By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer | garrett@thewoodrufftimes.com
The Woodruff football team traveled to the University of South Carolina last Thursday for their second major 7-on-7 passing tournament of the summer and faced some stiff competition, as the Wolverines competed well against all five of their opponents.
The Wolverines finished the day 2-3, but finished less than 60 seconds from finishing 4-1 or even 5-0. All in all, it was a good opportunity for head coach Brett Sloan to get lots of players some work against good teams as Woodruff inches ever closer to the start of fall practice at the end of July.
The Wolverines started the day by facing defending 5A state runner up Irmo and led the Yellow Jackets until late in the contest. Woodruff ultimately fell 18-10, but only after one defensive stop and late score by Irmo with under a minute to play.
Next up was 3A powerhouse Dillon. The Wildcats set the pace early, but Woodruff was able to keep Dillon at arm’s reach and themselves in the contest entering the final two minutes. Following a defensive stop, the Wolverines took over down by four points with under a minute to play. With rising senior Jackson McCarley taking on quarterback duties in this game, he launched a deep throw down the right sideline as time expired that was reeled in by Kori Moates for the game winner.
Game three would be a treat for Woodruff. The wolverines got to play York on the field inside Williams-Brice Stadium, home of the Gamecocks, and it was another thrill. With Connor Davis at quarterback, he threw touchdown passes to Kam Taylor, Aiden Gibson, Travon Lee, and the winner as time expired to Rhylan Renfrow. The Wolverines took the win, 30-24.
The final two games would be against two more 5A opponents in Ashley Ridge and Boiling Springs.
These two matchups would end in stinging fashion for the Wolverines. With Woodruff leading by four
points inside the final 10 seconds of each of the final two games, both Ashley Ridge and Boiling Springs
scored on long passes as time expired to take the win.
With only eight teams out of the field of close to 50 making the playoff bracket, the Wolverines did not advance out of pool play. But neither did many other perennial powerhouse teams that competed. It was still a good showing for Woodruff and a great chance to tighten the reins on the Wolverines’ passing game with the start of the regular season less than two months away.
Woodruff football has the rest of June for workouts and competition before the mandated ‘dead week’ to begin in July. The Wolverines are slated to attend an event at Presbyterian College in mid-July.
Author: gmitchell85
