Woodberry Forest never looked like it wasn’t in control, but at the same time, Collegiate just wouldn’t quite go away. The Tigers got the job done on big plays and, as usual, defensively. But with just a few minutes to play, the Cougars were backed up to their own 1-yard line with an opportunity to try and tie the game up. That didn’t happen though, and Woodberry was able to tack on a late touchdown to get the insurance it was looking for to post a 28-14 win and improve to 3-0 and win it’s Prep League opener.
“I knew Collegiate would give us they’re best effort of the year, they showed up on the field,” Tigers coach Clint Alexander said. “They loaded the box on us, and so we said if they’re going to do that, we have to beat them in one-on-one coverage.”
In game that was mostly three and outs followed by punts (11 punts total between both sides), the big plays favored Woodberry. The Tigers got on the board first when sophomore quarterback Lindell Stone found Patrick Shea for a 34-yard touchdown pass. And after a slew of punts from both squads, Stone struck Zach Roderick for the first of his two TD receptions, this one a 27-yard strike on a double move deep down the sidelines to make it 14-0 heading into halftime.
“We don’t really work too much on that play in practice, it’s just kind of one of our go-to plays,” Roderick said. “If we see what we like we run some gut plays, some hitch plays and get the defensive backs to bite down and that opens up that spin and go and it’s just wide open usually.”
For Stone, it was a chance to step out of the game plan where most of his throws were short and intermediate range.
“The o-line did a great job there because those kind of plays take time to develop,” Stone said. “Zach did a great job on that route and I think offensively we’re clicking we just have to eliminate the mistakes we’re making.”
Collegiate got on the board to start the fourth quarter with Strib Walker hauling in a 5-yard touchdown pass. But on the ensuing kickoff, Woodberry answered with Natanial Tyrell taking a directional kick 72 yards to the house to make it 21-7.
“We’ve worked on that since the beginning of camp,” Alexander said. “This is something that (Liberty Christian) does, the high short kick where you try and limit the kick return, but we’ve got four pretty athletic kids back there.”
The Cougars responded with a touchdown drive of its own to keep the game close, this time with quarterback Will Alloca hitting Charlie Tolleson for an 8-yard touchdown pass with just over four minutes to go. Woodberry recovered the onsides kick, but an interception gave Collegiate life late. After playing so well in the first three quarters, the Tigers defense got back to their old ways, forcing a turnover on downs. That set up Rodderick’s second endzone connection with Stone inside of a minute to play to wrap up the win.
On the day for Woodberry, Stone finished 13 for 20 with 135 yards and three touchdowns. Evan Riviere led the rushing game with 49 yards. Rodderick had seven catches for 79 yards.
The Tigers (3-0, 1-0) host Eastern Christian Academy (MD) on Friday at 4 p.m.
