By Mike McClure
The Laurel varsity football team held off Woodbridge, 16-6, last Friday in Greenwood. The Raiders rallied from a 13-0 deficit but could not complete the comeback in the homecoming loss.
“To start off the conference play with a win is huge,” said Laurel head coach Joey Jones. “The play calling was pretty simple tonight. It’s always a physical game with Woodbridge.”
Laurel’s Kenyen Littleton had a 10-yard run on the opening possession before the Raiders’ defense forced a punt. Malachi Hayes returned the punt to the Laurel 29. Hayes had a 13-yard run, but an incomplete pass on fourth and seven from 13 turned the ball over on downs.
Laurel running back Kenyen Littleton rushes towards the end zone during Friday’s game at Woodbridge. The Bulldogs won the contest, 16-6.
The Bulldogs’ Kymani Roberts broke off a 12-yard run before rumbling four yards for a first down on fourth and one from the 48 at the end of the quarter.
AJ Cannon carried the ball four times for 27 yards before scoring on a two-yard touchdown run. Bryan Gonzalez-Rivera’s extra point made the score 7-0 with 9:40 left in the second quarter.
Laurel’s Tristen Johnson had a tackle for a three-yard loss on Woodbridge’s next possession. Teammate Christian Brown pressured the quarterback on third and 18 from the 42, resulting in an incomplete pass and leading to a punt.
The Bulldogs put together another scoring drive as Cannon had four carries for 26 yards, Roberts ran for 11 yards, and Littleton added a 20-yard run. Littleton plunged into the end zone on fourth and three from the Raiders’ four (39.0), but the extra point was no good, keeping the score at 13-0 going into the half.
Woodbridge opened the third quarter with the ball on its own 49. On second and nine from the Laurel 40, Hayes took the snap and completed a 40-yard touchdown pass to Jayven Chapman. The extra point was blocked and the score remained 13-6 with 10:15 remaining in the quarter.
Woodbridge’s defense forced a Laurel punt to give the offense the ball back on its own 21 yard-line. Hayes ran 11 yards for a first down on third and one from the 45. Hayes continued to take snaps out of the wildcat throughout the second half.
Laurel got the ball back when Roberts recovered a Woodbridge fumble. Littleton caught a 12-yard pass and had a 12-yard run at the end of the quarter. At the start of the fourth quarter, Gonzalez-Rivera connected on a 32-yard field goal attempt on fourth and 11 from the 16 to give the Bulldogs a 16-6 lead (11:05).
Hayes scampered 26 yards to the Laurel eight, but a fumble on a field goal attempt on fourth and goal from the six gave the ball back to the Bulldogs.
Chapman recovered a fumble at the Laurel 33. A holding penalty and a sack by Laurel’s Gannon Pugh pushed the Raiders back to their own 44, eventually forcing a punt.
Laurel’s Jeremiah Mizzelle Hopkins added a 43-yard run to the Raider 20. Laurel took a knee to run out the clock and seal the win.
“Any time you can hold somebody to one score you’re doing great things,” Jones said of his defense.
Laurel faces Indian River this Friday in Laurel. The two teams haven’t played each other in a couple years but they are now in the same district.
“We’re excited to get that back going again,” said Jones.
