Phillip Simmons opens region play with 39-14 win over Woodland
By Neill Kirkpatrick
Special to the HSSR
Charleston – Phillip Simmons and Woodland entered Friday’s contest looking to open Region 6 Class AA with a win and it was the Iron Horses who imposed their will and controlled the game from start to finish as they handed the Wolverines their fourth consecutive loss 39-14.
“It was a huge win for our team. Getting the first region win sets the tone for the rest of the season,” said Phillip Simmons head coach Eric Bendig.
The win was the fourth straight for the Iron Horses after dropping their first two contest and this win puts them atop the region standings with Andrews and Timberland.
Coach Bendig, “We’ve been building momentum so to come out and execute as we did against a good Woodland team shows are kids are locked in. The growth from those early games has been visible and our guys have been locked into the plans and they play for the right reason. They love each other and it is a great locker room.”
The Wolverines have been going in the opposite direction as they dropped their third straight after a 3-0 start. Their losses have all been to ranked (HSSR POLLS) opponents in Bishop England ( 5th AAAA), Bamberg Ehrhardt (1st A) and Friday night’s loss to 7th ranked AA Phillip Simmons.
“We have to a better job of not turning the ball over and playing better third down defense. I thought our defense played well in the first half but we didn’t play complementary football,” said Woodland head coach Eddie Ford.
Coach Ford continued, “We have played three really good football teams that past three weeks and while the scores may not show it we have gotten better. I feel like if we can iron out the issues we can make run towards the playoffs.”
The Iron Horse’s defense set the tone for the game on Woodlands first possession of the game allowing only 11 yards. In fact, counting the 11 yards the Wolverines gained just 18 yards on their first four possessions.
Leading the charge for the Iron Horses were senior linebacker Ethan Chisum, and juniors defensive ends Alex Tchoryk and Diavante Irving, and defensive tackle Christian Cromedy. Cromedy clogged the middle forcing the Woodland’s runners to the outside where Tchoryk and Irving would make a play or force them back inside to meet Mr. Chisum. Chisum led the team with 12 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, and a fumble recovery while Irving forced two fumbles to go with five tackles.
“Our defense has been playing lights out. We challenged them to be more physical as a unit and they responded. They forced Woodland into uncomfortable situations all night. They deserve a lot of credit for setting the tone of this game,” said coach Bendig.
The offense followed up the defense first stop with a 5-play , 62-yard drive to take a 6-0 lead. The drive was highlighted by the Iron Horses version of the “Triplelets” in juniors quarterback Hayes Goddard, wide receiver Ashton Kellermann, and running back Omonte Taylor. Taylor had three carries for 25 yards while Goddard and Kellermann connected twice for 44 yards and a touchdown.
Woodlands defense would come up big on the next Iron Horse possession. The Iron Horses drove the ball to a first and goal at the Wolverine four-yard line. A holding penalty whipped out a touchdown and moved the ball back to the 14. The Wolverines got pressure up the middles on Goddard and forced a fumble which recovered by the Wolverines Chandler Fogle turning away the Iron Horses.
After a Woodland punt out to the 50. The Iron Horses needed one play to extend their lead when Goddard and Kellermann connected on a beautiful 50-yard touchdown pass. Senior CJ Falotico added the extra point and the lead was 13-0.
Woodland’s offense finally showed some life on their fifth possession. Behind Kymonte Goodwin and Jeraze Salley they moved from their 35 to a first down at the Iron Horse 13. On first down Chisum came up with a three-yard tackle for loss putting the Wolverines behind the chains. A fourth down incompletion turned the ball back over to the Iron Horses.
The Wolverine defense followed the Iron Horse defense by turning over the Iron Horse offense on downs. Taylor started the drive by ripping off a 31-yard run to the 48. Goddard would connect Blake Johnson for 28-yards down to the Wolverine 37. But then the Wolverines defense forced four straight incompletions to stop the drive.
Woodlands best chance to score came on the final possession of the first half. After picking up a first and then a roughing the passer penalty moved the ball to the Iron Horses 25. Salley’s threw into the endzone on third down but the Iron Horses Montrell Mungin went up and picked off the pass in the endzone with 17 seconds remaining.
The Iron Horses put the game away in the third quarter when they scored on their first three possessions of the second half. The first was a two-play drive after the second half kick-off. Goddard hit Kellermann for a 19-yard gain and then connected with Patrick Clarke for a 33 -yard touchdown strike.
After a Irving forced a fumble that was recovered by Chisum gave the Iron Horses the ball at their 20. On second down the Goddard to Kellerman combo struck again for a 58-yard catch and run. The drive would stall but Falotico would make sure the Iron Horses scored as he nailed a 34-yard field goal to make the score 23-0.
