Game Of The Week: Pioneers, Colonels Renew Rivalry

Posted: October 25, 2013

By ROBERT NIEDZWIECKI

James Wood sophomore Tyler Bishop, who has rushed for a team-best 396 yards on the season, and his teammates would like nothing better than to snap a 17-game losing streak tonight. (Photo by Scott Mason/The Winchester Star)

WINCHESTER — With just two wins between them heading into the football season’s ninth week, Millbrook and James Wood aren’t having the type of success they’ve often enjoyed in previous years.

From 2006-2012, they combined for 10 playoff appearances (each made the playoffs from 2007-10), and every other year during that seven-year stretch, at least one of the teams either went on to a winning record or earned a playoff berth.

Of course, that streak isn’t necessarily done yet. Millbrook (2-5, 1-0 Northwestern District) is just three spots out of playoff positioning in the 4A North Region, and a win today would keep its hopes alive.

For James Wood (0-8, 0-2), tonight’s game that starts at 7 p.m. is its Senior Night. It’s one of the Colonels last chances to get a win and end a losing streak that has reached 17 games. And a win would give them a lead in their 10-year series with Millbrook, which is tied 5-5 after last year’s 42-7 win by the Pioneers.

As evidenced by the enthusiasm they showed at the end of Tuesday’s practice — players were hollering as they ran sprints back and forth along the width of their practice field while carrying teammates piggy-back style — the Colonels definitely want that win.

“They practiced good today,” James Wood first-year coach Mark McHale said Tuesday. “You wouldn’t think they lost every game.”

“I know we’re not giving up,” James Wood quarterback Brady Hepner said. “The season’s not going well, but we’re still pushing at it, and we still have a lot of energy at practice.”

As for Millbrook, the Pioneers had a chance to take a winning streak into this game.

Three weeks ago they beat Skyline 10-6 in their Northwestern District opener, and against Jefferson (W.Va.) on Oct. 14, the Pioneers had a 10-7 lead at the half. But Millbrook gave up three touchdown passes of more than 30 yards — one set up by an interception thrown by the Pioneers — in a 27-17 loss.

Millbrook coach Josh Haymore said after that game that the Pioneers’ execution needed to get better, so the Pioneers used the extra time they had with their bye week to focus on the fundamentals.

“I think that was good, getting back to the basics,” Haymore said. “Doing what you need to be successful, it’s the small things. It’s not just, ‘Let’s run plays, let’s run defense.’ It’s, ‘How can I get off blocks, how can I shed blocks, how can I make blocks better, how can I drive my feet,’ stuff like that.

“I always believe fundamentals are the No. 1 key to execution. If you do it the right way, that’s when the success comes.”

Millbrook’s defense has outperformed its offense this year, but some of the Pioneers’ younger players have had some strong moments on offense.

Sophomore quarterback Mark Paxton completed 16 of 27 passes for 206 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions against Jefferson, just 86 yards short of his passing total in his first four games. Freshman wide receiver Conor Hartigan caught two touchdown passes last week (and has 28 tackles in just four games played), and in part because of injuries freshman P.K. Kier (55 carries, 191 yards) has been Millbrook’s top rushing option of late.

Haymore said Paxton has developed well.

“He’s doing a good job,” Haymore said. “He’s getting better every day with his decision-making.”

Though James Wood didn’t have a bye week last week, this week probably feels like one in comparison. The Colonels lost 41-6 to Sherando on Monday, then only got to rest three days before losing to Skyline 22-13 on Friday.

McHale said the biggest key for his team this week will be to take advantage of field position, which was a problem against Skyline.

“Last week we had Skyline pinned [deep in Hawks’ territory] three times,” McHale said. “We got one score out of it, and we let them out of there twice. I want to see us win that field position battle.”

It can be done. Despite some moments of progress, Millbrook is still only averaging 180.1 yards and 11 points a game.

McHale said it will take consistency on James Wood’s part. Oftentimes, the Colonels — who are surrendering 345.5 yards per game (225.3 rushing) — might put a couple strong plays together, only to give up a big gain on third down.

Injuries to James Wood’s offense is another reason why the Colonels need short fields to work with. The Colonels were dealt another blow this week because junior tight end/defensive end Colin Benner had to transfer to Millbrook this week and will not play the rest of the season.

With Hepner playing quarterback instead of the injured Cam Butler, James Wood will still emphasize the running game despite its struggles, and the Pioneers are gearing up for it. Tyler Bishop has 396 yards and four touchdowns and Landon Rutherford — who leads James Wood in tackles with 47 — has 347 yards and one touchdown. Both players are averaging 3.9 yards per carry.

“Our main focus is making them one-dimensional,” Millbrook senior linebacker/wide receiver Taylor James said. “If we do that, we can be successful.”

A Millbrook win would give the Pioneers a fighting chance at a playoff berth, but according to defensive lineman/tight end Josh Dantzler, that’s not on Millbrook’s mind. What’s important right now is putting a complete game together this week.

“We’re just focused on each day,” Dantzler said. “Each day of practice, trying to get a little more intense each day. We just have to come out headstrong [tonight] and play to win.”

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