Woodruff at Wren, 3A second round, 11/20/2020

[Wolverine_Legend]

As I did last week, here is my preview for the Woodruff/Wren game. I am not going to pick a score, but I am going to interject a personal opinion in a subsequent post below...

Woodruff at Wren 2nd Round preview:

The Wolverines have hit their stride and will need to take a step beyond that this week as they take on the Wren Golden Hurricanes in the 3A upper-state quarterfinals. Wren is the defending 4A state champion, though they lost many of last year’s stars to graduation. The Golden Hurricanes are still a capable team, however, and if the Wolverines wish to advance to the upper-state championship, it will require their best game of the season. Here is everything you need to know about this week’s great matchup:

Woodruff at Wren, 3A upper-state quarterfinals:
Coaches: Woodruff- Bradley Adams, Wren- Jeff Tate
Records: Woodruff 5-2 (3-2), Wren 7-1 (4-1)
Last week: Woodruff defeated Palmetto 34-13, Wren defeated Fairfield Central 28-26

Series History:
Woodruff leads the all-time series 5-2
First meeting- Woodruff won 51-6 in 1972
Last meeting- Woodruff won 31-0 in 1977
This is the 8th all-time meeting between Woodruff and Wren

By the numbers:
Points scored- Woodruff 216 (30.9), Wren 352 (44.0)
Points allowed- Woodruff 206 (29.4), Wren 189 (23.6)

About the teams:
The Wolverines rolled to a 34-13 win over Palmetto in the first round last Friday, racking up a season-high 358 rushing yards. Woodruff will once again look to establish their ground game behind Shamare Dendy and the emergence of junior Damarian Elmore. Quarterback Carson Tucker never had to throw it often against Palmetto, but look for the Wolverines to open the passing game more this week against a Wren team that has been average defensively. Defensively, stopping the run will be key for the Wolverines as Wren has two talented running backs, but the defensive front led by Rashad Reid, Capone Jackson, Nic Robertson, and Jonathan Sexton simply overpowered Palmetto. They will need a similar effort against the Golden Hurricanes while the secondary, led by receiver/defensive back Zy Scott, Nemo Cochran, and Tae Goggins will have to play a disciplined game against a dangerous Wren passing game.

Wren, the defending 4A state champions, dropped down to 3A this season and, after graduating 32 seniors from last year’s title team, finished second in Region I-3A losing only to Daniel. The Golden Hurricanes are still a dangerous, if not slightly different, team from a year ago. Relying more heavily on the run game than in past seasons, Coach Jeff Tate’s team has two capable ball carriers in Malachi Hill and Zorian Young, though Young has been the more heavily featured back of late. Quarterback Noah Staples is an imposing presence at 6’4” 215 and junior Shavis Edwards has been Wren’s leading receiver for much of the season. Young defensively, Wren still has talented playmakers on that side of the ball and it starts with imposing defensive back Shyhiem Scotland, though Scotland will also line up at defensive end and linebacker as needed. Sophomore defensive end Luke Schuller leads the team in tackles and linebacker Reed Morrisey provides extra coverage on the edge.

Key players:

Woodruff-
#15 QB Carson Tucker (5’10” 150)- Soph
#8 WR/DB Zy Scott (6’1” 175)- Sr
#1 RB/LB Shamare Dendy (5’10” 178)- Sr
#50 OL Darrell Parks (5’10” 220)- Sr
#51 OL/DL Nic Robertson (5’10” 230)- Sr
#98 K/P Noah Gaspar (5’8” 185)- Jr

Wren-
#15 QB Noah Staples (6’4” 215)- Sr
#6 RB Zorian Young (5’7” 180)- Jr
#18 WR/DB Shavis Edwards (6’2” 170)- Jr
#4 LB Reed Morrisey (6’0” 215)- Sr
#9 DB Shyhiem Scotland (6’3” 205)- Sr
#33 DE/LB Luke Schuller (6’0” 215)- Soph

[Wolverine_Legend]

Now, I am going to interject my own personal opinion. Doodles has Woodruff as a 36-point underdog and that is simply outlandish! Nobody, using a computer algorithm or their own brains, should come up with that kind of spread for this game. I have no doubt Wren is a solid team, and last year I would be less inclined to argue the spread, but Woodruff is darn good and Wren barely escaped a very average Fairfield Central team on Friday that they trailed for 80 percent of the game, having to stop a two-point conversion in the waning moments just to avoid overtime. Woodruff will have the two best offensive players on the field in Dendy and Scott. Period. If the Wolverines play like they have the previous two games, they will win. I have watched ample film on Wren since Friday night and they look good against bad teams, but their offense against decent defenses isn't exactly explosive. That and giving up 34 points to Pendleton doesn't exactly blow my doors off. Woodruff held Pendleton to 6 points in the second round last year. I'm not predicting a score, but should we win, I will be back to say I told you so.

[DFOLDMAN]

OK ...."best in state"....I'll bite. Doodle is likely spot on...This ain't Varner's Woodruff. Woodruff beat Palmetto by 21...yawn
Wren beat Palmetto 64-13, could have been 84-0 if they wanted.

Stay with me "best in state"....going to do some math, so take off your shoes and socks so you can keep up...

51-21=30 + 6 (for home field advantage)=...you guessed it....36, plus a sub-par performance last week

Silver Foxes were favored by 36 over Summerville and everyone said that was too much... DF is down this year....Final 42-7..pretty darn close there..."best in state"

[Silverfox92]

DFold please try to humble yourself a little more. No need to keep replying to a Woodruff fan. Everyone knows where DF stands when it comes to this state so you don’t need to keep reminding everyone and let’s also try to take it one game at a time. Anything can happen on a Friday night look no further than FD losing to RB. There’s no gimme games so let’s just be humble about that until it’s all said and done.

[DFOLDMAN]

SilverFox...I say what I say...if it offends you...oh well. You aren't first and won't be the last...lol

When you say "state"...that's all inclusive. What I said 15 years ago has come to pass...just needed a coach.

This is the year to beat DF according to most, looking at the talent coming back the next few years …but the pandemic threw everything into chaos, and the best systems rise to the top, even though the team may be a little down from normal.
There is a difference between confidence and cockiness...most folks can't distinguish the difference.

I can say all I like, but you know Tommy Knotts is laser beam focused....one game at a time.

[Silverfox92]

Lol no you know good and damn well I’m not offended lol but what you doing going back and fourth with a Woodruff fan?? You have nothing to prove to him. I’m damn sure confident enough the boys can get the 5th straight but I rather saving the bragging and boasting later for myself.

[Wolverine_Legend]

A Woodruff/Wren preview thread, a 3A game mind you, hijacked by a Fort Dorchester fan with an inferiority complex and a Dutch Fork fan sitting on an ivory tower of righteousness. Imagine that...

[SB89]

Wren is going to destroy woodruff. Prediction:
Wren 48 woodruff 20

[DFOLDMAN]

Close

Wren 39
Woodruff 7

[DFOLDMAN]

Doodle was off by 4...