Sports

Annandale Atoms Fall 33-0 to Woodson Cavaliers

After a string of hard-fought losses, Woodson scored big against Annandale Friday during Annandale's Homecoming game.

By The Dunn Family

Game Seven – October 18, 2013

W.T. Woodson vs. Annandale at Annandale

W.T. Woodson 33 – Annandale 0

The Woodson Cavaliers and Annandale Atoms clashed on Friday night in the annual battle between the longtime rival schools, separated by the Beltway along a short stretch of Little River Turnpike.  

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This was the Atoms' year to play host at Annandale’s J. Wallace Bolding Stadium, and the Atoms looked to celebrate their homecoming with a triumph over the winless Cavaliers.

Woodson had other plans, however, and they spoiled Annandale’s evening by drubbing the Atoms, 33 – 0.

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The win was especially welcomed by the Cavaliers, who needed a boost after a string of recent hard-fought losses, including last week's loss at Lake Braddock.  

Woodson got on the score board early in the contest against the Atoms. On their first offensive series, the Cavaliers drove from their 36-yard line into scoring position behind the strong running of RB Brian Smiga and QB Patrick Riley.  

Then, barely over four minutes into the game, the Cavs scored on a short touchdown run to give Woodson all the points it would need on the night.

Although the Cavs missed the extra point, they nonetheless had an early 6 – 0 lead over the Atoms.

The Cavaliers struck again only seconds later after LB Dean Rye recovered an Atoms’ fumble on the ensuing kickoff. The score came on first down from the Annandale 44-yard line when Riley connected with WR Jimmy McLaughlin on a deep scoring pass to give Woodson its second touchdown in a span of only eleven seconds.

Kicker Alex Yoon added the extra point to give Woodson a 13 – 0 lead at the 7:36 point of the first quarter.

The teams traded several punts moving into the second quarter before Woodson’s offense again went to work on a scoring drive. This time Woodson used only a few plays to move from its 22-yard line into scoring position.

RB Tim Dempsey had the key play on the series when he hauled in a deflected pass from Riley and sprinted 74 yards to the Atoms’ four-yard line. Smiga finished the drive a short time later with a two-yard touchdown run, and Woodson went up 20 – 0 after Yoon’s extra point.

The teams played a scoreless third quarter before Woodson added another score early in the fourth to go up 27 - 0. The points came on the second Riley-to-McLaughlin connection, this time from 15 yards out on a textbook back shoulder fade pass in the end zone.

The Cavaliers closed out the game’s scoring midway through the fourth quarter after McLaughlin’s fumble recovery set up the Cavs deep in Atoms’ territory. Riley notched his third touchdown pass of the night when he hit WR Will Cogan in the end zone on an 11-yard completion to put Woodson in the lead by the final score of 33 – 0.

The long-awaited win gives Woodson some needed momentum going into next Friday’s game on the road against a strong South County Stallions team. The Atoms will face the West Springfield Spartans.


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