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Knights' victory, Woodson forfeits lift Ballou to #1 spot
(Published November 17, 2003)

By DAVID STEINBACHER
Special to The Common Denominator

The Ballou Knights rose to the occasion and turned back DCIAA East rival H.D.Woodson 41-31 on Nov. 7 and will wear the East Division championship Crown, heading into the upcoming playoffs Nov. 22 against the Wilson Tigers.

The Knights’ victory erased the possibility that Woodson’s forced forfeiture of three league victories earlier in the day due to using an ineligible player would move the Knights into the top spot. The Knights won the No. 1 position on their own. Approximately 700 fans watched as the Knights improved to 4-0 in DCIAA East contests.

Woodson, coached by Gregory Fuller, bolted to a 19-7 lead when senior running back Alfonso Dormu scored from 18 yards out with 9:31 remaining in the second quarter. Warrior junior linebacker Marcus Coates set the play up when he forced a Ballou fumble seconds before Dormu's score. The fumble was recovered,
and returned to the Ballou 18 yard line, by Warrior senior defensive tackle Darnell Moore.

"I've forced two other fumbles this season," Coates noted.

Ballou Head Coach Noel Cyrus said his team "just needed to stop doing some dumb penalties and start
making some plays to get back into the game."

The two teams each turned the ball over on their ensuing offensive possessions. Ballou had driven to the Woodson 36-yard line, but fumbled the ball away. Warrior sophomore defensive tackle Kenneth Keene recovered. Woodson had the ball for two offensive plays before fumbling the ball away.

In one of the biggest plays of the contest, Knight senior defensive end Alan Richardson scooped up the Warrior fumble and rambled down the field for a 49-yard Ballou score. The PAT was wide, and the Knights trailed 19-13 with 5:07 remaining in the second quarter.

Richardson’s score was key in Ballou wrestling the momentum back from Woodson.

"I picked the ball up and I was hoping I would get it all the way to the endzone," said a pleased Richardson.

The Warriors punted after three and out. Ballou then embarked on the decisive drive of the game. Sophomore quarterback Nico Scott connected with junior tight end Robert Dunn for a 19-yard gain, which set up a Dunn 35-yard touchdown reception down the right sideline with 1:11 remaining.

"Nico is very mature. He’s been working hard all year. He’s made some very big plays this year for only a sophomore," said Coach Cyrus.

With the game deadlocked 19-19, a bad snap occurred on the PAT attempt. Dunn, also the Knights holder, scooped up the loose ball and acrobatically connected with junior wide receiver Maurice White for what
amounted to the "winning" two point conversion.

"Robert made a real good play. After a bad start to the game, we really kept our heads in the game and started playing ‘Ballou football,’" said White.

The teams headed to intermission with Ballou leading 21-19.

"Woodson was blitzing us successfully to open the game. Our offense and our offensive line started to settle down [as the game went on]," said Coach Cyrus.

Woodson Head Coach Fuller said "the dam started to break" on his team.

"We didn’t play as consistently well in the latter second quarter as we did to open the game," he said.

To open the third quarter, both teams exchanged punts. Woodson then embarked on an 11-play drive. But, on third down from the Ballou 24-yard line, serious pressure was put on Woodson sophomore quarterback Edward McGee. The pass attempt was off balance and was intercepted by the same Alan Richardson that had turned in a big second quarter defensive play for Ballou. The senior rambled to the endzone from 76 yards out. Following Robert
Dunn's successful PAT, Ballou led 28-19, and the Knight faithful were celebrating with 1:29 left in the third quarter.

"I caught the ball in mid air and was fortunate to also return it for a score," said Richardson.

A seven play Woodson drive spanning the late third and early fourth quarter
stalled. One play after getting the ball back, Ballou junior running back James Richardson ripped off a 19-yard touchdown run to pad Ballou’s lead at 34-19. The PAT was no good.

"I love the game of football. This was by far the best crowd we’ve had at a game this season. Give a lot of credit to center Darrell Miller, guards Alan Richardson and Pierre Thompson and tackles David Pride and
Jamal Grantham," said said James Richardson.

Though Woodson closed the deficit to 34-25 following a Donnell Proctor one-yard run, and closed the final deficit to 41-31 following an 18-yard touchdown pass from Proctor to wide receiver David Washington, it was too little too late.

"We just didn’t play a complete game tonight," said Woodson junior linebacker Coates.

"We just didn’t get the job done," said Woodson quarterback Proctor.

Coach Fuller said his team "didn’t cover that well tonight. Our offensive and defensive line did not step
up to their abilities. We didn’t pick up their blitzes as well as we could have."