Quantico snaps 20-game losing streak

By Hugh Rist For the News & Messenger
Published: August 29, 2008

Quantico coach Ken Woodie said he has been saying his prayers for three weeks that his team would be ready to play against a larger and more experienced Massanutten group.
Friday night, his prayers were answered.
Chase King sacked Massanutten quarterback Marquis Jordan for a nine-yard loss on third down at the 9-yard line with less than a minute to play and Jordan threw incomplete on fourth down to preserve Quantico’s 27-22 victory in its season opener.
Woodie, who took a two-year sabbatical from coaching to watch his daughters play collegiate field hockey, led the Warriors to an 8-2 record and an appearance in the state title game three years ago before the program went winless the past two seasons. The victory snapped a 20-game losing streak for Quantico.
“Thank God,” Woodie said breathlessly after the game. “Three weeks ago I would have said we didn’t have a chance, but this team came together in the past couple weeks and their never say die attitude made this possible. This is one win and we made some mistakes, but hopefully we can get another next week.”
Quantico rolled up 236 yards of offense in the first half, using primarily an effective and often speedy running attack. Junior running back Trey Blackson carried 14 times for 135 yards and also caught an 8-yard scoring pass from senior quarterback Brenton Roberts.
Roberts scored three first-half touchdowns on runs of 25, 2, and 2 yards, while carrying five times for 49 yards.
Overall Blackson carried 18 times for 174 yards to lead the Warriors ball-control offense.
The Warriors caught a big break late in the second quarter when Nate Urbany recovered a fumble at the 42-yard line after a Quantico kickoff. The Warriors responded with a five-play drive highlighted by a 30-yard run by Urbany that moved the ball from the 32 to the 2.
Quantico’s lone special teams breakdown in the first half resulted in a 65-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Marquis Jordan.
Led by Jordan, Massanutten forged a furious comeback in the fourth quarter as Quantico’s offense began to sputter. Jordan gained 30 yards and threw for 27 more in the quarter. On the Colonels’ scoring drive in the quarter, Thomas Hazel gained 33 yards, including a 24-yard TD run with 7:16 left, to pull the Colonels to within the final margin.
Woodie credited the Warriors late defense for the victory.
“The kids made some big plays. They had a good offense and we wanted to contain their No. 5 (Jordan) and we did that,” Woodie said. “We knew if we could contain him and also stop their fullback (Hazel), we would have a chance.”