Herndon travels to South Lakes on Friday, October 2, for the 29th Baron Cameron Cup, the football rivalry between the two schools. Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m. at Pat Bergen Stadium on the South Lakes campus, 11400 South Lakes Drive in Reston.
South Lakes is 4-0 and has outscored its four opponents 135 to 46. Herndon is 0-4 and has scored 50 points all season. The trophy belongs to Herndon, though. The Hornets have won the last two meetings, lead the series 15-13, and have never trailed in it.
Both teams had bye weeks last Friday, so each comes in with two weeks of preparation.
Herndon holds the cup after ending a nine-game South Lakes streak
Herndon won the first four Baron Cameron Cup games and seven of the first eight, according to Reston Patch’s 2024 preview. South Lakes then won nine straight and pulled the series even at 13 games apiece.
Herndon broke that run in 2024 with a 26-14 win at South Lakes. An onside kick early in the second half, one the South Lakes coach said he had not called, gave Herndon the ball in Seahawk territory, and the Hornets scored to go up 26-7.
Last October, South Lakes led 6-0 at halftime on two field goals, Herndon scored nine points in the third quarter, and the teams traded 14 points apiece in the fourth. Herndon won 23-20 on a 49-yard field goal with six seconds left, and the cup stayed on Bennett Street for a second year.
In 2013, after vandals damaged the new turf field at South Lakes, students and coaches from both schools filmed a video about keeping the feud friendly, with players from each side shaking hands and wishing each other well.
South Lakes arrives unbeaten, and Herndon is still looking for its first win
South Lakes has won each of its games by at least 22 points:
- Won 43-21 at Yorktown, August 28
- Won 30-7 against Robinson, September 3
- Won 34-12 against Battlefield, September 10
- Won 28-6 at West Potomac, September 18
Herndon has scored 50 points and allowed 167:
- Lost 27-14 to Tuscarora, August 28
- Lost 57-14 to Langley, September 3
- Lost 43-7 to Chantilly, September 10
- Lost 40-15 at Briar Woods, September 18
In 2023, South Lakes trailed 7-6 at halftime and won 35-7. Last year it led 6-0 at halftime and lost.
South Lakes cannot take the series lead on Friday
A South Lakes win would cut Herndon’s series edge to 15-14 and bring the cup back to Reston, but Herndon would still lead. A Herndon win would make it 16-13 and three straight.
The two schools play in different districts, South Lakes in the Concorde and Herndon in the Liberty, which is why they meet only once on the football schedule. Friday is also the last non-district game of the regular season for South Lakes, which opens its Concorde District schedule at Oakton on October 9. The schools also play each other this fall in volleyball and field hockey.
Buy tickets through Etix before you leave the house
Fairfax County high schools sell athletic tickets through Etix. When we checked prices in August, they ran $7 for adults and $5 for students, with fees and taxes included. Some games list on Etix before the sale opens, so confirm that Friday’s game shows a Buy Tickets link rather than More info.
The county’s bag rules apply at the gate:
- A clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches
- A small clutch no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches
- Medical and diaper bags, subject to inspection
Backpacks, purses, fanny packs, tote bags and outside food and drinks stay in the car. Middle school students and younger children need a responsible adult who stays with them for the whole game. Parking at South Lakes fills from the main lot outward on big nights, so plan to arrive before 6:30. Our guide to Friday nights at Reston and Herndon games covers the full policy.
If you cannot make it to Reston, the NFHS Network streams many Fairfax County varsity games. Check the listing on Friday afternoon.
Some Reston addresses are zoned for Herndon High
South Lakes serves much of Reston. Herndon High serves the Town of Herndon and reaches into Reston as well: Aldrin Elementary, a Reston school, feeds Herndon Middle and Herndon High. A Reston address does not guarantee a South Lakes assignment, which is one of the first things we check for buyers comparing homes in the northern part of Reston. The FCPS school boundary locator answers the question for any specific address.
Our South Lakes athletics guide covers the Seahawks’ full program, and our Saturday scoreboard will carry Friday’s result along with the rest of the week across South Lakes, Herndon, Oakton, Westfield and Chantilly.
See something missing or wrong? Email us at [email protected] and we will check it and update the post.
