The Woodland Wildcats (0-1) took on River Ridge (1-0) at home Friday night, but the Knights proved to be too much for the Wildcats to handle as they beat Woodland 35-14. Gino Portera scored three rushing touchdowns on the night and all were five yards or less.
Woodland’s Brody Williams did throw a 24-yard touchdown to Titus Jones to cut the River Ridge lead to 20-7 late in the second half, but Woodland would make a few mental mistakes to give River Ridge another chance at scoring. Jones would hit the River Ridge quarterback late with time expiring, which would cause the benches to clear. Once the Woodland bench left its position a skirmish ensued. Flags were offsetting, but River Ridge was given another chance to punch it in, and Portera took advantage.
Woodland fumbled the ball at its own 49-yard line midway through the second quarter and Ken Balajadia would take it all the way to the house for six.
After one-half of play, the Wildcats found themselves down 28-7 in part due to the five penalties they committed in the first half.
Portera would hit Nathan Herring for a 19-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to give the Knights a 35-7 lead. Woodland would tack on its second score of the game late in the fourth quarter when DeMarcus Williams capped an eight-play, 80-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run, but the end result was a 35-14 loss for the Wildcats.
Woodland will have next week off and will host Rockmart Yellow Jackets on September 1st at 7:30.