Woodward Academy (8-3) scored two touchdowns in the final 2:34 of the game to break open a tense first-round playoff game and defeat visiting Washington County by a score of 21-7.
After losing quarterback Greg Patton to an ankle injury earlier in the drive, the War Eagles scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 12-play, 69-yard drive when backup signal-caller Will Madden plunged in from the 1 with 2:32 remaining in the game. The drive was highlighted by two key runs by junior running back Delino DeShields.
With his team facing a crucial third-and-5 from their own 49, DeShields took a handoff from Patton, bounced off two Golden Hawk defenders and dove ahead to the Washington County 46-yard line. DeShield’s second effort would be just enough for a first down.
Four plays later, DeShields took a direct snap from center and sprinted 26 yards to the 2-yard line. Three quarterback sneaks later, the War Eagles took the lead, 14-7.
Head coach Mark Miller’s squad overcame an early 7-0 deficit to win its first playoff game since 2003.
“I’m pretty emotional right now,” declared the victorious fourth-year coach. “I’m very proud of these young men. This bunch of guys, they don’t ever die. They don’t ever quit. I’m really proud of ‘em and I’m really proud of the way that we won tonight. (It) was a very physical football game and we never backed down.”
After the Woodward defense stopped the Golden Hawks on downs, junior running back Juwan Thompson took a handoff on the next play and scampered 23 yards to put his team up 21-7 with 1:56 left. Thompson rushed 13 times for 89 yards and the game-clinching touchdown run.
“It was just a base, an automatic give,” explained the junior tailback. “I just got to read (the blocking) and I scored.”
After a 13-play, 77-yard drive for Washington County (8-3) that ended with a 7-yard touchdown run by quarterback Markeist Warthen, Woodward’s ball control offense and tenacious defense took over.
Justin Watkins returned the ensuing kickoff 58 yards to the Golden Hawk 32-yard line and Patton scored two plays later from 31 yards out to tie the game at 7.
After the tying score, the War Eagles held Washington County to 67 yards during the second and third periods, including just 7 total yards in the third.
Woodward looked to take over the game after tying the score by driving the ball into Golden Hawk territory on their next two drives, but were foiled by a missed field goal and two crucial holding penalties. However, the resilient War Eagles overcame their mistakes to win the biggest game in Miller’s brief head coaching career at his alma mater.
“I think (the resiliency of the team) dates back to three games that we lost that were big football games,” said Miller. “Westminster, Lovett, then we lost to Jackson in the region title game. So we’ve been there. We’ve been through adversity and we know we have a good football team and the kids bounced back.”
Woodward will now travel to Carver-Columbus next Friday to take on the No. 5-ranked defending state champions.
Black can be reached at sblack@scoreatl.com.
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