With the athletes that both squads bring to the field, it was only a matter of time before something gave.
When Woodberry Forest’s Carlson Milikin hauled in a 46-yard touchdown reception on the first play of the second quarter, the flood gates opened. And while Richard Dyer and Andre Parker had their moments for Fork Union, for the second straight year for these two elite football programs, it was mostly a one-sided affair with the Tigers finishing on top, 41-14.
“We had struggled on offense, but today I think it was their coming-out party,” said Woodberry coach Clint Alexander. “They were a little bit worried, but who wouldn’t be worried blocking the kids they were blocking. But you could see they were gaining confidence.”
The Tigers were coming off a lopsided loss themselves after their game with McDonogh last week. Milikin was unable to suit up and play in that game, and the Woodberry offense looked decidedly more balanced and dangerous than it had in previous weeks with the playmaker lining up as a receiver in-between his defensive back duties.
Based on the field position battle of the first quarter, the contest looked like it was headed for a 48-minute defensive struggle, but facing second and one to start the second frame, Milikin was able to convince the Tigers coaching staff to go deep.
“I told Coach Alexander that I could beat (their guy),” Milikin said. “They gave me the green light and went with a fade. I got the inside move, an inside fake and went out and it was a perfect ball by (Heys McMath). It definitely worked out for us.”
When Milikin scored, it sparked big plays for Woodberry from there on out. Five minutes after the junior receiver broke the scoreless tie, Adam Silva forced a FUMA fumble and recovered it in mid-air. Just 13 seconds later Joe Miller pulled in a deep pass from McMath between a pair of defenders, this one for a 20-yard strike to double the Tigers lead.
Facing a sizeable hole, Dyer was able to get the Blue Devils on the board by taking the ensuing kickoff 75 yards to make it a 7-point game.
In the third quarter the Tigers’ defense took matters into its own hands when Rue Hockensmith made a one-handed interception on Fork Unions opening drive of the second and returned it 20 yards to the endzone. After Fork Union blocked a Woodberry field goal attempt, Milikin made another huge play, this time on defense when he picked off another Blue Devil pass and returned for 77 yards to put Woodberry up 21.
In the fourth Hockensmith capped off a long drive with a 3-yard run to increase the lead to 28 points. With two minutes to play in the fourth Hunter Faulconer ran for 20-yard rushing score.
In the last two minutes of play, Richard Quittenton led the Blue Devils down the field and finished off the job himself with a 3-yard scamper into the endzone for FUMA’s only offensive score of the game.
Miscues were the Blue Devils’ Achilles’ heel all day as the receiving corps struggled to haul in well thrown passes and the Tigers were able to force four interceptions.
“They stopped the run and what they made us do was throw the ball and we didn’t do that well,” said Fork Union coach Micky Sullivan. “But that’s my fault, I’ll take the heat on that one. That’s part of being in the head chair. We’ve got to get better and learn from this.”
Parker appeared to have brought FUMA back into the game after Woodberry made it 21-7. The Blue Devil senior busted open an inside run and worked his way to the sidelines for what would have stood for a 76-yard score, but was limited to a 24-yard run instead because of a holding call.
Woodberry (3-1) hosts the 2009 VISAA Division I champs in Collegiate on Friday at 3 p.m.
Fork Union (1-3) heads to St. Christopher on Friday at 4:30 p.m.
