The Bulldog Football Report
The Bulldog Football Report
Volume 1, Issue 5
September 30, 2015
In this edition of The Bulldog Football Report we will:
- Break down the Fayetteville Christian game with Coach Stephen Cochran and look ahead to the upcoming game at Harrells.
- Take a look at how other Big East Conference teams fared last week and preview this week’s schedule.
- Sit down with Linebackers Coach Mike Woods to discuss some WCA football history, the important role WCA coaches play in the lives of our athletes, and the development of the WCA Football “brand.”
Fayetteville Christian Game Review
The Bulldogs welcomed the Fayetteville Christian School Warriors into town this past Friday night for a continuation of a competitive series that has seen consecutive wins by WCA preceded by three in a row by Fayetteville Christian.
In a night where everything eventually seemed to go right, except maybe the weather, the Warriors threw some things at the Bulldogs that had them scrambling early to find the right adjustments to right the ship. Arguably the main adjustment was a strong stand by the Bulldogs D after an explosive Malik Grady run gave the Warriors a first and goal on the WCA 3-yard line. But as they have done time and time again this season, the Bulldog D put the clamps down and Grady was turned away by sophomore DB Paul Gore for a four yard loss. From that point forward, things seemed to settle down on the field. The weather left a lot to be desired throughout the evening, but that did not deter many of the WCA faithful in attendance in the stands.
After coming up empty on the first two possessions, the Bulldogs scored on the next six, posting a 43-0 lead at half and a running clock in the second half for the second week in a row. The WCA offense moved the ball very effectively on the ground in the first half, averaging 10.5 yards per rush and piling up 231 yards on the ground. It was on the ground the Bulldogs produced their longest play from scrimmage for the night, a 43-yard Aaron McLamb run.
WCA took a 6-0 lead on a Cody Carpenter 1 yard TD run. After a failed two-point conversion, special teams produced points as Connor Collins recovered a Will Cruikshank blocked punt for a TD.
Cody Carpenter scored the two point conversion to make it 14-0. Collins added a 17-yard TD run and Carpenter a second two-point conversion to push the lead to 22-0.
After Trevon Muse, who had a game high 59 yards rushing, took an 18 yard dash to the end zone, Boone Bishop added a two point conversion to make it 30-0.
The Bulldogs put points on the scoreboard through the air as well, with Nathaniel Williams hooking up with brother Greyson on a 35 yard TD pass late in the first half. A Matthew Buffaloe PAT made the score to 37-0.
Just before the half time whistle Will Cruikshank, who has delivered value all over the field this year, punched in a 3 yard TD run to make it 43-0 Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs final TD came on a Robert Roe fumble recovery in the end zone. Matthew Buffaloe added a PAT to make the final score Bulldogs 50 Fayetteville Christian 0.
The Post-game with Coach Cochran
The Bulldog Football Report spoke to Coach Cochran after the Fayetteville Christian win and he offered the following analysis:
TBFR: Coach Cochran, give us your overall thoughts on the Fayetteville Christian game.
CC: I thought Fayetteville Christian had a nice game plan, shaking things up on offense and defense. I like how we adjusted. We didn’t panic, we just competed. The first half goal line stand was big. That seemed to turn the game in our favor and we never looked back.
TBFR: As you prepare for Harrells game on Friday, what are some of the things the Bulldogs should continue to do?
CC: I like how we are competing. We aren’t backing away from challenges. We aren’t shying away from adversity. We are sticking to our brand of football.
TBFR: Obviously this game will be big for them. In addition to avenging last year’s loss, it is also their Homecoming. So with that and it historically being a hostile crowd, do you prepare any differently or just let the football take care of itself?
CC: On the practice field we prepare the same, but this week we are talking about the opponent a little more. There is a rivalry mindset. This is a series they have historically dominated, but after last year’s win this is a different experience for us and for them, for that matter.
TBFR: Looking at things to avoid, are there things the Bulldogs simply can’t do and be successful Friday night?
CC: Penalties and turnovers are the two things that stand out. When we limit both, we have a lot of success. In the loss to HPCA, we lost it four times and only took it away once. And if you look at last week’s game we had some turnovers as well. One of the other things we must continue doing that will be especially important this week is the defense swarming to the football. This is something we have discussed, something we have looked at on film, and we know with the personnel Harrells has it is something we have to do.
If you’re going to the game:
Kickoff Friday night is at 7:30PM. Take I-40 East towards Wilmington. Exit I-40 East at Hwy 41 (Wallace). Take Hwy 41 West to Harrells. After you cross Hwy 421 in Harrells, the school will be on the right.
Be sure to check the WCA Twitter page every Friday for the “Friday Twitter Roll” where TBFR will preview the week’s opponent.
Big East Conference Scores – September 25, 2015
North Raleigh 31 North East Carolina Prep 6
Pine Lake Prep 32 Harrells 20
Charlotte Country Day 23 Ravenscroft 2
Big East Conference Games – October 2, 2015
Christ School at North Raleigh
Ravenscroft at Granville Central
Coach’s Corner – Linebackers Coach Mike Woods
This week TBFR sits down with Linebackers Coach Mike Woods to discuss some WCA football history, the important role WCA coaches play in the lives of our athletes, and the development of the WCA Football “brand.”
TBRF: Coach Woods, can you share with us your history with the program?
MW: I attended WCA and was given the opportunity to play varsity football from 8th grade forward. During my time at WCA we won three 11-man state championships (’83, ’84, and ’85). At that time we played private and Christian schools. I had interest from several colleges, but chose to walk on at North Carolina State University. I earned a scholarship and played through my junior year at which time God led me to pursue other priorities. After graduation, I served as a deputy at the Wake County Sheriff’s Department for five years and then God called me into education. I began teaching and coaching at WCA in 1995. I was fortunate to be part of a staff that won five 8-man state football championships (’95, ’96, ’98, ’99, and ’00). Except for a brief break when I was promoted to Head of School, I have been involved with the football program every year since 1995,and have had the pleasure of coaching under two great head coaches – Randy Johnson and Stephen Cochran.
TBFR: What is your favorite aspect of coaching high school athletes?
MW: I love the learning process. I enjoy seeing athletes mature during their high school years, psychically, emotionally and spiritually. I also enjoy seeing how God uses them after their time at WCA. The highs and lows of athletics in high school is a microcosm for life. It can help a young man develop skills that will transfers into other areas of life when they become a husband and a father, so I would say that development process is what is most rewarding. I also know what coaches have meant to me and I want to invest in the lives of the players. I see tremendous value in being able to invest in the life of a young man.
TBFR: Talk to us about your perception of the growth of the WCA Football “brand.”
MW: The challenge with high school sports is the constant change in students in a relatively short period of time. If you have a couple of winning seasons or a couple of losing seasons, it is easy to call a program a “winning” or “losing” program based on two or three years. WCA has done a little of both. We had five 8-man state championships and five 11-man championships. Our goal as a staff is to compete. Coach Cochran stresses that we are going to compete every day, during the season and in the off-season. Our players appreciate the fact that we want them to work to be successful and they work hard. We are on the right path and headed in the right direction! It is great to be a part of Bulldog Football!