McLean's players and coaches walked off their home field Friday night thinking their playoff dream was shattered, courtesy of a 40-12 loss to Madison.

But after learning Washington-Lee upset Jefferson, the Highlanders (5-3, 3-2 Liberty District) were elated to learn they still controlled their playoff fate. With a win this Friday over neighboring Langley (3-5, 2-3), McLean will make its first postseason appearance since 1997.

``The kids are very excited about that," McLean coach Joe Muskett said. ``But when McLean and Langley play, it doesn't matter what's riding on it because it's such an intense rivalry."

Madison, Edison and Yorktown have already claimed three of the four Division 5 playoff berths based on power points. McLean has the fourth-most power points (8.9), followed by Jefferson (7.3) and Mount Vernon (7.0), two 4-4 teams that meet this Friday. If McLean loses, the winner of the Jefferson-Mount Vernon game would be in contention for the final Division 5 playoff spot. But it will come down to `rider points.'

Here's why. A win against a Group AAA team is worth 12 power points. The winning team is also awarded one `rider point' for each win the defeated team earns during the season. For example, a win in Week 1 is worth 12 power points. But if the defeated team goes on to finish 9-1 in a standard 10-game season, that Week 1 win would be worth 21 points.

So if McLean loses to Langley this Friday, the Highlanders have to hope the teams they beat this season - Stuart, Lee, South Lakes, Woodson and Fairfax - finish strong.

Hartigan rolls on

W.T. Woodson (3-5, 1-4 Liberty District) entered this season as the Liberty District favorite. But back-to-back overtime losses to McLean and Madison in Weeks 3 and 4, respectively, stymied the Cavaliers' playoff charge.

Still, senior running back Nick Hartigan has been among the Northern Region's most explosive offensive players. With his effort in this past Friday's loss to district foe Langley, the reigning district offensive player of the year grabbed the region's rushing lead from Robinson's Mike Imoh.

Hartigan has rushed for 1,417 yards and 19 touchdowns this season while averaging 6.9 yards per carry. He has rushed for over 200 yards in five of the Cavaliers' eight games and is averaging 205.6 yards against district competition.

Langley is certainly one team that won't shed a tear when Hartigan graduates. In Woodson's 36-35 triple-overtime loss to Langley Friday, Hartigan rushed for 209 yards and five touchdowns.

In last year's matchup with the Saxons - a 50-49 triple-overtime win for Woodson - Hartigan rushed for 219 yards and six touchdowns.

Generals march in fourth

Trailing Jefferson 12-0 at the start of the fourth quarter, Washington-Lee could have lied down. A disappointing season plagued by turnovers could have spiraled even further.

Instead, the Generals rallied the troops and two fourth quarter touchdowns from junior running back Sean Somlar knotted the score at 12. Washington-Lee could have taken the lead with Somlar's scores, but consecutive botched snaps on the extra point attempts kept the game tied with 2:22 left.

When Washington-Lee got the ball back, the Generals advanced to the Jefferson 8. This time, the snap and hold were clean and junior Lisa Henderson kicked the game-winning field goal with 1 second left on the clock to give Washington-Lee a 15-12 win.

``I was pretty confident we were going to make it because normally we don't have problems with the snap," Generals coach Chad Lewis said. ``I figured it had already happened twice and it couldn't happen three times."

Washington-Lee improved to 2-6 and Jefferson dropped to 4-4, seriously damaging its playoff hopes.

Somlar's return clearly buoyed the Generals. After missing the previous three games with an ankle injury, Somlar rushed for a season-high 176 yards and scored on touchdown runs of 9 and 43 yards against the Colonials.

``Somlar gives us the potential to break one at any time," Lewis said.