James Wood made a resounding bounceback statement from its loss to Sherando last week by routing Warren County 56-26. The Wildcats are the only team to beat defending Northwestern District champion Kettle Run, and the Colonels recorded 544 yards and four rushing and passing TDs each against the Wildcats.
The Colonels will look to keep rolling against a Meridian team they beat 41-22 last year. James Wood trailed 15-14 with 4:09 left in the third quarter but ultimately won the game behind the strength of 345 rushing yards, with quarterback Owen Neal running for 171 yards and two TDs on 23 carries.
Meridian is coming off a 41-6 win over Fauquier but was stifled by Millbrook in a 29-6 defeat two weeks ago. In that contest, the Mustangs ran for 229 yards but were held to 9 yards passing and intercepted twice. Meridian — which didn’t score until there were four seconds left — are led by running back Abram Ellis (15 carries, 73 yards, 3-yard TD vs. Millbrook) and quarterback Luke Micciche.
James Wood is allowing 15 points and 199.2 yards per game. The Colonels are led on defense by linebackers Jackson Ledford (45 tackles), Anthony Salvati (41 tackles) and Logan Lafollette (31 tackles, three sacks), defensive back Cannon Edgerton (31 tackles) and defensive lineman Heston LaRue (24 tackles, 8.5 sacks).
Led by Neal (70 of 96 for 1,435 yards, 15 TDs, two interceptions; 42 carries for 364 yards and 13 TDs), James Wood is averaging 511.2 yards and 54.4 points. Ledford (41 carries, 366 yards, four TDs), Aidric Yurish (27 catches, 524 yards, four TDs), Xavier Price (15 catches, 346 yards, seven TDs) and Jackson Lang (16 catches, 315 yards, TD) also lead James Wood.