Lockhart sets record in Colonels win

By Jerry Holsworth -- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CROSS JUNCTION, W.Va. -- Brock Lockhart ran for a school-record 300 yards on 36 carries with four touchdowns behind a dominating James Wood offensive line to upend Washington (W.Va.) on Friday, 35-19, in the Colonels' season opener.

"I'm extremely tired," Lockhart said after the game. "I really didn't believe that I carried it that many times, and for that many yards. Our offensive line just did a great job. They all played great and they were the main reason for all of those yards."

Lockhart's 36 carries is a school record, and the total yards he gained was a reflection of the dominance of the Colonels' offensive line. Starters Cody Winstead, Jesse Barnes, Stephen Spence, Justin LaMaster, and Austin Woodall opened gaping holes all night. "This game was won up front with our offensive line," James Wood coach Mike Bolin said. "We have four returning starters and we expected it to be the strength of the team. We were blowing guys off the ball all night."

The only bad moment for the Colonels offensively came in the third quarter, when Barnes went down with a leg injury while playing on defense. He was able to walk off the field under his own power, though, and is not expected to miss any time.

"If I can walk, I can play," Barnes said. "It was a little disappointing to get hurt like that, but I was really proud of the way we played on the line tonight. We did a pretty good job on the defensive line too."

The Colonels' defense held the Patriots to just 24 yards rushing in the first half. Although Washington totaled 160 yards of offense in the first half, all but 66 of them came on two pass plays, including a hail-mary to end the half.

Despite the dominance, it took James Wood a little while to begin controlling the game. The Patriots actually scored first, breaking a scoreless tie midway through the second quarter when tailback Dylan Nick scored on a 1-yard plunge with 8:23 left in the first half.

The Colonels, however, immediately marched down the field on their next drive to tie the game 7-7. Lockhart got the touchdown on the 2-yard run.

James Wood completely dominated the second half, scoring 14 points in each of the remaining quarters. Lockhart scored on a pair of 19 yards runs in the third quarter to put the Colonels up 21-7 with 4:07 left in the period.

Unable to stop the Wood ground game that was eating up the clock, the Patriots turned to the passing game. It worked, but was never able to threaten the Colonel lead. Washington quarterback Bradley Jackson amassed 270 yards passing, mostly in the second half, but James Wood's ground game answered every time.

After a Patriot score to end the third quarter, James Wood responded with another pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The most impressive came on a nine-play, 57-yard drive over the final four minutes of play that featured nine straight runs by Lockhart. The Colonels senior finished the drive with a 3-yard touchdown right into the teeth of the Patriot defense.

James Wood quarterback Trae Tinsman threw for an impressive 144 yards for the game, completing 7-of-16 attempts.