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Properly Prepared: Woodberry Forest beats Fork Union

Photo by Kristi Ellis

Woodberry Forest has the game that truly matters every year coming up next Saturday after a two-year wait when Episcopal rolls into the Forest. 

 

But the Tigers didn’t make the mistake of looking past Fork Union Friday afternoon. 

 

Woodberry rolled 41-12 past the Blue Devils, fending off an athletic FUMA squad with a balanced offense and a defense that rose to the occasion. 

 

“This game we prepared as if it was EHS and I really think that we’ll do good next week,” said Woodberry defensive lineman Armel Mukam. 

 

Defensive lineman Rodney Lora’s recent return has made a big difference for the Tigers’ defense and now that he’s paired up with Mukam the Tigers are a major handful up front against the run and the pass.

 

“The first game I was out right away with turf toe and it was heartbreaking but thanks to our trainers Brad and Mike they helped me alot,” said Woodberry’s Rodney Lora. “I feel like I’m back to 100 percent.”

 

Outside of two long touchdowns from Keiran Meyer to Dominique Julius, the Blue Devils’ defense struggled to move the ball against the Tigers. A couple of bad snaps, including one Mukam scooped up at the two and scored a step later didn’t help the Blue Devils’ cause.

 

“I think our defensive backs really helped us put pressure on the QBs because they had a couple of athletes and I think they did a good job,” Mukam said.

 

With the defense improving after surrendering 42 points to an excellent Trinity Episcopal squad, the Tigers’ offense kept its recent roll going with a heavy dose of Donovan Baker and Tank Yaghoubi on the ground and Harley Shuford finding Landon Ellis and a couple of others in the passing game. 

 

Shuford threw three touchdowns and rushed for another, finishing with 103 passing yards. Ellis was his favorite target with six catches for 81 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The first scoring catch was an improvised long distance flip from Shuford while he was rolling to his left that allowed Ellis to race 24 yards for a score. The second was a high, arcing rainbow from the 14  that Ellis caught at the back of the endzone, toe-tapping to stay inbounds.

 

Baker and Yaghoubi each had solid days on the ground with Baker rushing for 88 yards on 13 touches while Yaghoubi had 77 yards on eight touches. 

 

Anthony Lio, who moved to receiver after starting the year at quarterback hauled in 21-yard touchdown from Shuford and McGuire Neuman had a big catch for a conversion.

 

Woodberry’s kicker Lucas Osada also blasted a 44-yard field goal in the first half that was a career long.

 

Fork Union’s defense played well for stretches, forcing a handful of three and outs and the offense got the two huge explosive plays from Julius on offense. The loss ended the careers of several players that have been critical members for the Blue Devils who preserved to play one of the state’s most complete schedules last fall.

 

“It’s a special group, a special group of seniors,” said Fork Union coach Mark Shuman. “I’m sad to see them leave but they gave us everything they have. The Julius twins, Cameron Wallace, Keiran — they battled all year and last year. They were fighting and I was proud of them.”

 

The Tigers now turn their attention to the 120th Edition of The Game Saturday in the Forest. After a year off, anticipation is high. 

 

“I have a long family line through Woodberry so this means a lot to me, I’m prepared for this,” Lora said.

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