WOODWARD — The Hawk ground game chewed up 259 yards and three touchdowns and kept the Timberwolves defense on the field Friday to help Woodward-Granger post a 26-12 Homecoming win over Southwest Valley.
Junior tailback Tanner Vermaas carried 43 times for 222 yards and one touchdown. Vermaas had several punishing runs, but he was aided by excellent blocking from the W-G offensive line and, in particular, fullback Josh Saak, as the highlights which follow will attest.
Thanks to assistant coach Derek Wilkins for passing along the clips.
—————
Vermaas (28) runs off the left side, with blocks from tackles Drew Jacobson (58) and tight end Logan Canova (33) creating the first crack in the defense. A strong lead block from Saak (27) and down field hustle from center Josh Groves (74) helped the play gain 11 yards.
Brendan Bird (14) rolls right, with the moving pocket created by right guard Hunter Vermaas (52) and tackle Brody Easter (71) giving their quarterback enough time to find Johnnie Morgan (13) for an 11-yard TD strike and an early 6-0 lead.
Bird (14) connects with Race Brant (20) for a 44-yard gain, as the senior slot back was ruled to have stepped out of bounds at the three yard line, though the video does not show clearly whether he actually did or not.
Vermaas (28) follows Saak’s (27) lead blocking to step outside and spurt for 18 yards.
Vermaas (28) uncorks a 53-yard punt that Brant (20) touches dead at the 1-yard line.
Sophomore linebacker Austin Scharlau (24) closes on Timberwolves quarterback Chance Cobb (7) too quickly for Cobb to make a pitch, with the play resulting in a one-yard loss.
Scharlau (24) blasts Cobb (7), knocking the ball loose, with Scharlau flopping on the pigskin. A photograph of Saak’s sack follows the video, below.
Both Scharlau (24), Hunter Vermaas (52) and Joe Sturgeon (61) are all in the area, so it is unclear whether either blocked this SW Valley punt or else the boot was miffed. Regardless, the Hawks took over deep in Timberwolves territory and scored four plays later on a Brendan Bird one-yard sneak (not shown).
Tanner Vermaas (28) closes in and unceremoniously sacks Cobb — whose receivers were all well-covered — for a loss of five yards.
Tanner Vermaas (28) thunders up the middle behind another solid lead block from Saak (27). Vermaas ran through three tackles, with the fourth and fifth defender finally pulling him down after a gain of 27 yards.
Saak (27) is rewarded for his blocking with a handoff in the red zone, which he carried eight yards to pay dirt. Blocks from James Barger (62) and Josh Groves (74) and a brutal trap block from pulling right guard Hunter Vermaas (52) paved the way for the touchdown.
The Southwest Valley defenders simply got tired of trying to tackle Vermaas (28), who ran hard throughout the contest, as on this fourth-quarter carry in which the junior plowed up the middle, with four players finally creating a whistle after a 15-yard gain.
W-G steps out of district play Friday with a trip to South Hamilton (Jewell). Game time is 7 p.m.
