PHOTOS: Oakton Whips Woodson Football

Update by Karin Dunn:

Woodson hosted traditional Concorde District power Oakton on Friday night in front of a large, festive “Feeder School Night” crowd at Pat Cunningham Stadium. Although the Cavaliers treated the home crowd to an action-filled contest, showing flashes of big-play offense, in the end the Cougars outplayed Woodson, winning by a final of 34 – 13.

Woodson’s defense started the game with a spark when Cavs’ senior Sam Sabolsky recovered a Cougar fumble on Oakton’s opening offensive series. Despite good field position after the recovery, Woodson’s offense couldn’t generate a first down and the Cavs were forced to punt.

After the punt, Oakton didn’t wait long to get on the scoreboard.  Following a long run by junior Mike Wandey, Cougar’s QB Tuck Masker hit Stephen Lambrides with a 20-yard scoring pass to help give Oakton an early 7 – 0 lead near the midway point of the first quarter.

While Woodson’s offense remained stalled in the first half, Oakton continued to put points on the board, jumping in front 17 - 0 late in the second quarter. The Cougars then closed out the half when Eric Goins booted a 37-yard field goal as time ran out to put Oakton in front 20 – 0 at halftime.

The Cavaliers’ offense finally got going in the third quarter. After an exchange of punts, Woodson began its first scoring drive from deep in its own territory.  After moving out to the 25-yard line, Woodson faced a third-and-long. Hoping to move the chains, Woodson’s QB junior Andrew Mackay hit senior running back Jonathan Stokes with a swing pass in the right flat. Stokes hauled in the pass, broke a tackle, and motored 55 yards before being pulled down at Oakton’s 20-yard line. 

The Cavs wasted no time converting on the big gain when Mackay connected with senior Brendan Hogan on a fade route in the back right corner of the end zone for the touchdown. Woodson kicker Sam Heaney added the PAT and the Cavs trailed Oakton 20 – 7 with 4:11 left in the third quarter.

Later in the third quarter Woodson’s defense regained possession for the Cavs when senior cornerback Jake Glasscock made an athletic one-handed interception on a deep Oakton pass. The Cavs could not parley the good fortune, however, and eventually punted back to the Cougars.

Oakton made Woodson pay after the punt. The Cougars drove into Woodson territory for a score, a one-yard run by Wandey with twenty seconds left in the third quarter. The PAT put the Cougars up 27 – 7. 

Despite the 20 point deficit, Woodson refused to concede and managed to strike with another big play. Midway through the fourth quarter the Cavs pulled off a textbook flea flicker when Mackay fired a lateral pass to the slot back who then tossed the ball deep down field to a wide open Bryce Mauro. Mauro caught the ball in stride and sprinted into the end zone for a 68-yard touchdown. 

The score brought the Woodson bleachers to life, but it proved to be the last of the night for the Cavs. Oakton added another touchdown to close out the scoring and the game, 34 – 13.

Looking for their first win of the 2011 season, the Cavaliers travel to Springfield this week to tackle the high-power Lancers of Robert E. Lee High.