LAST MEETING — The two teams have not met on the gridiron since a 44-8 W-G victory in 2013. Both teams have struggled mightily on both sides of the ball in their opening pair of contests, with W-G falling at No. 5 Madrid, 47-12, before suffering a 52-0 whipping from No. 7 Van Meter last week. Woodward Academy fell, 33-14, to visiting Ogden before being flogged, 48-6, at Panorama last week.
ABOUT THE HAWKS — W-G would rather not put the ball in the air and are just 5-of-24 for 60 yards in the passing game, with three passes caught by the opposition. John Stucker’s two receptions for 38 yards tops the receiving list. Dropped passes have been an issue, but quarterback Brendan Bird has rarely been given enough time in the pocket to survey the defense.
The run game has accounted for 286 yards on 61 carries, with senior Tanner Vermaas scoring both touchdowns the Hawks have scored this season while gaining 188 yards on 33 hauls. Payton Tague is second on the squad with 43 yards on 10 rushes.
Vermaas leads the defense with 10 tackles, with Tague and Austin Scharlau having made nine stops apiece so far. The defense has yet to force a turnover.
ABOUT THE KNIGHTS — Woodward Academy has been historically lax in posting statistical information, and that trend has continued this season, as only numbers from Aug. 26 are available.
The Knights threw for 103 yards in their Sept. 2 loss to the Panthers, but were held to minus-6 yards on 14 rushes.
