Woodland Hurt By 12 Turnovers In last Two Games

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Dorchester --The Woodland Wolverines started the 2024 season with four straight wins before the “turnover bug” infected the team and sent head coach Eddie Ford seeking prayer from the football god.

“I feel like we would be undefeated if were not for the 12 turnovers we suffered in our losses to Bishop England and Philip Simmons over the past two weeks,” said Coach Ford. “In all my years of coaching I have never had 12 turnovers in back-to-back games. It is something that we have been working on very hard in practice to correct.”

This week the Wolverines are on the road for a region game with Andrews High. “They run a spread option type offense that we have not played against this season so we are going to have to work extra hard this week in practice,” said Coach Ford. “Their quarterback does a good job reading the zone and I would say their offense is a lot like the offense Jeremy Chadwell use to run at Coastal Carolina.”

Last week in a 22-26 loss to region foe Phillip Simmons the Wolverines scored on a touchdown pass from QB Trevon Tate to wide receiver Ja’keese Salley and they got a second touchdown on a 10-yard run by Tate. They also scored three points on a 27-yard field goal by freshman Gibson Kepley who was recruited off the soccer team.

The Wolverines four wins have come over Colleton County (32-14), Bethune-Bowman (42-0), Whale Branch (42-13) and Bamberg-Ehrhardt (25-20).

“I feel like the best game we have played all season was the win over Bamberg-Ehrhardt,” said Coach Ford. “In that game we had two defensive touchdowns and you do not see that very often. Jaemin Pinckney (6-5, 197) picked up one fumble and advanced it 55-yards for one score and Lakye White revered a fumble and advanced it 35-yards for a second score.

“Our defense is really good but all the turnovers in our last two games have put them in some bad situations,” said Coach Ford. “Our goal is to compete for a region title and we will need some help from a team playing Philip Simmons. We can cut out the turnovers I feel like our strong defense gives us a chance to be very competitive.”

Through six games Tate is the top rusher on the team with around 410 net yards on 95 carries and he has scored six TD’s. Zishawn Majette is the top next top rusher with around 250 yards on 60 carries and three TD’s. Dorian Britt provides depth at RB and he has 180 yards on 45 carries.

The regular starting QB Jervase Salley (6-2, 190) has missed several weeks with a concussion and he might be cleared to play this week.  His return will send Tate back to his familiar starting role as a slot receiver.   

The starting OL at Woodland consists of tackles Tyreon Summerson (6-3, 305) and Antonio Addison (5-11, 245) along with guards Jakobi Doctor (5-10,290) and Antonio Ford (5-11, 300) The center is Devon Cobb (5-11, 220).

The defense has been led in tackles by veteran senior leader DJ Blanding (5-11, 225) who has around 70 tackles. Junior OLB Jaemin Pinckney (6-5,200) is next on the hit index with 48 tackles followed by ILB Lakye White (5-10,205) with 40 tackles and FS George Perry has around 32 tackles.  

Some other defensive contributors include junior DE Donovan Miles (6-2, 260) and freshman tackle prospect David Hall (5-11, 280) who plays in the middle. Perry gets help in the secondary from junior Jaemin Brown and junior Al-Casio Teel. The safeties are Tate and Lavonte Furry.