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DeMatha downs Woodson
(Published September 7, 2004)

By DAVID STEINBACHER
Special to The Common Denominator

The Woodson Warriors had the unenviable task of kicking off their 2004 season against the powerhouse DeMatha Stags, dropping a 39-7 decision to the suburban visitors Sept. 4 at Eastern Senior High School's stadium.

"Playing DeMatha is good for recognition and notoriety," Woodson Head Coach Gregory Fuller said philosophically after the loss. "If we can stay injury free this season and record a number of good wins, then I will consider the 2004 season a success."

Woodson took a 7-6 lead when junior quarterback Edward McGee connected with senior wide receiver Barry Scott Jr. on a 43-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline with 2:17 remaining in the first quarter. Scott, also a linebacker, caught the ball in full stride at about the 15-yard line and outmaneuvered DeMatha senior defensive back Kendric Hawkins for the score.

Scott, son of Warriors defensive coordinator Steve Scott, also booted the point-after-touchdown (PAT) to account for all of Woodson's points on the day.

"Edward and Barry are two of the best players in the entire city," said Fuller, who coached the Warriors varsity football team to the 2002 city championship in the D.C. Interscholastic Athletic Association.

McGee, Scott, senior linebacker Jeremy Reaves and two-way lineman Kenneth Keene are the Warriors' 2004 team captains.

DeMatha, coached by veteran Bill McGregor, did not score its go-ahead touchdown until 8:35 remained in the second quarter. The Stags, who perennially sit atop the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, began their decisive drive on the Woodson 14-yard line, courtesy of a botched Woodson punt attempt moments earlier.

The Woodson special teams had a couple of breakdowns on the day. DeMatha scored its initial touchdown via a fumbled kickoff return by the Warriors, which the Stags scooped up and returned in the opposite direction.

"We had some opening game jitters," said Woodson special teams coach Douglas Roeser. "DeMatha is ranked something like the No. 12 team in the whole country. We just didn't snap the ball with enough velocity on that punt attempt and their defenders hit us pretty hard on that kickoff return.

"We're young -- we're going to get better," Roeser added.

It took DeMatha five plays to score the Stags' decisive touchdown as senior running back Anthony Wiseman capped off the short drive with a 1-yard scoring run.

Even though DeMatha's 2-point PAT pass attempt was no good, the Warriors were behind the proverbial eight ball from that point forward. Woodson trailed 20-7 at halftime and also trailed 26-7 after the third quarter concluded. DeMatha added two fourth-quarter scores, and one of two PAT's, to account for the final margin of 39-7.

Woodson, which saw a winning 2003 record vanish late in the season when the discovery of an ineligible player forced forfeits, actually had a number of standout performances on defense albeit the lopsided score.

Senior linebacker Jeremy Reaves led all defenders on the day with 15 solo tackles. Senior linebacker Marcus Coates added five solo, as well as five assisted, tackles. Sophomore linebacker Danyon Young contributed five solo and four assisted tackles. Sophomore safety Sean Roeser, son of special teams coach Roeser, added five solo and three assisted tackles -- as well as one fumble recovery. Sophomore defensive back Victor Brown added four solo tackles and one interception.

On the day, Woodson turned the ball over five separate times, while DeMatha turned the ball over only twice.

Woodson boasts one of the few brother combinations in the DCIAA this season, with sophomore D'Andre Johnson and junior D'Ante Johnson. Both of the Johnson brothers, as well as sophomore Antwan Stewart, ripped off some key plays from the running back position during the course of the game.

"We need to minimize the mental mistakes this season," said D'Andre Johnson, who also stars on the Warriors' track team.

Stewart said he is "still looking for us to do well this season."

"We need to put this behind us," he added.

The Warriors go on the road to Pennsylvania for their next two games, playing Upper Marion on Sept. 10 and Glen Mills on Sept. 17, before returning home to host Wilson on Sept. 25.