Blocked extra proves to be the difference in district opener
The Woodbridge varsity football team advanced to 4-1 on the year with a 14-13 road win over Laurel (2-3) last Thursday in the District 2A opener. The Raiders blocked an extra point late in the first half in what ended up being the game-winning play.
“It was exactly what I thought it was going to be, a 48 minute game,” said Woodbridge head coach Marvin Dooley. “We (offense) struggled early. We figured things out at half-time. That’s a good defense (Laurel).”
Woodbridge’s Malachi Hayes runs eight yards for a touchdown in last week’s 14-13 win in Laurel. Hayes had two touchdown runs and a two-point conversion. Photo by Mike McClure
Laurel took advantage of a forced turnover at the start of the game to take an early lead. Laurel’s Jeremiah Mizzelle Hopkins forced a fumble on Woodbridge’s opening kickoff return and teammate Khalid Burton recovered the fumble on the Woodbridge 21. The Bulldogs’ Asante Lofland picked up a first down on a run on third and inches and the quarterback scored a one-yard touchdown on a keeper. Bryan Gonzalez-Rivera added the extra point for a 7-0 Laurel lead with 9:05 remaining in the first quarter.
The two teams traded punts before the Raiders’ offense took over at midfield. Quarterback Logan Moran completed a 13-yard pass to Malachi Hayes on third and 10 before being forced to punt.
Woodbridge’s defense forced another Laurel punt at the beginning of the second quarter. Woodbridge began its drive on the Laurel 43 and continued with a 22-yard pass from Moran to Ji’Kare Banks and a 13-yard run by Hayes. Hayes scored on an eight-yard touchdown run and ran in the two-point conversion for an 8-7 lead (9:50).
The Raiders’ offense later went back to work starting on its own 49. Moran completed a 19-yard pass to King Peden and Hayes had a 31-yard touchdown run. The two-point run was stopped to keep the score at 14-7 with 6:41 remaining in the first half.
Laurel’s offense started with the ball on the 33 and moved it to the Woodbridge 48 on a run by Hopkins and a horse collar penalty on the Raiders. Shockley added a 12-yard run, Elijah Niblett ran for 10 yards, and Shockley rumbled seven yards for a first down on third and six. Shockley scored from two yards out on third and goal from the two, but the Raiders’ Marquel Clark blocked the extra point to keep the score at 14-13 with 34 seconds left in the half.
A defensive battle ensued throughout the third quarter. Woodbridge started with the ball at midfield late in the quarter before three penalties and a sack by Laurel’s Kei’shaun Copes led to another Raiders’ punt.
The Raiders got the ball back at the start of the fourth quarter and drove downfield, starting at their own 14 with 8:52 left. Hayes, taking snaps out of the wildcat, had runs of 28 and 10 yards then added three carries for 17 yards to help move the chains. Facing third and one from the 12, Woodbridge’s Jayven Chapman ran for three yards and a Laurel penalty set up first and goal from the five. The Bulldogs’ defense did not let the Raiders score as Hayes was stopped on fourth and goal, but Laurel had just 1:05 left to drive the ball downfield from its own 12.
Shockley completed passes of 31 and 11 yards to Burton to advance the ball into Woodbridge territory. Shockley completed a three-yard pass to Hopkins on third and four from the 48 and the pass on fourth and one fell incomplete to seal the Raiders’ win.
Hayes ran for two touchdowns and a two-point conversion and helped his team move the ball down the field and eat up time on the clock in its final drive.
“It felt good knowing that I was in charge of the offense,” Hayes said. “My offensive line got a good push up front. I don’t do it without them.”
“He (Hayes) ran a tough game. He’s a tough kid,” added Dooley.
Scoring Summary:
First quarter- Laurel- Koby Shockley one-yard run (Gonzalez-Rivera kick)
Second quarter- WB- Malachi Hayes eight-yard run (two pc Hayes run good)
WB- Malachi Hayes 31-yard run (two pc run failed)
Laurel-Koby Shockley two-yard run (kick blocked)