Game Time Blog

Welcome to the News & Messenger Friday Night Football Game Time Blog.

By DAVE UTNIK

10 minutes to kickoff…

Game: Gar-Field Indians vs. Woodbridge Vikings

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

PREVIEW

> TITLE TIME: The Woodbridge Vikings can clinch the Cardinal District championship and the No. 2 spot in the Northwest Region, Division 6 power ratings with a victory tonight. The Indians, currently ranked eighth, must win to have any chance of a postseason berth.

> SMITH OUT: Woodbridge will be without the area’s leading receiver, Darius Smith, for two games after the senior was suspended for throeing a punch during last week’s victory over Osbourn Park.

> COPELAND IS EVERYWHERE: Gar-Field junior Austin Copeland is listed as a linebacker, but he could line up just about anywhere on the defesnive side of the ball. The Indians’ leading tacker (74) has also played defensive end and safety. 

> UPDATE: STARTING LINEUPS

Woodbridge offense
12 QB Frank Buckley
22 RB Jaylen Avent
24 FB Mike Ford
75 LT Anthony Earl
72 LG Jordan Hairston
71 C John St. Amant
74 RG Mike Leathers
56 RT Rommel Burks
5 WR Collin Frazer
3 WR Demetrius Quarles
8 TE Michael Herrity

WOODBRIDGE DEFENSE
75 T Anthony Earl
53 DE Joe Berveel
56 T Rommel Burks
8 LB Michael Herrity
27 LB Diego Mejia
52 LB Abraham Quarcoo
54 LB Darryl Haley
3 CB Demetrius Quarles
20 CB Logan Farrar
5 FS Collin Frazer
22 SS Jaylen Avent

BLOG NOTE The Gar-Field Indians, citing national security interests, have purposely opted not to provide starting lineups. Does head coach Tom Gryder realize he’s coaching a high school team? Keeping lineups a secret does not provide any competitive advantage, which is evident by Woodbridge’s 7-0 first-quarter lead.

SCORING UPDATE Woodbridge went 43 yards in about five minutes to take the lead in one of the nation’s longest rivalries. Quarterback Frank Buckley capped the drive with a one-yard run with 2:33 remaining in the opening quarter.

7:34 p.m. END OF FIRST QUARTER—Woodbridge 7, Gar-Field 0

BLOG NOTE Gar-Field has yet to pick up a first down. Two possessions, two punts. This from a team still in playoff contention in the Virginia High School League’s silly expanded format that allows six teams to advance to the regional playoffs. And on their third possession, the Indians just had consecutive penalties for illegal procedure and offsides. This is Game 10 right?

Naturally, that brilliant sequence was followed by back-to-back penalties for the Vikings, who were flagged for a face mask and a late hit, giving G-F a first down at the 32 yard line. The officials are loving the sound of their own whistles tonight. This game might last until midnight. And some of these kids have SAT exams in the morning. As one fan just proclaimed, “It’s a contact sport, ref.“ Let ‘em play.

7:51 UPDATE G-F receiver Domonique Campbell just found out why WB defensive back Collin Frazer is the best player in the Cardinal District. The Vikings’ senior just delivered one of the season’s hardest hits to break up a pass play at the 10 yard line. The Indians turned the ball over on downs and Campbell had to be helped off the field. 

SCORING UPDATE Freshman Jaylen Avent looked a lot like DeAntwan Williams on his last run—a 31-yard sprint into the endzone that has Woodbridge on top 14-0 with 2:03 left in the first half.

BLOG NOTE Is it still a rivalry is the other team can’t score? Actually, that’s more like a blog question. G-F is 1 for 8 on pass attempts and the lone completion went for 3 yards. That adds up to zero points.

SCORING UPDATE Correction. Three points. G-F QB Aaron Jackson connected with Domonique Campbell for a 46-yard completion, setting up an 18-yard field goal by Anthony Ayala.

HALFTIME: Woodbridge 14, Gar-Field 3

POWER RATINGS UPDATE: If the postseason began today, the six Division 6 participants in the Northwest Region would be (in order)—Battlefield, Woodbridge, Colonial Forge, Osbourn Park, Franklin County and Riverbend.

In Division 5—Massaponax, North Stafford, Brooke Point, Osbourn, George Washington and William Fleming.

HALFTIME STATS: Coming soon, courtesy of award-winning sports reporter Joe Conroy, who is still reveling in the Yankees’ World Series beat down of the Phillies.

Woodbridge rushing—Jaylen Avent 13-77, 1 TD

Woodbridge passing—Frank Buckley 4-10-0, 32 yards

Woodbridge receiving—Demetrius Quarles 2-14

Gar-Field rushing—Bryce Miller 4-38

Gar-Field passing—Aaron Jackson 3-11-0, 58 yards

Gar-Field receiving—Domonique Campbell 1-45

8:35 p.m. BLOG UPDATE: Somebody in the Woodbridge secondary forgot to cover John Portee because he was wide open for a 31-yard completion. The Indians are threatening to score—and make this a rivalry again. It’s 1st and goal at the 1.

SCORING UPDATE: Aaron Jackson sneaks it in from the 1 giving G-F a touchdown and, more importantly, 10 unanswered points. It is now Woodbridge 14, Gar-Field 10 with 8:57 left in the third quarter.

SCORING UPDATE: Jaylen Avent is the new Rocket. Collin Frazer sprung the freshman with a block on the right sideline and Avent turned the corner for a 67-yard TD run. WOODBRIDGE 21, GAR-FIELD 10

Avent now has 154 yards and two touchdowns. And there’s 17 minutes to go. 

INSULT TO INJURY UPDATE: With an 11 point lead, the Vikings just recovered an onside kick. Ist and 10 Woodbridge. It’s Avent time again.

Correction, It’s Michael Ford time. The sophomore back—another phenom to watch—just hauled in a 26-yard pass reception. The Vikings are at the 9 yard line. Game over.

DIGGING DEEP IN THE PLAYBOOK UPDATE: Collin Frazier just threw a jump pass to Michael Herrity for a 3-yard touchdown. The Vikings probably should have saved that one for the playoffs, but at least they know it works. WOODBRIDGE 28, GAR-FIELD 10. As previously stated, Game Over. Maybe the Vikings will try another onside kick just because they can.

SCORING UPDATE: The Woodbridge secondary is being exposed as the team’s one true weakness. Gar-Field receivers are getting open deep at will right now, which doesn’t bode well for when the Vikings run into a team with a real passing game. Domonique Campbell has bounced back nicely from “the hit” and just scored on a 35-yard hitch pass. It’s now WOODBRIDGE 28, GAR-FIELD 16 with 3:37 left in the third quarter.

END THIRD QUARTER: WOODBRIDGE 28, GAR-FIELD 16

ZZZZZZZZ UPDATE There is absolutely nothing happening. The Vikings have dropped three potential interceptions and Gar-Field just failed to convert on 4th and 10. At least the clock is running. Or, it was. For some reason, Woodbridge just called a timeout with a 12-point lead.

AVENT UPDATE: This just in. The kid is good. And he’s a freshman. Avent just broke four tackles and ran 61 yards for another score. He has 92 on touchdown runs alone. WOODBRIDGE 35, GAR-FIELD 16. A friendly reminder: There’s 6:33 remaining, but this game is over.

Avent’s had a career night with 238 yards rushing—giving him 786 for the season. He’ll have the rest of the game off. 2:31 to go. There are a lot of clean jerseys on the field now.

FINAL SCORE: WOODBRIDGE 35, GAR-FIELD 16

Official final stats courtesy of community sports writing legend Joe Conroy in just a few minutes. Stay tuned.

Woodbridge rushing—Jaylen Avent 23-238

Woodbridge passing—Frank Buckley 6-13-0, 64 yards

Woodbridge receiving—Michael Ford 1-24, Demetrius Quarles 2-13, Collin Frazier 1-12.

Gar-Field rushing—Bryce Miller 11-78

Gar-Field passing—Aaron Jackson 7-25-0, 145 yards

Gar-Field receiving—John Portee 4-90

THE END