Skyline presents another challenge for Colonels

By Robert Stocks
The Winchester Star

WINCHESTER — Watching the game film from last week’s Northwestern District loss to Sherando probably left James Wood’s football players with a sickening feeling.

The Colonels were ahead 17-14 with just over nine minutes remaining, but their lead lasted about as long as it took Warriors senior Dalton Boyd to race 94 yards for a game-changing and momentum-swinging touchdown that lifted the Warriors to a 21-17 victory.

Getting over a tough loss is always difficult to stomach, but Colonels coach Mike Bolin said his team’s challenge has been putting that disappointing loss in the rearview mirror — and dealing with a few players coming down with flu-like symptoms this week.

“The kids understand we blew an opportunity to win a big game,” Bolin said. “They know we need to play a little better and we made a lot of mistakes.

“[This week] we’ve been battling the flu. Some of the kids haven’t been here — and it’s some of the ones who help us on Fridays — but for the most part everybody has been here.” The Colonels need to bounce back in time for an important Northwestern District game at Skyline tonight at 7.

The Colonels (5-1, 0-1) defeated Skyline 27-6 last year, forcing five turnovers, but the Hawks (5-1, 1-0) have proven to be a dangerous team so far this season.

“They’re fast and athletic and they have good size. And they’re really physical,” Bolin said. “They’re no slouch.”

Skyline rushed for 194 yards in a 20-10 win over Millbrook last week.

Hawks senior running back Cliff Woodard, who leads the team with 864 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns, ran for a score, and quarterback Josiah Patrick threw for two touchdowns.

Through six games, Patrick is 25 of 54 for 414 yards with four touchdowns in the Hawks’ single-wing offense.

Bolin said his defense must do a good job reading and reacting to that attack.

“You just have to be responsible for your gap and not let it baffle you,” Bolin said. “We just need to play our gaps and make our reads and we should be OK.”

At times, the Hawks’ biggest issue has been penalties — and many of those have cost Woodard from putting up a jaw-dropping amount of touchdowns.

“We had two touchdowns called back [last week],” Skyline coach Heath Gilbert said. “Cliff’s had eight called back [this year], but fortunately for us we’ve been able to overcome those.”

A stingy Skyline defense is a big reason the Hawks have overcome those penalties.

Gilbert’s defense limited Millbrook to just 148 yards (73 rushing). Through six games, the Hawks have held opposing teams to just 624 yards rushing and seven touchdowns.

That will create an interesting matchup against a James Wood running game that’s churned up 1,672 yards in six games. Senior running back Brock Lockhart leads the area with 1,215 yards rushing and he’s scored 12 touchdowns on the ground.

Gilbert said his team must be aware of James Wood’s misdirection.

“We have to see what’s really coming with their counters or traps,” Gilbert said. “Those plays can really gash you and those misdirection plays can turn into big plays.”

James Wood rushed for 173 yards last week against Sherando, and senior quarterback Trae Tinsman threw for a season-high 185 yards. Tinsman has thrown for 808 yards and eight touchdowns, with no interceptions, this season.

“He’s got great size and good feet,” Gilbert said. “He throws lasers out there.”

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