Warren tries to match turnover-free Colonels

By Robert Stocks
The Winchester Star

Winchester — When the James Wood High School football team gets the ball, opposing teams have struggled to get it back.

Wood has scored 16 touchdowns without a single turnover through three games, so Warren County comes into tonight’s game knowing it must make the most of every possession.

“We have to have flawless execution and we can’t turn the ball over,” Wildcats coach Tony Tallent said. “Against them, you just can’t let them have the ball more times than they get it naturally.”

James Wood (3-0) has outgained opponents on the ground 931-313 thus far, but Colonels coach Mike Bolin said he expects Warren County (1-2) to be his team’s toughest test to date.

“They’re pretty solid and they have two pretty good running backs in [Marty] Haley and [Gage] Steele,” Bolin said. “They’re pretty aggressive defensively and well-coached so it should be a good game.”

Based on last year’s game — a 35-26 victory by the Colonels — tonight’s matchup could be one of the more intriguing ones in the area. In last year’s meeting, Steele made his first start in the backfield and rushed for 105 yards on 17 carries. Haley rushed for 81 yards after sitting out the first half.

James Wood also moved the ball well against the Wildcats, though, rushing for 327 yards and four touchdowns.

“Last year, I think they outcoached us, and toward the end we outmuscled them a little bit,” Bolin said. “We’ve got to have our belt strapped tight this week. They’ll be ready when they play us.”

The Colonels blanked Hedgesville (W.Va.) 43-0 last week, rushing for three touchdowns and throwing for three more.

James Wood senior quarterback Trae Tinsman has completed 21 of 46 attempts for 336 yards and five touchdowns. Colonels backup quarterback Matt Copley also threw for a touchdown in last week’s win.

That only makes it easier for senior running back Brock Lockhart, who has already rushed for 709 yards and five scores.

“It’s nice to be able to throw and run,” Bolin said. “Brock has had a good season so far on the ground, but it’s nice to have the ability to do both, and as we get further into our schedule we’ll have to do both.”

Note: The game, originally scheduled for 7:30, has been moved up to a 7 p.m. kickoff.