By Liz Keller / Scrimmageplaycva.com contributor
GOOCHLAND – When the temperatures go down, the pulse of the Goochland football team clearly goes up.
On Friday against Central Woodstock in a game played in freezing temperatures, Goochland used its potent ground attack and stingy, opportunistic defense to roll past the Falcons 45-7 and stay perfect on the year.
The Bulldogs amassed 206 rushing yards in the convincing win as they moved forward in the Group A, Division 2, Eastern Section playoffs.
“We’re built to play in November, and that’s our style,” Goochland coach Joe Fowler said. “We talk about it all the time, you see these spread teams, and the spread teams are great when its 82 degrees and sunny outside. But state title games and playoff games are played on Friday nights on sloppy fields where it’s 30 degrees.”
Goochland (12-0) got right down to business, as Dasheem Norris picked off Samuel Cornman’s pass on the opening drive of the game.
The Bulldogs used an eight-play drive to take a lead they wouldn’t relinquish, as Jake Martin found his way in the end zone from six yards out.
Goochland extended the advantage in the second quarter, and after Jess McLaughlin blocked a Central punt to set up a short field, the home team scored again.
Cody Johnson capped the drive with a one-yard run, and with the point after attempt by Colby Cooke, Goochland took a 14-0 lead.
Goochland, which sported black uniforms in the contest, forced the visitors to go three-and-out on their following possession, and capitalized on another short field.
David Dyer highlighted the drive with three carries for 23 yards, while Johnson had a pair of completions (17 yards) before Mitchell Brice broke a couple of tackles and darted 21 yards into the end zone untouched. Brice, in his return from a foot injury, finished with 46 yards rushing on seven carries.
Cooke, who is headed to Vanderbilt, converted a 25-yard field goal as Goochland took a commanding 24-0 halftime lead.
Dyer, filling in for an injured Patrick Clore (ankle), was the workhorse on the night. The sophomore fullback toted the ball 18 times and racked up 106 yards in his second start of the year.
“We made a concerted effort to run the fullback,” Fowler said of his team’s gameplan. “Fortunately David did a real good job doing that — he picked up some tough yards inside. It was hard for us to get outside, they were taking away our sweeps today, so that gave us some inside stuff and we were able to take advantage of that.”
Added Dyer, whose longest run of the night was a 17-yard sprint in the third quarter:
“I give all the credit to my offensive line,” he said. “I’m glad to have this opportunity — it’s my chance to do something.”
Interestingly, Dyer’s touchdown came on a nine-yard pass play from Johnson in the third quarter.
Goochland continued to control the tempo in the second half, and tacked on scores from Scott Pearce (30-yard fumble recovery) and Johnson (2-yard run).
Central Woodstock (6-5) played without its starting quarterback, Hayden Bauserman, who didn’t make the trip because of an illness. The Falcons’ lone touchdown came in the fourth quarter, as Sean Semones broke away for a 29-yard dash.
According to Fowler, the key to the game was his team’s intensity.
“We had as good of a Wednesday practice as we’ve had all season. The kids were focused, and the seniors came out and set the tone,” Fowler said. “[Thursday] we practiced in the slop trying to get ready. I thought we played with great intensity and we played physical football, which is what we need to do.”
Goochland plays host to King William, a winner over Buckingham County, in the semifinals on Friday at 7 p.m.
