WINCHESTER — The James Wood football team’s dream regular season came to an end Friday night with another complete and total dominating victory, this time over visiting Fauquier.
Colonels senior quarterback Owen Neal, playing in his last regular-season game at Kelican Stadium, once again put up video game numbers to leading Wood to a 71-7 thrashing of the Falcons for their sixth straight win and ninth of the season.
Neal completed 15 of 17 passes for 340 yards and six touchdowns, all in the first half. Six players caught passes from Neal, five had at least two catches and 40 yards, and five scored. Neal also had a rushing TD.
It was Fauquier’s ninth straight loss since a season opening win over Manassas Park. The Falcons finish the season 1-9 (1-8 Northwestern District).
James Wood (9-1, 6-1) hasn’t won nine games in a season since 1980, long before any of the current Colonels were born, and are set to host their first playoff game since that 1980 season next Friday. James Wood (29.4 power point rating) will be the No. 4 seed and host No. 5 Salem (27.5) this coming week in the Region 4D quarterfinals.
“We didn’t want to get complacent [tonight],” James Wood coach Todd Wilson said. “We understood that Fauquier’s in a rebuilding phase, similar to what we were just four years ago. A lot of young kids on that team over there and we understood that. We also understood that we can’t play down to our opponent, we had to go out and execute just like we had against everybody and that’s what we told the guys to do tonight
“That’s what good programs do. Good programs win games, handle business and then get a lot of their young guys opportunities to play. We had a lot of freshmen and sophomores on the field in the second half and that’s valuable playing time for those kids. Just a great opportunity for all of our Colonels tonight.”
Any and all worries about the Colonels looking past Fauquier to next week’s playoffs were quickly put to rest.
James Wood (9-1, 6-1 Northwestern District) took the opening kick and put together their longest drive of the game in terms of number of games.
The Colonels drove 59 yards in seven plays and a 7-0 lead on Jackson Lang’s 10-yard scoring run, their first run of the game. It was a harsh foreshadowing of things to come for the Falcons.
The Colonels had nine first-half possessions and scored nine touchdowns, cruising to a 61-0 halftime lead. Five of those possessions started in Fauquier territory. Three others starting on the Colonels’ side of the side, but near midfield.
Wood showed off their high-powered, quick-strike offense often in the first half. Four of those scoring plays were only one play, including a 91-yard scoring strike from Neal to Lang that made it 61-0 with 3:23 remaining in the first half. They also had one four-play scoring drive, two three-play drives and a two-play drive, all before halftime.
“There wasn’t any doubt in my mind they were going to take this game seriously,” Wilson said. “We had a phenomenal week of practice and the hard work the kids have put in is just showing on the field right now.”
Fauquier’s first nine drives resulted in five three-and-outs, two interceptions, and one fumble. By the time the Falcons (minus-25 yards in the first half) picked up their first first down with less than two minutes remaining in the half they were down 61-0.
The Colonels next two scoring drives were both just one play, and both touchdown passes from Neal. Neal hit Xavier Price with a 34-yard scoring strike and after an interception by Cannon Edgerton set Wood up in the red zone, Neal found Aidric Yurish for a 16-yard score to make it 20-0.
On the Colonels fourth possession junior running back Jackson Ledford got in on the action. He capped off a four-play 44-yard drive with a 10-yard scoring run that made it 26-0.
After another inception, this time by Price, the Colonels took over at the Falcons’ 8. It took Neal one play to dart through the line and pick up a rushing score and a 33-0 lead.
Moments later Neal hit Ledford for a 35-yard touchdown pass and a 40-0 advantage after the first quarter of play.
James Wood’s first two second-quarter possessions resulted in a 35-yard scoring pass from Neal to Parker Kerns and an 18-yard touchdown pass to Price to make it 55-0.
With just under four minutes to play in the first half the Falcons were finally able to pin Wood deep in its own territory after getting a solid punt and a great roll that ended up at the Colonels 9-yard line.
Having his back to his own goal line didn’t faze Neal and his mates at all. Neal dropped back, and with great protection from his line he stepped up and launched down the field to Lang, who had gotten behind the defense. He caught the ball in stride and went 91 yards for another score.
Yurish had five catches for 71 yards and a score, Price collected three passes for 51 yards and two touchdowns and Land had two catches for 120 yards and a score. Kerns added two catches for 40 yards and one touchdown and Ledford had two catches for 48 yards and a touchdowns.
Benjamin Frimpong led the Colonels on the ground with 56 yards on seven carries and a 5-yard touchdown, all in the second half.
“It feels good, but we can’t get complacent,” Neal said. “I’m just looking forward to getting back to work next week.
“Everyone makes our offense go. I can’t do my job without the line. I can’t get my passing yards without the wide receivers doing their job getting open. It truly is a team game and we all have that team chemistry and it’s clicking right now. There’s always things we can do better. There’s always room to improve.”
With the game well in hand Wilson and the James Wood coaching staff took the starters out of the game at the break.
On the Falcons’ first play from scrimmage in the second half Kevin Newman broke outside and got loose down the near sideline and went 68 yards. Newman finished with 103 yards rushing on 13 carries.
Jack Trumble had a 37-yard field goal for Wood to close the scoring.
With the regular season now in the rearview mirror the Colonels will set their sights on the playoffs, and Neal is very happy to play the opening round at home.
“A chance to play a playoff game here at home with the home fans, it means a lot,” Neal said. “We’ve all put in a lot of work. I couldn’t be here without my teammates. It just feels awesome, Our fans are amazing, just to play in front of our home fans, it’s been a long time coming. We’ve just got to do our job and show up for them”.
Wilson added, “It’s a great opportunity no matter who we play against next week. We’ll make the most of it. The guys will be focused in practice and will just enjoy the moment.”
The James Wood football team’s dream regular season came to an end Friday night with another complete and total dominating victory, this time over visiting Fauquier.
Colonel’s senior quarterback Owen Neal, playing in his last regular season game at Kelican Stadium, once again put up video game numbers leading Wood to a 71-7 thrashing of the Falcons for their sixth straight win and ninth of the season.
It was Fauquier’s ninth straight loss since a season opening win over Manassas Park. The Falcons finish the season 1-9.
James Wood hasn’t won nine games in a season since 1980, long before any of the current Colonels were born and are set to host their first playoff game in over 30 years next Friday.
“I don’t know where this ranks, maybe it’s not set in yet because we’ve still got a week left to go, we’re in the playoffs now,” James Wood coach Todd Wilson said. “We didn’t want to get complacent, we understood that Fauquier’s in a rebuilding phase, similar to what we were just four years ago. A lot of young kids on that team over there and we understood that. We also understood that we can’t play down to our opponent, we had to go out and execute just like we had against everybody and that’s what we told the guys to do tonight”.
“That’s what good programs do. Good programs win games, handle business and then get a lot of their young guys opportunities to play. We had a lot of freshmen and sophomores on the field in the second half and that’s valuable playing time for those kids. Just a great opportunity for all of our Colonels tonight”.
Any and all worries about the Colonels looking past Fauquier to next week’s playoffs were quickly put to rest.
James Wood (9-1 overall, 6-1 Northwestern District) took the opening kick and put together their longest drive (play wise) of the game.
They drove 59 yards in seven plays and took the early 7-0 lead on Jackson Lang’s ten yard scoring run, their first run of the game. It was a harsh foreshadowing of things to come for the Falcons.
The Colonels had nine first half possessions and scored nine touchdowns cruising to a 61-0 halftime lead. Five of those possessions started in Fauquier territory with three others starting on the Colonels side of the side, but near midfield.
Wood showed off their high powered, quick strike offense often in the first half. Four of those scoring plays were only one play, including a 91 yard scoring strike from Neal to Lang that made it 61-0 with 3:23 remaining in the first half. They also had one four play scoring drive, two three play drives, and a two play drive, all before halftime.
“We preached that all offseason about being excited to play the game of football,” Wilson said. “They understand that we’re only granted some many games. You never know when an injury is going to end a season or career so you have to get the most of every snap and every play and we did a good job of relaying that to the kids all offseason. There wasn’t any doubt in my mind they were going to take this game seriously. We had a phenomenal week of practice and the hard work the kids have put in is just showing on the field right now.
Fauquier’s (1-9, 0-8) first nine drives resulted in five three and outs, two interceptions, and one fumble. By the time the Falcons picked up their first first down with less than two minutes remaining in the half they were down 61-0.
The Colonels next two scoring drives were both just one play, and both touchdown passes from Neal. Neal hit Xavier Price with a 34 yard scoring strike and after an interception by Cannon Edgerton set Wood up in the red zone Neal found Aidric Yurish for a 16 yard score to make it 20-0.
On the Colonels fourth possession junior running back Jackson Ledford got in on the action. He capped off a four play 44 yard drive with a ten yard scoring run that made it 26-0.
After another inception, this time by Price the Colonels took over at the Falcons eight. It took Neal one play to dart through the line and pick up a rushing score and a 33-0 lead.
Moments later Neal hit Ledford for a 35 yard touchdown pass and a 40-0 advantage after the first quarter of play.
With the Falcons offense unable to do anything against the Wood defense (- 25 total first half yards), the Colonels kept getting the ball back in excellent field position.
James Wood’s first two second quarter possessions resulted in a 35 yard scoring pass from Neal to Parker Kerns and an 18 yard touchdown pass to Price to make it 55-0.
With just under four minutes to play in the first half the Falcons were finally able to pin Wood deep in their own territory after getting a solid punt and a great roll that ended up at the Colonels nine yard line.
Having his back to his own goal line didn’t faze Neal and his mates at all. On the first Neal dropped back, and with great protection from his line he stepped up, launched down field to Lang, who had gotten behind the defense, and in stride caught the pass and went 91 yards for another score.
Neal finished the night completing 15 of 17 passes for 340 yards and six touchdowns, and he did it all in the first half. Neal hit six different receivers, five had at least two catches and 40 yards. Five different receivers scored.
Yurish had five catches for 71 yards and a score, Price collected three passes for 51 yards and two touchdowns and Land had two catches for 120 yards and a score. Kerns added two catches for 40 yards and one touchdown and Ledford had two catches for 48 yards and a touchdowns.
Benjamin Frimpong led the Colonels on the ground with 56 yards on seven carries and a touchdown, all in the second half.
“It feels good, but we can’t get complacent, I’m just looking forward to getting back to work next week,” Neal said. “I’m still feeling a success that I haven’t reached yet so I’m just working towards that”.
“Everyone makes our offense go, I can’t do my job without the line, I can’t get my passing yards without the wide receivers doing their job getting open. It truly is a team game and we all have that team chemistry and it’s clicking right now. There’s always things we can do better, there’s always room to improve”.
With the game well in hand Wilson and the James Wood coaching staff took the starters out of the game at the break and allowed the Falcons to find some offense, but it was short lived.
On the Falcons first play from scrimmage in the second half Kevin Newman broke outside and got loose down the near sideline and went 68 yards to get Fauquier on the board.
Newman finished with 103 yards rushing on 13 carries, most coming on that one play.
With nothing left to lose the Falcons next three possessions all ended in turnovers on downs, and all in Fauquier territory setting the Colonels offense up.
James Wood’s second half scoring came on a five yard run from Frimpong and a 37 yard field goal by Jack Trumble.
With the regular season now in the rear view mirror the Colonels set their sights on the playoffs and Neal is very happy to play the opening round at home.
“A chance to play a playoff game here at home with the home fans, it means a lot,” Neal said. “We’ve all put in a lot of work. I couldn’t be here without my teammates. It just feels awesome, Our fans are amazing, just to play in front of our home fans, it’s been a long time coming. We’ve just got to do our job and show up for them”.
Wilson added, “Whoever we have to play, I don’t know who we will have to play, right now it looks like we might have to play Salem so there’s an opportunity to play a really good opponent who’s in the playoffs every year. It’s a great opportunity no matter who we play against next week. We’ll make the most of it. The guys will be focused in practice and will just enjoy the moment”.