One week after West Springfield alarmed the Northern Region with 309 rushing yards against Centreville, the sixth-ranked Spartans (1-1) face another vaunted defense when they host Oakton (1-1) tonight at 7:30.

While an offensive line anchored by senior tackles John Massie and Marshall Ausberry was West Springfield's known strength, the rapid emergence of Derrick Braziel has been a mild surprise. The junior running back, who was selected as the Group AAA player of the week for his 200-yard, three-touchdown showing in the Spartans' 38-31 overtime loss to Centreville, currently leads the area in rushing (368 yards).

``Braziel is a quality, big-time threat," Oakton coach Pete Bendorf said. ``He's the best back we've seen this season in a game or on tape."

Oakton's offense got rolling last week during its 62-14 win over Stuart, a welcome change after the Cougars scored just three points in their season-opening loss to Madison. But the Spartans will provide a much stiffer test than the Raiders.

``We'll find out [tonight] if we really made progress offensively," Bendorf said. ``What I was happy with about the Stuart game is that our guys were efficient on offense. Everybody was where they were supposed to be."

The Cougars defense has made a living over the past few seasons slowing the opposition's rushing attack. Last season, Oakton allowed just 76.8 rushing yards per game, second only in the region to Centreville. West Springfield may have the region's best offensive line, so something has to give.

``Am I concerned? Yeah," Bendorf said. ``If [West Springfield] is able to run the ball on us the way they have so far, our offense is not going to see the ball a whole lot."

When these teams met last season, Oakton controlled both lines of scrimmage en route to a 19-0 win. The Cougars outrushed the Spartans, 248 yards to 104, and scored their points on three 1-yard touchdown plunges.

A repeat of that would drastically hurt West Springfield's playoff hopes. Two losses this early in the season for any Division 6 team can prove fatal.

``The minimum you can be is about 8-2 to get into the playoffs so this game is critical for both teams," Bendorf said. ``Look at last year. We finished 7-2 and they were 6-3. You flip-flop the game where we beat them and there's the difference. They're in and we're out."

South Lakes at No. 1 Robinson

When former Liberty coach Joe Trabucco was considering a move to South Lakes after last season, he sought the opinion of some peers at the Virginia High School Coaches Association's meeting to determine the all-state teams. One of those peers was Robinson coach Mark Bendorf.

``I told him all the makings were there," Bendorf said.

Trabucco ultimately took over the Seahawks program and so far, Bendorf's assessment was right on. Trabucco, who helped Liberty to Group AA playoff berths in three of the last four years, has South Lakes off to a 2-0 start.

``I'm certainly not a savior by any means," Trabucco said. ``We have a group of seniors that dedicated themselves in the spring. They're hard-nosed kids and they want to play."

South Lakes senior quarterback Dan Cidone is the area's second-rated passer (122.92) and junior wide receiver Garret Gray has the second-most receiving yards (216). But the Seahawks' biggest improvement has been on defense. South Lakes allowed 686 rushing yards in its first two games last year, both losses. In last week's win over Lee, the Lancers rushed for only 101 yards.

``That jumps right out at you when you watch them on film," Bendorf said of South Lakes' improved rush defense. ``That and their tremendous confidence and enthusiasm."

After an uneven showing to start the season against Langley, Robinson exploded for 48 first-half points in last week's 62-6 win over Fairfax. The Rebels had just one first down the entire game.

``The first week, it was pretty evident we were not in the right state of mind," Bendorf said. ``We came back and had a good week of practice. When we got up 28-0 in the first quarter it probably didn't help Fairfax's cause."

Junior running back Mike Anderson eclipsed 100 yards for the second time in two weeks and has rushed for 212 yards and five touchdowns thus far. His 14.1 yards per carry average leads the region.

Junior running back Aaron Richards was slated to be the featured back against the Rebels, but he sprained his ankle on the game's third play and did not return. Bendorf said he doesn't expect Richards to play tonight against South Lakes. Senior Chase Anastasio, who missed the first two games with a high ankle sprain, is questionable for tonight, Bendorf said.

One key for South Lakes will be to limit turnovers. If the Seahawks lose three fumbles against Robinson the way they did last week against Lee, the chance for an upset is slim.

``Our confidence is up," Trabucco said. ``But in the back of our kids' minds, they're probably thinking, `Hey, this is Robinson.' We've got to get rid of the awe. Robinson is a model program and one we'd like to pattern ourselves after. But they've got 17- and 18-year-old kids that put their pants on the same way we do."

T.C. Williams at Lake Braddock

For the first time two years, the Titans prepared for a game this week riding the momentum of a win. T.C. Williams (1-1) ended a 12-game losing streak, the longest in school history, with a 20-13 win over Mount Vernon last week.

``The kids were ecstatic and the win was big for everybody," Titans coach Riki Ellison said. ``The No. 1 thing is every one of us believed we could win. The kids fought hard every play of every quarter and that hasn't been done here until that game."

Senior running back Tony Hunt rushed for 176 yards and a touchdown and also had a 75-yard touchdown reception. The Titans offensive line also turned in its best performance to date.

``For the first time, we ran the ball physical against an eight-man front," Ellison said. ``[Mount Vernon] knew who the ball was going to. There was no trickery. That really controlled the game for us."

This week, T.C. Williams travels to Lake Braddock (1-1) in the Patriot District opener for both teams.

Thus far, the Bruins' defense has bailed out an unproductive offense. Through two games, Lake Braddock has rushed 54 times for 74 yards, passed for 5 yards and has three first downs. v The defense, however, has been stout. The Bruins gave up just 14 points in a season-opening loss to Centreville and returned two interceptions for scores in last week's 31-21 win over Woodson.

These teams have met at least once each year since 1975, and Lake Braddock leads the series, 14-12-3. The Bruins have won 11 straight against the Titans, whose last victory came in 1990.