GREENWOOD – Woodbridge turned the showdown into a speed bump on Friday night.
The top-ranked Blue Raiders ran over No. 2 Milford and kept on trucking, delighting their homecoming crowd with a 39-8 victory in a matchup of Division II heavyweights.
Both teams came into the game 7-0 overall, 3-0 in the Henlopen South, and both had been winning by an average of more than 30 points per game. At the end of the night, Woodbridge was still standing tall.
“We have a pretty good football team,” Blue Raiders coach Ed Manlove said. “It’s not a secret anymore, I guess. I knew we could [win big] if we came out ready to play and prepared.
“We prepared to win the game, and we knew we could get them in certain spots. I thought our kids did a really good job.”
Woodbridge (8-0, 4-0) got the Buccaneers on offense, defense and special teams. The onslaught began on the fourth play from scrimmage, when Jamon Kane broke through a hole on the right side and went 65 yards for a touchdown.
“That’s kind of been our thing all year,” Manlove said. “We always get something big on the first drive.”
The Blue Raiders turned it over on downs at the Bucs 11 on their next possession. But there was no stopping them for the rest of the first half.
A short punt set up a 33-yard drive, capped by Kane’s 5-yard run. Then quarterback Troy Haynes went deep to Richard Massey for a 33-yard touchdown pass and a 20-0 lead with 8:07 left in the second quarter.
“We changed up some things on them and threw the ball around a little bit,” Manlove said. “That’s something they haven’t seen this year. I think we caught them off guard with that. It’s a nice wrinkle for us, and something we can build on.”
Woodbridge forced a punt, which Antwain Holden caught at his own 24. The senior almost went to a knee there, but got moving and ducked a defender. Then he dipped low to elude another tackle, before shedding another with a spectacular spin move.
After all that, Holden still had the speed to go the distance – 76 yards – to make it 27-0.
“Blockers,” Holden said. “That’s all I can say. They gave me a chance, and I saw an open hole and I just went. I just thank my blockers.”
Manlove wasn’t surprised by Holden’s return. He’s seen it before – often.
“He’s probably the best-kept secret down here,” the coach said. “That’s probably – I don’t know how many he’s got – four or five returns now for touchdowns. It’s something we’re getting used to.”
Milford turned it over on downs at the Blue Raiders 31 with 41.7 seconds left in the half. Woodbridge roared down the field again, as Terrique Riddick broke a 39-yard run and Haynes fired a 19-yard strike to Michael Brewer. Then, on the final play of the half, Haynes found Holden for a 6-yard TD to push the lead to 33-0.
“They were 7-0, we were 7-0. We were prepared for a battle,” Holden said. “But I guess hard work pays off, and the scoreboard shows it.”
The Blue Raiders crowded the line early, putting eight men in the box and daring Milford to throw against man-to-man coverage. It worked, as Woodbridge only allowed 66 yards in the first half – 50 rushing and 1 of 10 passing for 16 yards.
The Bucs had a little more success in the second half. William Kimmel finished 8 of 25 for 164 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown pass to Brion Murray early in the third quarter.
Riddick finished with 19 carries for 129 yards, pushing his season total to 935. He had a 16-yard touchdown run for the final points with 9:15 remaining. Kane added 103 yards on 11 carries, and Haynes completed 5 of 12 for 84 yards and two scores.
Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.
Woodbridge running back Terrique Riddick runs the ball in the first quarter at Woodbridge Friday.
Woodbridge defensive back James Kane knocks the ball away from Milford wide receiver Brion Murray in the second quarter at Woodbridge Friday.
Woodbridge running back Terrique Riddick is pulled down by the facemask by Milford’s Marcus Correa, No. 2 during the first quarter at Woodbridge Friday.
Milford’s Brion Murray pulls down the interception away from Woodbridge’s Michael Brewer in the second quarter at Woodbridge Friday.
Woodbridge running back Antwain Holden gets some separation from Milford linebacker Tayone’ Matthews in the second quarter at Woodbridge Friday.
Woodbridge running back Antwain Holden runs the ball in the second quarter against Milford at Woodbridge Friday.