Welcome to the first of what we hope will be weekly installments of video highlights from Woodward-Granger football. Our goal is to publish the weekly highlights on Monday evenings, but, as is the nature of such things, the first go-around can often be a little sticky.
That said, here are selected highlights from W-G’s 8-0 win over visiting Martensdale-St. Marys. ThePerryNews thanks assistant coach Derek Wilkens and others for their help.
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Sophomore linebacker Austin Scharlau shoots into the gap and helps stop Trevor Dooley behind the line. Defensive tackle Drew Jacobson was also in on the stop.
Junior Drew Jacobson (58) sheds a blocker and stops a Blue Devil in his tracks.
Forced outside by the penetration of Nick Musich (55), M-SM’s Dooley is corralled by a host of Hawk defenders.
Tight end Logan Canova (33) throws the key block to spring tailback Tanner Vermaas for a big gain in the second quarter. A downfield block from Race Brant (20) added distance to the run, which covered 25 yards.
Wet conditions throughout the game — especially in the first half — made handling the pigskin a tricky proposition. Race Brant (20) and Johnnie Morgan (13) were the first Hawk players down the field on this punt in the second quarter, which the M-SM returner had squirt through his hands. Morgan was indeed “Johnnie on the spot” by landing on the ball for W-G.
Blocking from center Josh Groves (74), right guard Hunter Vermaas (52), right tackle Brody Easter (71) and tight end Logan Canova (33) opened a gap, with Tanner Vermaas (28) following Race Brant (20) into the end zone for the only score of the contest.
Quarterback Brendan Bird pitches to Tanner Vermaas for the two-point conversion. Note the strong blocks thrown by wideout Morgan (13), slot back Brant (20) and fullback Josh Saak (27), all of which allowed Vermaas to score virtually untouched.
Scharlau recognizes the play, shoots through an opening, and drops Dooley in the backfield for a two-yard loss.
Tanner Vermaas (28) follows lead blocker Saak (27) into, and through, a huge hole created by James Barger (62), Groves (74) and Jacobson (58) for a gain of 23 yards.
Kolton Fisk eldues the grasp of Tory Santi (35), who, despite missing the tackle, creates confusion deep in Blue Devil territory. Fisk tries to reverse field, but is run down by Nick Musich (55), with Jacobson (58), Hunter Vermaas (52) and Joe Sturgeon (61) finishing off the play, which nearly resulted in a safety.
Several Hawks converge on Dooley (5), who is stripped of the ball by W-G’s Brant (20), with Saak (27) falling on the fumble for the hosts.
The best chance for the Blue Devils to potentially tie the contest was turned aside when Canova (33) penetrated the offense and forced the ball free from Dooley, with Jacobson (58) landing on the pigskin to snuff the drive.
Woodward-Granger returns to action Friday with a non-district visit to Madrid. The Hawks will then travel to Truro to face Interstate-35 in their Class 1A District 8 opener September 11. All W-G regular season games kick off at 7 p.m.
ThePerryNews will have previews of each upcoming game every Thursday.
ThePerryNews.com: Setting the Pace.
