WINCHESTER — James Wood quarterback Owen Neal thinks he might have heard the song, “Takin’ Care of Business,” before.
He and his teammates certainly adopted the sentiment of the Bachman Turner Overdrive standard on Friday.
Neal rushed for three touchdowns and threw for two scores to Xavier Price as the Colonels dominated from start to finish in a 55-10 Homecoming rout against Meridian at Kelican Stadium. Price also had an interception for a defense that allowed just three first downs over the opening two quarters as James Wood (5-1, 2-1 Northwestern District) built a 45-point halftime lead.
The Colonels didn’t let any of the distractions often associated with Homecoming week affect their play against the Mustangs (3-3, 1-2). The first-string offense, which also got three rushing touchdowns from Jackson Ledford, scored TDs on all eight of its possessions. Twice James Wood overcame penalties that took points off the board.
The defense opened the game with a fourth-down stand and did not allow a first down until the second quarter. By that time, the Colonels had a 21-0 lead.
“We’ve got confidence in both sides of the ball,” said Neal, who was 9 of 14 for 220 yards and also led the rushing attack with 119 yards on nine carries. “We know our offense is explosive and we know our defense is really physical and they do their job. And when they do their job, they are really good. We expect this coming out each and every week, but ultimately it’s on us to come and play the game.”
James Wood coach Todd Wilson liked the way his team took care of business Friday.
“That’s what we’ve been trying to preach this whole offseason and into this season is being excited about playing football,” said Wilson, who credits offseason work as being key to his team’s success. “I think we’ve got a group of kids who really enjoy the game — not only playing it but they really enjoy the work that leads up to Friday nights.
“… Our guys came out fast tonight and that’s we’ve been kind of challenging them to do every game,” he added. “Be excited to play and play some fast football, and that’s what we did on both sides offensively and defensively.”
The Colonels had a noticeable size advantage against the Mustangs, who offensively have been able to frustrate opponents with misdirection in their single-wing attack. Meridian gambled on its first possession, going for it on fourth-and-3 from its 42 and linebacker Ledford dropped running back Abram Ellis for no gain.
After a 12-yard run by Neal, the senior quarterback found Price in one-on-one coverage and hit the receiver perfectly for a 30-yard scoring strike. Draven Hernandez booted the first of seven extra points to make the score 7-0 less than three minutes into the game.
“I was just looking to run my post that I had,” said Price, who leads the area with nine TD catches. “I cut it and it was open. Owen threw me the ball and it was there.”
The Colonels needed just four plays to go 64 yards on their second possession. On a designed keeper, Neal bolted 40 yards through a gaping hole in the middle to make it 14-0.
On their next possession, the Colonels went 61 yards in five plays. The highlight was Neal’s quick toss over the middle to Aidric Yurish, who made two nifty moves to slip a pair of tacklers for a 42-yard gain to the Meridian 9. Running behind tailbacks Ledford and Dane Tews, Neal rolled 5 yards up the middle on third down for the TD that made it 21-0 with 2:02 left in the first.
Neal’s 43-yard run highlighted the Colonels’ next series. On the second play after having a holding penalty negate a touchdown, Ledford strolled in from the 3 to make it 28-0.
James Wood had a long TD strike to Price called back on its next possession, but the QB and receiver got together for another big play. A 44-yard pass to Tews got the Colonels close, but they faced a fourth-and-7 at the 11.
Neal rolled left, took his time and lofted a pretty pass to Price, who tip-toed to keep his feet in bounds in the back left corner of the end zone to make it 35-0.
“That was definitely miscommunication on them,” Price said. “He was on me then he went up to Aidric and I was wide open in the corner. It wasn’t too tough [to get my feet down], but it was a little difficult.”
“We do a really good job of figuring out the mistake and not committing it again,” Neal said of overcoming the penalties. “The coaches, they call great plays so we always have the ability to bounce back. It’s just us keeping our composure and executing what we need to do and forgetting about the past.”
Neal, who was elected the Homecoming King, was not sacked and faced little pressure throughout the contest behind the offensive line of Sawyer Farr, Donavan Ramirez, Timber Hough, Brian Snider and Lane Herring.
“I love my line,” said Neal, who has 17 touchdown passes this fall. “They worked so hard in the offseason in the weight room. They communicate well. They did a really good of of protecting me and I’m grateful.”
Price’s interception at the Mustangs’ 47 set up the next TD. Ledford (five carries, 64 yards) showcased his power by breaking tackles and running over a defender at the goal line for 32-yard TD run that pushed the lead to 42-0.
Meridian avoided a first-half shutout thanks to Noah Mayer. His 30-yard run set up his own 27-yard field goal to make it 42-3 with 2:33 to go in the half.
The Colonels needed just a little over a minute to score once again. Ledford broke more tackles on a 25-yard run that made it 48-3 at halftime.
Getting the ball to start the second half, the Colonels’ starters played one series, going 80 yards in five plays. Neal lofted a 40-yard toss to Yurish (five catches, 118 yards) to the Mustangs’ 31. Tews (five carries, 51 yards) went 30 yards in two carries and Neal punched it in from the 1.
Meridian found the end zone in the fourth quarter with Ellis (17 carries, 128 yards) breaking loose down the right sideline for a 61-yard TD.
James Wood piled up 462 yards of total offense in a contest that had a running clock in the second half. The Colonels manhandled a team that was coming off a 41-6 triumph against Fauquier.
Takin’ Care of Business, indeed.
“They’re a mature team,” said Wilson, who squad next travels to Millbrook on Oct. 9. “We talked about it as a coaching staff that in years past that we’ll have these letdowns where we come out and go through the motions. This team is a little bit different. They’ve been that team. It’s not like those kids have graduated and left. They’ve been part of the program and seen what it’s like when you just go out and go through the motions. It doesn’t work.
“These guys are really mature football-wise,” he added. “That’s what helps. They’ve seen what happens to you if you don’t take every team serious or every day in practice serious. Anybody can beat anybody if you make enough mistakes.”