FAYETTEVILLE JUNIOR HIGH FOOTBALL : WOODLAND 34, HERITAGE 6
Posted on Friday, October 3, 2008
ANDY SHUPE Northwest Arkansas Times Woodland Junior High running back Farico Baymon (21 ) is hit by Heritage Junior High defender Christian Wages, right, near the goal line during the first quarter of play Thursday at Harmon Field.
Woodland Junior High had little trouble with Rogers Heritage on Thursday night as the Cowboys put up three scores in the second quarter to blow past the War Eagles at Harmon Field, 34-6. Heritage (1-4, 0-4 NWAC ) netted just 31 yards of offense in the first half and Woodland (4-1, 3-1 ) took advantage of two turnovers to put the game away early.
Farico Baymon was the Cowboys ’ go-to guy with 10 carries for 102 yards and three touchdowns, all coming in the first half.
“ Far ico’s a good r unning back, ” Woodland head coach Bobby Crockett said. “ Our offensive line — Hayden McCracken, Ben Dubois, Billy McEver, Jr. Hennessy and Tim Cavell — did a great job opening holes for him. ”
Highlights were few for the War Eagles, especially in the first half. A fumble on their opening series set the tone for the night.
“ We did the same thing last week, ” Heritage head coach Jason Upton said. “ We’ve just got to get over that first series. If we can drive down and score right there, it’s a different ballgame. ”
The Cowboys wasted little time making the War Eagles pay for the fumble. QB Austin Allen handed to Baymon six straight times, which led to a 1-yard plunge giving Woodland the early lead. A Woodland fumble sandwiched between two Heritage punts made for a lull on the scoreboard but the second quarter was a different story.
Baymon went in from 7 yards out to culminate a quick, 4-play drive with 6: 04 left in the half and he scored again on Woodland’s next series, this time on a 2-yard run. Late in the half, Heritage QB Luke Oldham was stripped of the ball and Traeven Willis pounced on it in the end zone and the Cowboys had a commanding 27-0 lead at the break.
The Cowboys made it 34-0 on their first drive of the second half. Micheal Mahler got the drive started with a 39-yard sprint and finished up from 4-yards out. Mahler ran for 62 yards on the drive.
The War Eagles finally put some points on the board late in the third on a 67-yard drive. Christian Wages put the finishing touches on the drive with a 7-yard run. Wages led Heritage with 80 yards rushing.
“ I’m real proud of our kids in the second half, ” Upton said. “ They came out and fought. We’ve just got to get better every week. ”
The Cowboys ’ threegame homestand is over and now Woodland must hit the road for three weeks, starting with a trip to Siloam Springs. There’s a lot of season left but Crockett’s proud of his team’s effort here at the midway point.
“ Obviously, you’d like to be undefeated but 4-1 is a good place to be. Our kids work hard and they deserve to be exactly where they’re at, ” Crockett said.
Heritage will try to get on the winning track next week but it’ll be tough as the War Eagles host leagueleading Bentonville Gold.
In the eighth-grade contest, Woodland hammered the Oakdale Patriots, 27-7. Coleson Young scored twice for the Cowboys and Alex Brignoni and Brooks Ellis added touchdowns, as well. For Oakdale, Forrest Johnson scored the lone touchdown.
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