Wood treating Fauquier game like it’s a playoff

By Robert Stocks
The Winchester Star

WINCHESTER — Even though the Region II Division 4 playoffs don’t start for another two weeks, James Wood coach Mike Bolin said his team plans to approach tonight’s game against Fauquier like it’s already the postseason.

Both the Falcons (4-4) and Colonels (6-2) have playoff hopes hinging on their final two games.

James Wood holds the No. 4 position in the Division 4 power ratings, and Bolin said his team needs a victory to solidify its spot among the six playoff seeds.

“I think we’ve got to win one out of two,” Bolin said. “If we win this week, I think we’re in. If we win both, a lot of things can happen, but you’ve got to focus on the opponent you’re playing. If we beat Fauquier we can take a look at that.

“It’s kind of all playoff games now. If you think about it, Fauquier has an outside chance so there’s a lot riding on this one.”

Fauquier, currently No. 7 in the Division 4 ratings, faces a must-win situation when the Falcons face the Colonels tonight at 7 at Jerry L. Kelican Stadium.

“We’re trying to put ourselves in a position to be [Evergreen] District champs and get into the playoffs,” said second-year Fauquier coach Mark Scott, whose team owns a 3-0 district record heading into next week’s showdown with Liberty. “This game really doesn’t affect our district play, but with James Wood and us — as far as power points go — we’re going to be fighting for spots.” After two district losses in the last three weeks, the Colonels must turn their attention to the playoffs, and this week they face an opponent that will provide somewhat of an unfamiliar look on offense.

In games against Millbrook and Handley this season, the Falcons’ no-huddle spread offense led by quarterback Garret Diehl featured nearly a 2-to-1 pass-to-run ratio.

“They run the no-huddle so that will be something we haven’t seen,” Bolin said. “This will be by far the most different opponent we’ve seen.”

The Falcons have won three in a row, including district victories over Brentsville (28-7), Warren County (47-8) and Kettle Run (35-14). After a 1-4 start (with losses to Broad Run, Handley, Skyline and Millbrook), Scott said his team is healthy now, giving Diehl more playmakers around him.

“For our first five games we were down a couple starters,” Scott said. “Once we were able to get everybody back, it made a big difference on Garret and he didn’t have as much pressure to make plays.

“In our last three wins, we’ve taken care of the football. [Diehl] has only thrown one interception since our bye week [on Oct. 2].”

Taking care of the ball hadn’t been an issue for James Wood until last week’s 10-7 loss to Millbrook. The Colonels turned the ball over four times (three on fumbles) and senior quarterback Trae Tinsman threw his first interception in 124 attempts this season.

“We turned the ball over as many times last week as we had all season,” Bolin said. “Any time you turn the ball over four times, you’re probably not going to win.”

The Colonels finished with season lows in first downs (9) and total yards (295). It was the first time Bolin’s team was held below 300 yards of total offense all season.

Bolin believes James Wood has turned the page, but he said his team can’t afford to make the same type of mistakes tonight against the Falcons.

“We realize we let a game that we possibly could have won slip away,” Bolin said. “We have to play better this week. We have to be fundamentally sound, cut down on turnovers and mistakes and it will be a good game.”

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