale trailed Fairfax, 21-7, in the second quarter before rebounding to win in overtime. Last week, Herndon led, 10-3, before the Atoms reeled off 35 consecutive points. Johnson's comeback ability has instilled in teammates and coaches alike the feeling that a win is possible no matter the score.

``The kids have a lot of confidence in Travis and he has confidence in himself so you have that feeling," Adams said. ``When we played here 25-30 years ago, you always had that feeling because we had people that could do that and make those plays. In the last six or seven years we haven't really had those guys who can make exceptional plays for you consistently. He's been able to do that. It's like a Michael Jordan thing; he kind of lifts the other kids up."

Johnson's supporting cast is also doing its part. Senior running back Monte Moyer rushed for 124 yards on nine carries against Herndon and has scored five touchdowns in the first two weeks. Moyer has battled injuries the last two seasons but has been productive when healthy. As a sophomore, a preseason elbow injury sidelined him for all but three games and last year, a strained knee ligament limited him to five games.

A pair of sophomores, fullback Larry Asante (28 carries, 176 yards, TD) and flanker Davis Murrillo (region-high 12 catches, 195 yards, TD), have injected much-needed speed and athleticism to Annandale's offense.

Defensively, senior linebackers Awadallah, Dae Yoon and Cameron Kynes key an improving unit that held Herndon to 120 rushing yards a week after the Hornets amassed 260 against Hayfield.

It will take an even more inspired effort to slow Westfield's high-octane attack. But the opportunity to build a bridge to the past and restore a winning tradition is not lost on the Atoms' players, even though the current seniors were fourth-graders the last time Annandale advanced to the postseason.

``This is a big game for Annandale and we haven't had a big game around here in a couple of years," Johnson said. ``Annandale is such a rich community that when the football team starts winning, it's like a little city atmosphere and that's great.

``I'm excited what this game can do for our program. We want to get back to the way the 1994 team played. We play a different style. We throw the ball a little bit more. But, the thing about Annandale is they're going to play hard and that's what coach hasn't changed. If you play Annandale, we're going to come out and hit you in the mouth. That's what I love about playing at this school is the tradition. You can't get that anywhere else in the region."