Football Preview: James Wood at Broadway

When: Today, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Broadway High School, Broadway

Records: James Wood (0-5); Broadway (1-3)

Last week: James Wood lost to Fauquier 21-20; Broadway lost to Turner Ashby 30-23.

Last year: Did not play.

Preview: The Colonels are still looking for their first of the season, and they may not get a better shot at it.

Broadway has lost three of its four games this season — including a 6-0 defensive slugfest with Millbrook to open the season — and the lone victory came against a winless William Monroe team

But James Wood coach Mark McHale knows his team — which has lost 14 games in a row dating back to last season — can’t assume anything.

“I think [Broadway’s] offense is coming on and I think they’re a good football team,” McHale said. “They remind me of Strasburg a little bit with their style of play.”

The Rams shut out the Colonels 32-0 two weeks ago, but McHale believes his team has taken some big steps since that loss.

On the road against Fauquier last week, James Wood scored on its opening drive, was up 13-7 at the half and even held a lead in the fourth quarter before eventually losing by one, and they did it all without the presence of their head coach, who was ejected early in the second quarter.

“They did a great job against Fauquier,” said McHale, who is appealing his ejection but has yet to hear back on whether he will be allowed to be on the sidelines tonight. “We’re preparing for both situations, but if I can’t be there I know the coaching staff will step in and do the job.”

Part of that job will be stopping a Broadway offense led by freshman quarterback Kirk Rygol that is averaging 24 points per game since the opening loss to Millbrook.

Senior Tyler Yost is a threat wherever he lines up, whether it be as one of Rygol’s favorite targets at receiver or in the backfield as an option in the running game.

On defense the Gobblers like to stack the box to try and take away the run, according to McHale, which may suit the Colonels.

After spending most of the first four games relying heavily on the running game, James Wood opened up the playbook against Fauquier and found success as quarterback Cam Butler threw 26 times for 230 yards and two scores.

Winning on the road is never easy, and having to do so without your head coach certainly won’t help, but the Colonels are feeling good heading into tonight’s game.

“I think our confidence level’s gone up since last week,” McHale said. “I think [the Fauquier game] showed that if we can get all three phases down — offense, defense and special teams — and do what we’re supposed to do, we can be successful.”

— Compiled by Robert Niedzwiecki, Robert Stocks and Kevin Trudgeon