Banged-up James Wood team hosts unbeaten Warren County

September 24, 2010

By David Selig - The Winchester Star

WINCHESTER- In several ways, tonight's football game between James Wood and Warren County could be considered a bounce-back game.

The Colonels (2-1) are looking to bounce back from a 20-16 defeat at Hedgesville (W.Va.) last week.

Meanwhile, the Wildcats (3-0) are seeking their first signature victory in what is shaping up to be a bounce-back season following years of frustration.

But, for both teams, the game boils down to a key challenge with district play inching closer, and James Wood coach Mike Bolin knows his team can't treat it any differently.

"The bottom line is, when the game starts you throw that stuff out the window," Bolin said. "Forget about what's happened in the past, and I'm sure [Warren County] coach [Tony] Tallent is telling their kids the same thing. You can sit there and pat yourself on the back about going 3-0, or you can sit there and pout about losing last week. Regardless, when you step on the field, it's a new ballgame, it's a new night, and there's a new final score at the end." For the Colonels to wind up on the right side of that final score, their depth will likely be tested.

A number of players were banged up last Friday, including quarterback Matt Copley (cracked rib) and two-way lineman Chase Tyler (concussion).

Bolin declined to discuss details about which of his players will be available tonight, but he said at least five regulars will either sit out or be considered game-time decisions.

"We're as banged up as we've ever been," Bolin said Tuesday. "We've got to be creative as a staff to find the best fit we can find at every spot. We've been working guys in at different spots that they haven't played before, or haven't played in a while, but the bottom line is we've got to play [tonight] at 7. We've got to find 11 guys on offense, 11 guys on defense, and go out there and be able to do the job."

Bolin said his team needs to block better and return to the fundamentals of its 4-4 defense to be successful.

Last week's loss - which came on a nine-yard touchdown pass with 34 seconds remaining - was undoubtedly a tough one to swallow.

And with a number of players nicked up and missing practice time, it's been crucial for the veterans to keep their teammates' minds in the right place.

"It's challenging, for sure," senior fullback/linebacker Cory Schrock said of the injuries. "But we've got guys definitely stepping up. That's what they've been practicing for since the beginning of August. ...

"Our seniors, we've been keeping everybody calm and keeping everybody excited for this next game. We can't look at everything in a bad way. We've just got to keep everything positive."

Warren County's season has been nothing but positive so far.

Sure, the Wildcats' three victories have come against Group A Strasburg and first-year Loudoun County schools Woodgrove and Tuscarora. But they've outscored those opponents by an average of 34-15.

"Obviously you can't start any better than this," said Tallent, who took over the program at Warren County when it split with Skyline in 2007. "It's good to start off so fast and see the kids have such confidence in themselves."

The Wildcats' most dangerous weapon has been 6-foot, 200-pound junior running back Gage Steele, who has rushed for 537 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.

Steele ran for 143 yards on 12 carries in last year's meeting in Front Royal, which Warren County led 14-7 in the second quarter before ultimately falling 41-21.

"He's a hard running back. He's given us fits for the last two years," Bolin said. "He's got the speed of a speed back, but he'll lower his shoulder and run you over, too. He's by far the best that we've seen so far."

Considering that Warren County hasn't won more than three games in a season since 2005, it could be the best Wildcat team the Colonels have seen in a while. (James Wood has won four straight meetings to take a 19-17 lead in the all-time series.)

So, to sum all it up, James Wood is coming off a tough loss, facing a confident team with a legitimate playmaker, and doing so at far less than full strength.

That adds up to a daunting challenge, but perhaps also an opportunity for the Colonels to make a statement about their resolve.

"In years past this would scare me more," Bolin said. "But we've got a group of kids this year that are so hard nosed, and such hard workers. They want to win, and sometimes that's enough to go on."