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The Rockville football team had just recovered a game-sealing fumble, and was within a handful of snaps of securing the top seed in the Class 2A West Region playoffs. Yet there Crusoe Gongbay stood in the backfield, ready to punish Blake's defenders one last time.

A long run to the left was called back because of a penalty, but no matter. Three rushes and 34 yards later, the junior tailback fell across the goal line for the final touchdown on a 293-yard night, and the Rams punctuated their 28-7 victory.

"Usually in the third quarter, if we're up by two or three touchdowns, I'm just out," said Gongbay, who carried for three of Rockville's four touchdowns. "But I guess [head coach Kevin Bernot] wanted to make a statement. We're not to be messed with."

Rockville (8-1 overall, 2-0 Montgomery 2A Division) will host Middletown in the first round of the 2A West Region playoffs next week. With a win, they will host the winner of the matchup between second-seed South Carroll and No. 3 Century.

But the Rams may also have sent an unintentional message to their playoff competition: Contain Gongbay — the county's leading rusher with 1,494 yards — and the rest of the offense might struggle to beat you.

Aside from Gongbay, Rockville mustered just 21 total yards of offense.

"Once you get to the playoffs, for the most part, you can't be one-dimensional," said Blake coach Tony Nazzaro. "They're going to have to find a way to throw the football. ... But with Gongbay, they always have a chance, because that kid is one play away from scoring every time he touches the ball."

Gongbay showed his breakaway capability on a 31-yard touchdown run off the left side to open the scoring. Later in the quarter, he got free for a 58-yard run down the right sideline, and a 2-yard score on the next play made the score 14-0.

In the second, his 42-yard run set up a short touchdown run by Nate Nolasco.

"He's smart, and he can read the blocks," said senior lineman Rainier Tandaju. "So we know he can make the right decision."

Added Gongbay: "As soon as they give me that that two- or three-second push, once they open up the holes, I can do the rest."

Kwabena Asante carried for 77 yards for Blake (3-7, 3-4 Montgomery 3A), which finished with one win more than in 2008.

"It's a tough one to swallow," Nazzaro said, "because I really feel like we made tremendous strides. But unfortunately, the record only shows one more win than last year. If all you do is look at final scores, it doesn't really look like we're as close as we are."