Football Preview - Strasburg at James Wood

Today, 7 p.m.

James Wood’s Jerry L. Kelican Stadium in Winchester

Strasburg Rams (3-0); James Wood Colonels (2-1).

Strasburg beat Riverside 27-6; James Wood beat

week:

Warren County 52-34.

Last James Wood won 40-20.

Strasburg — RB Justin Carr; —

to watch:

James Wood

QB Dade Carroll

Preview: Mark McHale doesn’t need to see a lot of statistics when he looks at the Colonels’ opponent.

Just one number will suffice for Strasburg.

“The biggest thing I know is that they’re 3-0,” McHale said. “When you have a football team that’s 3-0 you’ve got something. Yo u ’ v e g o t c h e m i s t r y . Yo u ’ ve got bel i e f . T h e y ’ r e practicing hard to beat James Wood because they have not been beaten.”

The Colonels are feeling better after back- toback wins after a season-opening loss to unbeaten Heritage. Wood, behind 311 yards rushing and five touchdowns from Tyler Bishop, knocked off Warren County last week.

“I told them all spring and summer, ‘Men, we’ve got a chance to be a really good football team. We don ’ t have the numbers and we have to stay healthy, but you guys are a playoff-caliber football team.’ I think they’re starting to see that,” McHale said.

In addition to Bishop’s big numbers, the Colonels got a big night from quarterback Dade Carroll, who connected on 8 of 9 passes for 135 yards and three touchdowns. Two of the scoring tosses went to Dillon Manuel (6 catches, 123 yards).

“It helps tremendously,” McHale said of the passing game. “As long as you can pass it a little bit, it helps. We took advantage of them getting in there when he threw two touchdown passes.”

The Colonels’ defense, which has struggled this season, will get a test from Strasburg tailback Justin Carr, who has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the Rams’ victories.

“ We ’ re trying to keep the big plays to a minimum.,” McHale said. “When you match up, you match up. You can hit them in the mouth for three plays then all of a sudden they throw one up there deep.”

Strasburg’s defense has been stout, allowing an average of 8.7 points per game. The Rams’ three wins have come against teams which are a combined 1-8.

“We have to play well,” McHale said. “We ’re not a team that can turn the ball over, have penalties and bad field position. We’re just not that kind of team.”

— Compiled by Walt Moody