Woodland looks for offensive improvement after scoreless performance

by Tim Altork

MAPLESVILLE -- For the second time this season the Woodland offense met its match, and for the second time this season that lost match-up resulted in a loss for the Bobcats. Maplesville held Woodland without a first down for much of the first half and mustered enough offense to come away with a 21-0 win.

The game was a match-up of two teams that are expected to make some noise in the upcoming postseason in their respective classifications, but Woodland found out if they are going to make good on those expectations, they have some work to do on offense.

"To be on the road and play a good football team, I thought our defense played extremely well," said Woodland head coach Larry Strain. "The offense is where the problem is right now, and that's my fault. We're working at it so that we can try to get better."

Woodland managed a total of 104 yards on offense, only 18 of which came on the ground.

"We feel like we've got capable enough folks to run the football," said Strain. "We just didn't block."

Asked if that lack of blocking was a step back in the progress of his offensive line, Strain responded, "I don't know that it's a step back. We just played a lot higher quality of football team than we've been playing."

Indeed, with the win Maplesville finished the regular season with a perfect 9-0 record, a region title, and number-three ranking in the state in class 1A.

"Maplesville's got an awfully good football team," said Strain.

Woodland did not help themselves either as they were penalized eight times for 85 yards.

With the running game stagnant the Bobcats were forced to go to the air to try kick-start the offense. But Colton McCain completed just 10 of 31 passes for 86 yards.

"It basically boiled down to they were able to get some first downs and move the ball better than we were, and they put the field position on us all night," said Strain. "We couldn't run the football. We just were not able to run it. We had to end up throwing it, and we made several drops that would have been big plays for us."

Woodland (8-2) now must turn its attention to its first-round playoff opponent, who also happens to be their opponent from week one of the regular season, Piedmont. The 'Cats will host Piedmont Friday night at 7 p.m.