Virginia Peninsula Game of Week #13: 6A South 2nd Round: Woodside Grounds Out 28-9 Win Over Grassfield

WOODSIDE 28, GRASSFIELD 9

NEWPORT NEWS – Demetri Banks and Tyhier Tyler rushed for over 100 yards to lead the Wolverines to a workmanlike 28-9 victory over Grassfield in their second round 6A South playoff game at Todd Stadium.

With the win, Woodside (10-2) will travel to Chesapeake next weekend to take on top-seeded Oscar Smith, coached by longtime former Phoebus Coach Bill Dee.

The Wolverines relied heavily on their running game, tallying 365 yards on 46 carries. On the first play of Woodside’s second possession, Banks busted through the middle of the Grassfield defensive line for a 58-yard run that took the ball to the Grizzly 5. From there, the senior back finished the job, taking the next carry into the end zone.

The Wolverines were equally successful on their first drive of the second quarter, driving 88 yards on six plays. A 46-yard run by Tyler helped to set up the scoring play with Tyler rolling left and finding a wide-open Christian Walker for the 18-yard touchdown.

Grassfield (9-3) did manage one long drive just before halftime, netting 57 yards on 12 plays, and ending with a 31-yard field goal as Woodside took a 14-3 lead into halftime.

The key to Woodside’s early success was their ability to contain the Grizzly’s 1,000-yard running back Darius Hagans. Earlier this season, Hagans rushed for over 200 yards in three consecutive games. However, in the first half against the Wolverines, the 6-foot, 192 pounder could only muster 26 yards on 11 carries.

The Wolverines struck for a score on their first possession of the second half. A 39-yard pass from Tyler to Kendall Bell set up the quarterback from the 5, as Tyler broke through the middle, broke two tackles and dove into the end zone. Banks, who led Woodside rushers with 194 yards, scored his second touchdown just before the end of the third quarter.

A 17-yard touchdown pass from Justice Bigbie to Austin Wood closed the lead to 19 points early in the fourth quarter, but the Grizzlies were unable to score on their next drive, which lasted for 15 plays and gained only 37 yards before fizzling at the Woodside 44.

GRASSFIELD   0, 3, 0, 6 -- 9

WOODSIDE      7, 7, 14, 0 -- 28

1^st Quarter

W – Banks 5 run (Mitchel kick)

2^nd Quarter

W – Walker 18 pass from T. Tyler (Mitchel kick)

G – Ridenour 31 FG

3^rd Quarter

W – Tyler 5 run (Mitchel kick)

W – Banks 8 run (Mitchel kick)

4^th Quarter

G – Wood 17 pass from Bigbie (run failed)

         Grass   Wood  

First downs;    14, 20

Rushes-yards;  29-73, 46-376

Passing yards;  162, 74

Comp-att-int;   17-29-0, 5-5-0

Penalties-yards; 6-35, 3-20

Punts-avg;     4-36, 0-0

Fumbles-lost;  0-0, 2-2

Key Individual Stats: Woodside - Rushing: Demetri Banks 23-194, 2 TD, Tyhier Tyler 12-118, TD, D'onte Chesson 7-53. Passing: T. Tyler 5-5, 74 yds. TD. Receiving: Kendall Bell 1-39, Christian Walker 1-18, TD. Grassfield - Rushing: Darius Hagans 19-81. Passing: Justice Bigbie 17-29, 162 yds. TD. Receiving: Austin Wood 8-72, TD, Kharron Gilliam 4-47, Shawah Goodman 3-31, Shawndell Joyner, Jr. 2-12.