Through stiff defense Jack Rhoades drives the ball forward. He scored two of the touchdowns in this Regional final
2015 has been the best season in memory for the Woodlan Football team. They made it through their entire regular season undefeated. This is quite a feat for such a small school. It was their time though–or so we though.
The game on Friday, November 13, extremely cold and windy, started horribly wrong for the home team. Woodlan won the toss-up and decided to defer the ball. The Winchester team, who came into the game with having one more game played than the Warriors, received the ball and posted a touchdown in the first 14 seconds. It was devastating for Woodlan and fantastic for the Falcons.
Woodlan took the ball next and struggled to get past the 50 yard line. The Golden boys’, Elias Gates, came, got the ball, and within two plays scored another touchdown with 9:33 left on the clock, and both times achieved the point after. The Warrior defense could not stop the Falcons.
It wasn’t long before the game was 20-0 in the 2nd quarter. It wasn’t all horrible in the first half. Tre’von McCarter was able to escape, passing through the Winchester defense to score Woodlan’s first touchdown and Quentin Graber kicked the point after successfully. The Falcons came back to score another touchdown jumping high in the air, by Kiante Enis, before half time making the score 26-7.
Listening to the other scores around the area during half time you’d think that Woodlan was done for.
The second half was a different game for the Warriors and the Falcons. What did coach Sherwood Haydock say to the beleaguered Warriors? I have no idea, but it was a game changer for Woodlan. Scoring 14 in the third quarter and 8, after the successful 2-point conversion, and winning the game by 3 points. Final score: Woodlan 29, Winchester 26.
The defense was able to stop Winchester’s offense for an amazing second half.
Jack Rhoades has been fantastic in this tournament when it comes to turning the game around psychologically. He can get through the opposition when it looks like there is no hope. He scored two touchdowns in the second half and Jeremiah Cassel, both sophomores, added another 6 points. Quentin Graber added three in point after attempts and Justin Durkes earned two points in a conversion.
If Woodlan can play the next game like the second half, they will be very successful in the rest of the run up to state. It will take a lot of team work and dedication from these boys to pull it off.
The game finished with Woodlan hitting their stride and now is 13-0 and on to the final four. Friday they will play against Whiting High at the semi-state Championships. The game was moved to November 21 at 6pm due to the travel distance to Whiting, a Chicago suburb.
More pictures Here:
