Woodlan’s Jordan Delagrange tackled, just crossing into the end zone, scores the touchdown.
Woodlan struck quick against Adams Central Friday night. But it was a late score by the Warriors that finally sealed a 28-16 win over the Flying Jets along with an undefeated season and an Allen County Athletic Conference championship.
Jordan Delagrange scored on a one-yard run and a two-yard run on the Warriors’ first two possessions as the Warriors opened a 14-0 first quarter advantage.
However, after a Woodlan on-side kick was recovered by the Flying Jets at the Adams Central 48 and ignited the visitors’ offense.
Drew Schultz followed with runs of 12 and 11 yards and the Jets converted a fourth and five set up their first score.
Schultz plunged in from one yard out with 13 seconds remaining left in the first quarter to get Adams Central within 14-7.
Woodlan, though, would answer quickly as quarterback Justin Durkes found Trevon McCarter on a 67-yard scoring strike at the 11:48 mark of the second quarter to make it 21-7 Warriors.
Adams Central’s Skylar Douglas rounded out the first half scoring with a 27-yard field goal that pulled the Flying Jets within 21-10 at the intermission.
Schultz provided the lone scoring of the third quarter, a six yard touchdown run, to trim the Adams Central deficit to 21-16 at the end of three periods.
Woodlan, though, would seal the victory on a Jack Rhoades’ one-yard plunge with 27 seconds left to wrap up the victory.
Durkes finished the night 10 of 16 passing for Woodlan, covering 160 yards. Rhoades led the Warrior ground attack with 122 yards on 28 carries and McCarter picked up five receptions for 79 yards. Donald Guerrant recorded four catches that covered 54 yards.
Andrew Hammond was 7 of 14 through the air for 92 yards for the Flying Jets. Schultz rumbled for 69 yards on 16 carries while adding five receptions for 53 yards.
Jantz Blackburn had six tackles for Adams Central as well. Delagrange topped Woodlan with nine stops while Malik Murray, Zack Zink and Guerrant all recorded six tackles.
Score by Quarter:
Adams Central: 7 3 6 0 = 16
Woodlan: 14 7 0 7 = 28
The Warriors return to action on Friday when they host Bluffton in the opening round of the playoffs. Bluffton finished the regular season with a record of 2-7 overall and 1-5 in the ACAC.
In the first meeting between the two schools, Woodlan jumped in front 14-0 after one quarter and led 41-6 at halftime in cruising to a 55-6 victory.
