Finally!!! Colonels Beat Warriors 17-14
Devin Stonier's interception of Metheny late in the game proved to be the difference as James Wood won 17-14.
Photo By: Marc Gold / Gameday | VIEW GALLERY
Jordan Dallman's 26 yard touchdown catch in the 3rd quarter proved to be the game winner against Sherando.
Photo By: Marc Gold / Gameday | VIEW GALLERY
Ross Metheny threw for 403 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to the James Wood Colonels.
Photo By: Marc Gold / Gameday | VIEW GALLERY
STEPHENS CITY, VA - Both the Sherando Warriors and James Wood Colonels entered Friday's contest needing wins. The Warriors needed to pull out a victory to keep them in contention for the Northwestern district title, and the Colonels wanted to stay perfect in district play. The two teams played one of the best games in the area in front of a packed house at Arrowhead Stadium.
The game started as expected with the two teams feeling each other out for the first 3 possessions. It would be the Colonels who struck first. Trae Tinsman capped off a 10 play drive that covered 70 yards and took over 5 minutes off the game clock. The Colonels were helped by 2 untimely Warrior penalties totaling 21 yards on the drive. Sherando would end the first half with 8 penalties for 96 yards, a key stat that would come into play later on in this one. With only 8:53 to play in the first half it was James Wood 7, and Sherando 0. Ross Metheny and the Warriors would waste no time pulling even. On their next possession the Warriors would tie the game when Metheny found an open Brogan Hoover on the right side of the formation for a 16 yard touchdown catch to tie the game at 7-7 with 6:08 to play before the halftime break. Even with the tie game, Sherando could not stop the Colonels from marching down the field and converting a 24 yard field goal by Andrew Lloyd to take a 10-7 halftime lead. It was only James Wood that production on the ground, as both Brock Lockhart and Jordan Dallman rushed for over 40 yards in the first half of play.
Down 10-7 and needing to make something happen the Warriors would come out firing in the 3rd quarter. The Sherando defense would make numerous plays in the second half, but the offense was unable to make their possessions count. On the very first Sherando possession of the second half it was Ross Metheny making a mistake by not looking off his intended receiver. Harlan Robinson stepped in front of the lefty's pass and regained control for the Colonels at their own 7 yard line. Sherando's defense looked like they were poised to make another key stop to keep the game close; however, Trae Tinsman had different ideas. On just the third play of the drive Tinsman dropped back and found Danny Cooper for a 38 yard gain and the Colonels were in business. Just a few plays later it would again be Tinsman doing what he could to help James Wood pull away. Tinsman contributed the second Colonels touchdown by finding Jordan Dallman in the slot position for a 26 yard touchdown catch and the 17-7 lead. Down by 10 points the Warriors needed to get something going to stay in the game. With just :43 left in the 3rd quarter Metheny was able to find Derrick Dehaney in the front corner of the end zone for a score. After 3 quarters the score stood at 17-14 in favor of the Colonels.
James Wood was 12 minutes away from one of the biggest wins in school history, but they had to come up with a couple more plays to steal away the win. The first big play of the final stanza came when coach Mike Bolin elected to attempt a fake field goal run to Andrew Lloyd, but Kadeem Blackwood did exactly what he was coached to and stopped Lloyd short of the first down and gave the Warriors the ball back with just 4:49 to play, still down by 3points. Metheny would try for another magical finish to knock off the Colonels, but the biggest play in the game would prevent that from happening on this night. From the Colonels 14 yard line, Metheny looked to his right for Derrick Dehaney on a slant pattern, but it was Devin Stonier stepping in front of the pass and returning it all the back to the Warriors 3 yard line with just 1:50 to play in the game. The Warriors defense had all the pressure on them and came up big again, stopping James Wood from getting into the end zone and taking a 10 point lead. Enter Ross Metheny for one more chance at coming from behind. With just :47 remaining in regulation, Metheny was asked to take the Warriors down the field on a bum ankle. Metheny was barely able to put weight on his right ankle as Sherando took the field for the last drive of the game. On the very first play of the final drive Metheny found Dalton Boyd on a skinny post pattern, and Boyd took the reception all the way down to the James Wood 30. Sherando was able to stop the clock, and after two more incompletions the Warriors faced a 4th and 9 from the James Wood 30 yard line. It was again Derrick Dehaney coming up with a big catch to keep the team alive. Metheny and Dehaney would hook up on 4th down and convert the 1st down with just :13 left in regulation. Sherando was able to take one more chance to the end zone, but Metheny was unable to hook up with Jason Tunison for the go-ahead score, and coach Hall had to settle for a Lukas Stump field goal attempt. Stump lined up for the potential game tying kick, but when the ball left his foot it was just right of the goal post, and unfortunately for the Warriors it would not come back around and the game would end. James Wood had escaped with the 17-14 win and their perfect district record in tact.
Next week Sherando will look to bounce back as they take on the Brentsville Tigers at home. The game will be broadcast live on The Gameday Radio Network at www.GamedayMagazine.com James Wood will be facing the Skyline Hawks in yet another game that could affect the outcome of the Northwestern district.
VELOCITY SPORTS PERFORMANCE PLAYERS OF THE GAME
James Wood: Trae Tinsman, Quarterback
Tinsman would say after the game that the coaching staff for James Wood had not asked him to do too much, and he listened to their advice and coaching. Tinsman would finish the game 6 for 9 passing for 115 yards and the one touchdown pass. He also carried the ball 3 times for 4 yards and the other James Wood touchdown.
Sherando: Ross Metheny, Quarterback
Despite the injury and the loss, Metheny would finish with some of his best numbers of the year. He completed 28 of 45 passes for 403 yards and 2 touchdown and 2 interceptions. Metheny hooked up with Dehaney 14 times for 186 yards and a touchdown.
