C'Wood-JSB

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Castlewood's defense shines against John Battle

Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 04:04 PM

BY Tim Hayes
Sports Reporter
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BY TIM HAYES

Bristol Herald Courier

BRISTOL, Va. "? Aaron Woods didn't start on defense last year for the Castlewood High School football team. The senior linebacker certainly appears to be a defensive stalwart for the Blue Devils this fall.

Woods intercepted a pass from John Battle quarterback Cody Calloway with 58.5 seconds left to clinch the Blue Devils' 10-6 victory over Battle on Friday night in a Virginia High School League benefit game.

Castlewood's defense was clearly ahead of its offense in the exhibition game. Ryan Phillips finished with nine tackles, Jon Byerley had a pair of sacks and Brad Robinson and Woods each picked off passes in the victory.

"It's still early," Castlewood coach David Scammell said. "It wasn't pretty, but we'll take them anyway we can get them. Our defense played well tonight. They won the football game for us."

Battle got on the board with 8:52 remaining, when Calloway hooked up with Josh Osborne on a 17-yard touchdown pass.

Battle got the ball back with 2:40 remaining in the contest on its own 34-yard line. Calloway completed passes to Michael Johnson, Josh Osborne and Joe Cadle to move the offense past midfield.

However, Woods' key interception ended any plans Battle had of a comeback.

"I was covering the middle of the field and doing the best I could," Woods said. "I read the quarterback and saw he was going to throw it there and ran in there and picked it off. It was great."

Phillips led the offense with 69 yards on 16 carries and scored on a 13-yard run in the second quarter. However, the Blue Devils completed just two passes and failed to get much else going on the ground.

"We've got a lot of work to do on offense this week," Scammell said. "But we're going to get better. I think we improved since last week and as long as we keep improving each week, we're going to be a contender in the Cumberland District."

Calloway was 12-of-28 for 214 yards with a TD and two interceptions, while senior wide receiver Joe Cadle caught six passes for 98 yards.

Those efforts were negated by numerous penalties and some key dropped passes. Castlewood scored twice on safeties against the Trojans.

"We did everything we were supposed to defensively. Truthfully the defense only gave up six points," Battle coach Dan Strong said. "But I tell you, it was mental stuff man."

Battle opens up the regular-season next Friday against Abingdon, while Castlewood hosts Appalachia.

"We've just got to go back to work on Monday and get ready for the regular season to start," Scammell said. "There's a lot of good things that happened tonight, but you can always improve."

it's a shame JSB can't contend in the game of football.

JSB should win at least 4 games this year, but I don't see the boy's side winning a CMD game in any sport except for baseball this year or next.