By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer
garrett@thewoodrufftimes.com
After nine long months, it is time for another season of Woodruff football! Coming off an 11-2 season and their first region championship since 2015, the Wolverines have dropped to 2A and bring a loaded offense and young but talented defense to bear against a new classification.
Unlike previous years, this week’s game against Broome will not be a late-season region match-up, but a meeting of old rivals to kick off the new campaign. Here is everything you need to know about this year’s meeting between the Wolverines and Centurions.
Head Coaches
Woodruff: Brett Sloan
4th season at Woodruff
Broome: Lynn Fleming
10th season at Broome
2025 Records
Woodruff: 11-2
Broome: 5-6
Last Week
Season opener for both teams
By the Numbers
2025 Points Scored
- Woodruff: 488 (37.5)
- Broome: 297 (27.0)
2025 Points Allowed
- Woodruff: 256 (19.7)
- Broome: 388 (35.3)
Series History
- Woodruff leads the all-time series 20-14.
- First meeting: Broome won 21-14 in 1978.
- Last meeting: Woodruff won 49-14 in 2025.
- This is the 35th all-time meeting between the Wolverines and Centurions.
- Woodruff is 17-5 against Broome since 2006.
About the Wolverines
In many ways, this is a new-look Woodruff team. But in others, there is much of the same that fans will fondly remember from last season.
The offense is loaded for Woodruff, with quarterback Connor Davis returning. Talented running back Jaylen Lyles takes over in the backfield after the early departure of Aiden Gibson to the college ranks. MiCah McClintock, a new addition to the offense, is committed to Florida Atlantic, and junior Curtis Bell returns at wideout as well. Ian Jones returns to anchor an offensive line with four starters back from last year.
The Wolverines expect to score a lot of points.
Defensively, however, there are nine new starters for a unit that was among the state’s best in 2025. Defensive back Malachi Thompson is a returning starter from last season, though Addison Davis did see a lot of time at safety. Christian Sumner, whose grandfather played for Coach Varner in the 1970s, transferred in from Hillcrest and looks to make a big impact.
Expect McClintock to play both ways, seeing snaps at outside linebacker, with Amari Gibson and Mekhi Norman looking to be solid new additions to the defense as well.
Diego Tranquilino returns to handle the placekicking duties and was 54 of 55 on extra point attempts last season.
About the Centurions
Broome enters 2026 looking to improve on a 5-6 campaign last year, though the Centurions will have to replace a lot of talent, including quarterback Jameson Dearybury.
Projected to take over at center will be senior Brayden Simpson as he moves from his wide receiver position. Taking over at running back is Devon Brown, a junior, and wide receiver Jordan Ramirez will also provide an offensive boost for Broome.
Senior Kelvin Crook will be a leader on the offensive and defensive lines for the Centurions, and the secondary will be anchored by talented cornerback Bryson Martin. Linebacker Nick Morgan is a tough and gritty player who should be a mainstay in the second level of the Broome defense.
Players to Watch
Woodruff
- #14 QB Connor Davis — Sr. (6’2”, 210)
- #3 RB Jaylen Lyles — Sr. (5’9”, 185)
- #11 TE/WR MiCah McClintock — Sr. (6’4”, 215)
- #64 OL Ian Jones — Jr. (6’4”, 295)
- #2 DB Malachi Thompson — Jr. (5’10”, 175)
- #18 DL Jayden Hunter — Sr. (5’11”, 215)
Broome
- #3 QB Brayden Simpson — Sr. (5’9”, 160)
- #8 RB/LB Devon Brown — Jr. (5’8”, 155)
- #0 WR/DB Jordan Ramirez — Sr. (5’11”, 140)
- #9 DB/WR Bryson Martin — Sr. (6’2”, 180)
- #15 LB Nick Morgan — Sr. (5’9”, 150)
- #75 DL/OL Kelvin Crook — Sr. (5’10”, 250)
Coach’s Corner With Brett Sloan
“I am looking forward to getting into the routine of a game week. I think that will be good for our players. But I am also excited to see our guys get the opportunity to compete and have fun.”
On preseason jamboree vs. Laurens:
“Well, the good was really good, and the bad was really bad. I really felt like we showed the ability to be to be explosive. I love to see us creating another turnover. I feel like our defense is really trying to buy into that mentality. I need to see us clean up things in the run game up front. On defense, we have to tackle better, and we need to have more disciplined eyes.”
“Broome is a very athletic team. They have a lot of speed in the backfield. We will need to do a good job in our run fits, and we need to tackle better. Both the running back and quarterback are capable of explosive plays in the run game. Defensively, they have a number of new starters. We really need to do a good job of handling their interior defensive lineman. They have some size there, and we need to move those guys to have success in the run game.”
