"MY THOUGHTS – Snap it up Boys! Game Day is Coming!

Barrons Sideline - www.WoodbridgeFootball.com 10-30-2007 By: CHARLES MCDEVITT

45 – 6 ! That was the butt whipping Piscataway laid on Woodbridge in week two this year. Did they really earn all those points, or did the Barrons implode because big bad Piscataway was in town?

I believe Woodbridge imploded and here is why:

• Woodbridge loses a fumble on their own 10 yard line. Great field position for P-Way to score first. Facemask penalty by Woodbridge gives up 5 more yards and leads to 1 yard TD pass by P-Way. P-Way 6 – Wood 0

• Woodbridge drives 80 yards in 9 plays for a tying TD. Wood 6 – P-Way 6

• After the Woodbridge score, P-Way goes three and out. The Chiefs punt and the Barrons lay the ball on the turf again at their own 29. Short field equals a second P-Way TD. End of the 1^st Q. P-Way 12 – Wood 6

• Woodbridge punts from their own 28 to their own 44! After a TFL (–5) by Woodbridge back to the W49, a break down by the secondary allows a 44 yard pass with 28 YAC. P-Way doesn’t need help, and that was it! Two offside penalties gave them another 10 yards. A P-Way run for 6 yards and then 1 yard for a TD. Woodbridge handed P-Way their 3^rd easy way in!

P-Way 18 – Wood 6

• On the next Woodbridge possession, the Barrons lay the ball on the turf for the third time! This time, it’s picked up by P-Way and taken into the end zone for a 35 yard TD. It’s the 4^th “take it, I don’t want it” TD given up by Woodbridge!

P-Way 25 – Wood 6

• Quarterback, Senior Captain and Team Leader, Anthony Viola is injured and cannot return to the field!

• Three and out by Woodbridge. Three and out by P-Way. Three and out by Woodbridge. P-Way has the ball on their own 48 with 1:19 on the clock. Woodbridge personal foul, 15 yards. Poor tackling allows a 30 yard run, and then with 0:16 left, the Woodbridge secondary has another let down allowing a 24 yard TD. End of the Half. P-Way 32 – Wood 6

• An onside kick to open the second half that wasn’t recovered by Woodbridge, and gave P-Way good field position at the P49. P-Way then pushed the ball down the Barrons throat on 6 runs and 1 completed pass for the only TD they earned! P-Way 39 – Wood 6
• Three and out and Woodbridge is done. A Woodbridge punt to the P-Way 44. Two play later, Poor tackling allowed the biggest run of the night, a 56 yard TD romp. End of the 3^rd Q. P-Way 45 – Wood 6

• Woodbridge drives 76 yards in 15 plays but fails to score before the final whistle. Final P-Way 45 – Wood 6

Now! Did Piscataway truly lay some lumber on Woodbridge in this lopsided 45 – 6 victory, or did they take advantage of a Barrons team that “Feared the Reaper” by committing too many turnovers, losing a key player, and playing uninspired and poorly?

I believe the later. I believe Woodbridge can play with Piscataway if and only if they limit the turnovers, maximize the takeaways, control the clock with sustained drives, and limit penalties dramatically. All basic football fundamentals!

If each and every Defensive player follows the game plan and doesn’t try to over-extend, Woodbridge limits the Chiefs yards and points. Piscataway registered a meager 169 yards on the ground last game, the bulk of which came on a 56 yard run due to poor tackling. And, 88 yards passing, with 44 and 24 yards on two catches due to poor coverage in the secondary!

If each and every Offensive player completes his assignments properly, they will rack up yardage and put number onto the scoreboard! Woodbridge registered 177 yards on the ground, but gave the ball away via the fumble twice, once for a defensive TD for Piscataway. They also put the ball on the turf and recovered the ball themselves another three times. And don’t forget the 1 INT with a 43 yard return! Too many turnovers killed the Barrons!

Special teams also needs to step up and become a positive influence as well. Field position is critical to controlling the ball and your opponent. Too often the Barrons are starting inside their own 20 yard line as a result of poor play by the special teams. Allowing a fumble on punt return and handing the ball to the opponent on your own 29 is not tolerable!

We are traveling to Piscataway on November 9^th to play round one of the NJSIAA Playoffs of NJ2 – G4. The Chiefs will be there to greet you with taunts and smacks to the face! Are you Woodbridge Football Team that “Fears the Reaper” or one that will show him the way back to hell and take the championship crown along the way? Snap it up boys! Game Day is coming!

Prediction: Woodbridge 21- Piscataway 20