WOODLAND 7, RAMAY 0 : Late turnover propels Woodland to opening win over rival Ramay
Posted on Friday, September 5, 2008
ANDY SHUPE Northwest Arkansas Times Woodland receiver Justin Stafford (13 ) carries the ball after making a catch as Ramay Junior High defender Caymen Moore pursues during the first half of play Thursday at Harmon Field.
For the fifth-straight year, Woodland drew first blood in its annual seasonopener against cross-town rival Ramay. This year, the evenly matched contest turned on a special teams miscue by the Indians as the Cowboys squeezed out a 7-0 win Thursday night at Harmon Field.
With the scoreboard lit up with goose eggs late in the third quarter, Woodland (1-0 ) punted deep into Indian territory but a Ramay return man inexplicably touched the ball as the Cowboys prepared to down it. Five plays later, quarterback Tyler Tuck hit Kampbell Walker for the lone score of game.
"Woodland did a great job punting it down there and we helped matters out by making a mental error by touching a live punt," Ramay coach Craig Foringer said. "It was a big momentum-changer, without a doubt. We felt like we had some things going offensively."
Early on, neither squad looked sharp on the offensive side of the ball. Woodland didn't find first-down yardage until midway through the second quarter and Ramay had an even tougher time, netting negative yardage and no first downs in the opening half.
"[Defensive coordinator ] Beau Patrick did a great job getting our defense ready this week and I thought they played outstanding tonight, " Woodland coach Bobby Crockett said.
The Indians (0-1 ) jumped out of the gate on the opening kickoff when Casey Perry ripped off a 41-yard return, putting Ramay in enemy territory before the first snap but the drive ended quickly. All three of Ramay's first-half possessions started in Woodland territory but each ended with a three-and-out.
Woodland's average field possession in the first half was the 19-yard line but the Cowboys managed to put together an 11-play drive before halftime. Tuck had the hot hand, hitting Mark Hollenbeck for 10 yards and Justin Stafford for 10 more. Caymen Moore thwarted the scoring threat with an interception at the 12-yard line with less than a minute remaining.
Early in the third, Devin Harvey led Ramay to Woodland's 31 after a 13-yard toss to Joseph Kisor and a 26-yard bomb to Brad Culp but a fumble spoiled the drive. After holding the Cowboys on their next possession, the Indians took a dagger on the ill-fated punt.
"In a close ballgame with two evenly matched teams like this, something like that happens and unfortunately somebody ends up losing," Crockett said.
Woodland running back Farico Baymon struggled early but churned out 80 of his 100 yards in the second half. He carried nine-straight times late in the game to keep the ball away from Ramay as Woodland nursed its touchdown lead.
In the eighth-grade game, the Cowboys blew past Ramay, 21-8. Coleson Young ran for a score and Austin Allen hit Alex Brignoni for a pair of touchdowns for Woodland. Terrel Tyson's 2-yard run and 2-point conversion were Ramay's only points.
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