Eagles now 3-1 to start year
Woodville turns 'ugly' game into rout
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

It didn't start pretty but the ending was quite nice.

Woodville awoke from an early slumber to score 49 unanswered points to pace the Eagles to a 49-13 thrashing of Shepherd Friday, Sept. 21 at home.

"It turned out to be nice but it started ugly," said Woodville Head Football Coach Steve Fentress. "It turned out to be a track meet when all was said and done. We just came out flat. We were just not mentally ready to play football.

"We thought we were going to beat them but we kept making stupid mistakes," Fentress said. "It was a quarter and a half of pathetic football. We were not playing Woodville football. It was the worst half of football I've seen in 14 years."

The victory improved Woodville to 3-1 on the year.

Shepherd grabbed a 13-0 lead over the shocked Eagles midway through the second quarter before Woodville woke up from their football nightmare.

Quarterback Stephen Williams scored from 48 yards out to cut the lead to 13-7 and then on the ensuing kickoff, a big hit on a tackle awoke Woodville for good.

"It just lit a spark for us," Fentress said. "In the second half, we came out more focused and quit making mistakes. We also started putting our face masks on the ball more and start making them turn it over to us more."

Shepherd turned the ball over seven times on the night including three interceptions by Woodville's Jarvis Barlow.

"They started to turn it over and we started scoring," Fentress said. "We came out the second half refocused and scored 49 unanswered points."

Woodville took the lead for good in the third quarter when Williams connected with Adrian Williams on a 16-yard scoring pass as the Eagles assumed a 14-13 lead.

Other Woodville touchdowns came from Adam Rigsby, two-yard, one-yard and four-yard runs; and Paul Price scored from 48-yards and 30-yards out.

Rigsby finished the night with 167 yards, three touchdowns on 21 carries while Price rushed for 91 yards on eight carries and two touchdowns. Williams rushed for 74 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown.

Williams finished the night five of six for 62 yards and a touchdown and interception.

Woodville travels to Tarkington Friday to take on the Longhorns in the final tuneup before the start of District 23-2A play.

"Tarkington is very similar to Shepherd in what they do schemewise," Fentress said. "They are big and strong. They are also similar to Splendora - they are big and come right at you.

"We have played good ball on the road so hopefully we can continue to do so," Fentress said. "We have had some injuries that we have had to deal with so hopefully we will be a full strength when district comes around."

Brian Taylor may be lost for the season with a knee injury for Woodville. Fentress said the extent of Taylor's injury is not presently known.

"We are still ahead offensively than where we are defensively," Fentress said. "If we can put them together for four quarters, then I think we can be a good football team."