August 25, 2012
By MARK SAWYER
Special to the Winchester Star

LEESBURG — Like every other high school football team, James Wood had numerous questions heading into the new season, and though the Colonels admittedly have lots to work on one thing is for sure — their defense is going to make some game-changing plays and win some games.

Such was the case Friday night in their season opener where the offense showed glimpses of greatness but the defense made one huge play after another and led the Colonels to an impressive 30-27 victory over the Pride in Leesburg. The Colonels built their lead to 30-20 with 6:51 left, then ran out the clock after a Pride score.

Wood’s defense forced five turnovers, registered three quarterback sacks, blocked an extra point and scored the go-ahead touchdown in the second quarter, helping to knock off a very talented and athletic Heritage team.
“It was a great effort by all these guys,” James Wood coach Mike Bolin said. “One-and-0 is a lot better than 0-1. There’s a gigantic difference. We talked about it before the game and the guys seized the opportunity they had tonight and that’s all you can ask them to do.

“You can coach them up all week but come Friday nights it’s all about these guys, and all 35 guys stepped up and played the way they’ve got to play if we’re gonna win ball games.”

James Wood (1-0) struck early in the first quarter thanks in large part to its defense. After the Colonels offense went three-and-out on their first possession the defense got the first turnover of the season, recovering a Pride fumble on the Heritage 6-yard line.

Three plays later Wood quarterback Camden Butler found tight end Mason Longerbeam all alone in the front of the end zone for an 8-yard scoring strike to give Wood a 7-0 lead.

Later in the first the Colonels returned the favor and gave Heritage great field position at the Colonels 14 following a botched punt. It took the Pride seven plays but the were eventually able to get into the end zone, but the extra point was blocked and the Colonels still lead 7-6.

Heritage (0-1) started its next drive on the Wood 49-yard line but the result was the same. Daniel Adigun capped off another seven-play drive with an 11-yard run but again the Pride were unable to convert the point after, leaving them with just a 12-7 advantage.

The Colonels didn’t pick up their first first down until midway through the second quarter and were struggling to get things going offensively until the defense came through again.

With 6:49 left in the first half Wood defender Brett Lewin read Heritage quarterback Michael Galvan’s eyes perfectly and was in the right spot for the first of three Wood interceptions. Lewin, who accounted for two of the picks, raced 33 yards for the go-ahead score and gave Wood the lead for good 14-12.

Just before the end of the half Wood once again capitalized on a short field and drove 49 yards in six plays and pushed the lead to 21-12 when Butler hit Brady Hepner for a 27-yard score with only 32 seconds showing on the clock.

Halftime adjustments did wonders for the Colonels. Wood took the second-half kick and drove it right down the field, going 69 yards in just five plays, four on the ground. Senior Dallas Corbin finished up the drive with a 17-yard run to give Wood a 27-12 lead with 9:39 left in the third. Corbin finished with a career- and game-high 141 yards on 24 carries.

“It feels amazing. I’m speechless I don't know what to say. (The offensive line) picked up their blocks. all I did was run,” Corbin said of his night. “During halftime we just had a big get-together and talked about playing together. You can’t win if you don’t play as a team. We’ve got to get it through our heads that we can win if we can do that we can be pretty good team this season

“Our defense won it for us tonight. They played great. The offense put points on the board. That's what we’ve got to do.”

After the Pride cut the lead to 27-20 the Colonels put together a drive they can talk about all season long. With just 23 seconds remaining in the third Wood took over at its own 7-yard line. The end result of the drive was only three points, but it ate up most of the fourth quarter and gave the Colonels an important 10-point advantage.

Wood marched from its 7 to the Pride 13 in 14 plays, eating up most of the fourth quarter clock. Matt Rader's 30-yard field goal with 6:51 left in the game gave the Colonels a 30-20 lead, and a little breathing room, and they would need every bit of it.

Heritage got a 40-yard scoring strike from Galvan with just over three minutes to play, but the Colonels were able to run the clock out from there behind their running attack.

“Brett Lewin played like a champ,” Bolin said. “Those two interceptions were just smart plays and it ended up that’s what won us the game. We’ve got a long week. We’re gonna have our work cut out for us but the effort tonight ...."

The Colonels outrushed Heritage 196-59 and only commited four penalties. In addition to his two interceptions, Lewin also rushed for 23 yards on five carries and Butler threw for 76 yards and two scores.

Galvan threw for 229 yards, two touchdowns and he ran for another to lead the Pride.