As Woodberry Forest has re-ascended the ranks of the state’s high school football hierarchy, it’s become tougher and tougher to schedule teams in the region.
That forces the Tigers to get creative. Two-day trips to Blairstown, New Jersey creative to play squads that utilize a handful of postgraduate players creative.
The Tigers made the trip north Friday and stayed overnight before locking up with Northeast power Blair Academy, a school known for producing top-flight wrestlers and basketball players as part of a successful, well-established athletic program.
Woodberry fell 28-21 to Blair, ending the program’s seven-game win streak dating back to the McDonogh loss in September of 2010.
After trailing 21-7 after the first half — with C.J. Prosise’s 70-yard punt return for a touchdown the Tigers’ lone score — the Tigers played Blair even in the third quarter, adjusting to the pace and style of Blair’s option-based system.
What followed was an explosive fourth quarter. Rogers Clark forced a fumble that Greer Martini scooped up for a 9-yard touchdown return. On the ensuing kickoff though, Lehigh lacrosse commitment Andrew Iaococca unleashed an 80-yard kick return for a touchdown.
Woodberry cut the lead to 28-21 with a 38-yard toss from Heys McMath to Doug Randolph. The Tigers forced a Blair punt on the next drive, but the offensive sputtered, handing the ball back to Blair who managed to run out the clock.
Woodberry struggled in particular throughout the contest to move the ball on the ground, managing just 33 yards on 20 attempts. Randolph led the receivers with 74 yards on three catches including the touchdown while McMath went 14 for 21 for 144 yards and a touchdown while throwing two interceptions.
That creative, challenging schedule continues next Saturday when the Tigers host Liberty Christian in a clash of two of the top private school programs in the state.
