GAITHERSBURG -- Seneca Valley used a three-pronged running attack, a strong defensive second half, and the foot of Louie Forbrich to overcome a 3-0 deficit and three first-half turnovers to defeat Wheaton, 13-3, for the 3A state championship yesterday at Gaithersburg High.
Seneca Valley, ranked No. 2 by the Washington Post, extended its winning streak to 18 with its third straight state title and its state-record eighth overall.
After missing from 43 yards early in the first period, Forbrich used the running of juniors Mike Baker (14 carries, 106 yards) and Devin Nesmith (11, 107) as well as senior Kinte Sipes (nine, 40) to position himself for field goals of 37 and 43 yards in the third and fourth periods.
Wheaton had taken a 3-0 lead with 5:06 to go in the first period on Chris Tao's 28-yard field goal, but Baker, who also caught three passes for 60 yards, put the Eagles ahead, 6-3, just 22 seconds before halftime on a 13-yard run. Forbrich converted the extra-point kick.
Wheaton had rebounded from a season-opening 44-7 loss to Seneca Valley with an 11-game winning streak. Before that meeting, Wheaton had beaten Seneca Valley in each of its past two championship seasons.
"I was very worried in the first half, because at that point, the game was very reminiscent of our losses of the two previous years," said Seneca Valley coach Terry Changuris.
But the Eagles (13-0) stepped it up defensively in the second half, sacking Wheaton quarterback Danny Ray (5-for-12, 70 yards) three times for minus 24 yards.
Wheaton (11-2), which has never won a state crown, participated in the playoffs for the first time in 14 years under coach Lee Branthover.
The Knights, 27-6 semifinal winners over C. Milton Wright, pressured Eagles' quarterback Ryan Miyamoto (5-for-11, 75 yards) into second-period interceptions to defensive backs Danny Ray and Kareem Grant.
And a first-quarter fumble recovery at the Eagles' 18 by Steve Ray, Danny's younger brother, set up Tao's field goal seven plays later.
The Eagles, who had 202 of their 323 total offensive yards in the first half, finally got on the scoreboard when Baker went over from 13 yards.
"That frustrated the whole team, really, but we tried to keep our heads up," said Danny Ray, who was 5-for-12 passing for 70 yards. "We had our chances in the second half, but penalties hurt us."
The Eagles held Wheaton to 161 total yards, with running back Kevin Johnson gaining 59 yards on 17 carries, Brian Shaw 54 yards on 16 tries, and Division I prospect Byron Moody catching two passes for 41 yards.