The Woodbridge varsity football team lost some key players from last year’s team, which won the District 2A championship, but this year’s squad has a number of returning players and some young talent coming in.
“The kids are ready to play. It’s been a great camp,” said Woodbridge head coach Marvin Dooley, who called the pre-season one of the best he’s had as a coach.
Gone from last year’s team, which went 5-0 in the conference and 9-3 overall, are Traci Johnson, Quincy Risper (Delaware Valley), Sam Schroeder, Jacob Bollinger, and Cotton Collins.
Woodbridge’s Ji’Kare Banks runs with the ball during a playoff game last season. Head coach Marvin Dooley calls Banks one of the best offensive players in Division II. Star file photo
The returning players include seniors Ji’Kare Banks (CB/WR), Emmanuel Miles-Martin (CB/WR), Kam’Ren Johnson (FB/DL), Logan Moran (QB/DE), Marquel Clark (RB/DL), Jacob Handley (OL/LB), Dedrick Jones (OL/DL); juniors King Peden (LB/WR) and Tyler Ely (RB/LB); and sophomore Malachi Hayes (RB/SS).
“It’s a lot of weight being captains,” Handley said.
“We’ve got something to prove,” said Moran.
In order for the team to be successful this season, Banks said the players have to, “Just buy into what the coaches have to say, work hard and practice hard.”
Moran returns as the Raiders’ quarterback after taking over as the starter in game six last season. “That’s where it all starts offensively, with the leadership,” said Dooley.
Dooley calls Banks one of the best skilled players in the division. While the team lost workhorse running back Traci Johnson to graduation, it has three running backs who are different types of runners. Kam’Ren Johnson, a standout defensively last season, will serve as the team’s fullback.
Among the newcomers are seniors Blake Allen (OL/LB), Dylan Passwaters (OL/DL), and Omar Jackson (OL/DL) and freshmen Jayden Chapman (RB/LB), Kamryn Deshields (WR/CB), and Te’Quan Smith (RB/LB).
The team has 16 freshmen and Dooley expects three or four of them to start and make contributions. He has never had a freshman starter, in fact, when he coached at William Penn he didn’t have freshmen on the varsity team.
Dooley is looking for his team to improve each week. He calls the conference, top to bottom, the best in the division.
“I told our kids there’s not a team on our schedule we can’t beat but there’s not a team on our schedule that can’t beat us. You have to come ready to play,” said Dooley, who also called every team in the conference well coached.
Woodbridge opens the regular season at home against Seaford and ends the season against rival Delmar.
“It always gives you something to play for,” Dooley said of the rivalry games. “Playing Seaford is always special because I know the rivalry of the schools.”
“We want to play well for them (fans),” he added.
