In a battle between the two Region 6-AA leaders, Woodland earned a hard-fought 26-21 victory Friday over Bishop England.
The Wolverines took the opening kickoff and scored on their first possession when QB Robert Smith hit Dondrell Folk on a 40-yard touchdown pass. Nague Wright then tacked on the two-point conversion.
Woodland (5-3, 2-1) forced a three-and-out on the Battling Bishop’s next possession and added to its lead when Smith found Folk in the open again for a 45-yard touchdown pass. The extra-point attempt failed, leaving Woodland up 14-0 entering the second quarter. Bishop England (6-2, 2-1) scored late in the second for a 14-7 halftime score.
On its first possession of the second half, Woodland marched 78 yards to push the score to 20-7 on an 8-yard run into the end zone by B.J. Mazyck. The Bishops countered with a 23-yard TD pass. Smith then used his arm and legs to answer as he led the Wolverines down field for another score. The QB capped the drive with a 5-yard TD pass to Dekendal Carn to close out the third quarter.
With five minutes remaining in the game, Bishop England pulled within 5 points of Woodland, but the Wolverines were able to control the ball, using running plays by Smith and Mazyck to chew up the rest of the clock.
Martin Connelly had an interception for Woodland while Sherrick Martino, Mazyck and Carn also came up big defensively for the Wolverines. Woodland plays at Cane Bay (2-6, 2-1) tonight and then finishes its regular season at home against Ashley Ridge (2-6, 1-3) Oct. 31.