Sherwood’s defense has been the cornerstone of their success this season, and on Friday night against Tigard, they pitched a shutout victory!
Sherwood got off to an impressive start on its opening drive, driving 68 yards in 14 plays for a Dillon Beidleman run to score.
Sherwood’s defense was led by defensive linemen Michael Robles and Walker Smith, who made several timely tackles that prevented goals.
Offense
High school football teams tend to favor spread offenses and dual-threat quarterbacks for optimal success, honing them through 7-on-7 spring and summer passing leagues and often leading to Division I scholarships. At Sherwood, however, the team leading Oregon 11-man football in scoring is using an old-school approach: run-heavy wing-T. The Bowmen average 61 points and 560 yards a game while hoping for another run at their second consecutive state title title.
Sherwood began their season with an emphatic 33-0 win against cross-town rival Magruder, but that victory did not go entirely unopposed. Not long afterward, Sherwood faced Paint Branch Panthers at homecoming, looking to exact revenge against them.
Sherwood got off to a quick start, with sophomore running back Van Mahoney quickly scoring on a 15-yard dash for their initial score. Brendan Heyer and Gantt Hagins would later add three more rushing touchdowns before halftime for Sherwood to take an impressive 33-0 advantage into halftime.
Paint Branch scored with just under 23 minutes remaining in the third quarter, but Sherwood’s defense held off any attempts by Paint Branch to make up ground, keeping their win secure and enabling Sherwood’s celebration of homecoming festivities. Mahoney led Sherwood’s ground attack with 128 yards rumbled under her belt, while sophomore running back Malachi Herring added another 88 on the night.
Sherwood’s defense will be put through its paces on Friday when they take on a talented Urbana Hawks squad that boasts an enviable record – both away and at home – led by senior quarterback Tyler Smith who has completed 69% of his passes for 2,783 yards and 33 touchdowns this year. To secure victory in this Statesman Journal Game of the Week. Sherwood must remain focused if they hope to prevent an upset.
Defense
Sherwood High School football teams have built up a stellar reputation for playing excellent defense. Players demonstrate strong work ethics and give 110% on the football field; they do not give up when faced with difficult plays and fight until the very end. Sherwood coaches often emphasize team defense.
Sherwood High School may not be one of Oregon’s premier football powers, but they have long been successful for decades. The Warriors employ a wing-T offense, gaining in popularity among smaller classification schools across Oregon. Although not an easy play to implement, its success requires good quarterback play and discipline from its quarterback; Sherwood’s coaching staff works tirelessly during its offseason training program to teach its players new sports and techniques.
Sherwood opened their 2018-19 season on a high note, scoring on all aspects of the game and running with ease. Furthermore, their defense did an outstanding job limiting Paint Branch to only 129 yards on the night, with Dillon Beidelman rushing for 128 and Malachi Herring adding 28 total yards rushing.
On a rainy Friday night, Sherwood’s offense struggled with turnovers and penalties; however, their defense held strong against Putnam Colonels to win 24-0. Leading their efforts were Liam Haley (LB) and Donovan Davis (DL), each with two sacks; other linebackers who contributed were Kadusu Egata, Anthony Manana, Humza Azim, and Mason Foundas – Kadusu Egata being one such linebacker!
Sherwood’s defense has proven its ability to contain larger teams despite being short on size, using its blitz packages and impressive defensive backplay to cause problems for opponents. These defensive backs were especially noteworthy – being able to cover large receivers while stopping passes from reaching the airspace.
Sherwood’s defense has been exceptional this season but will be put through rigorous examination when they face Montgomery Blair next week. Anthony Comeau from Montgomery Blair’s Blazers has made crucial throws against Sherwood throughout the year and must be kept under control to win matches like these. In order for Sherwood’s offense to succeed, sustained drives must be maintained without incurring penalties as soon as possible, and sentences must be avoided at all costs if they wish to come away victorious from this matchup.
Special Teams
Though conditions were unfavorable and competition harsh, Sherwood Warriors emerged victorious against Springbrook Colonels despite inclement weather and a tough matchup. They led in ground game yardage with 151 on 32 carries while quarterback Anthony Comeau passed 163 yards for Sherwood. Liam Haley recorded two sacks, while Jeffrey Acheampong and Donovan Davis each forced another. Additionally, Sherwood’s offensive line, made up of Kadusu Egata, Anthony Manana, Humza Azim Mason Foundas, and Danny Russell, played significant roles in Sherwood’s victory.
Sherwood’s win against Blake was a genuine team effort, showcasing players usually reserved for backup roles. On its opening drive, Sherwood traveled 68 yards in 14 plays – with 61 of those yards coming on the ground! VJ Mahoney scored on a 1-yard touchdown plunge for Sherwood to take an early 7-0 advantage.
Sherwood scored even more in the second half, including Heyer’s 26-yard pass to Malachi McIver for a touchdown and Mahoney’s 9-yard run, extending their lead to 35-0. Walker Smith and Vasili Siarkas both racked up multiple tackles on defense to keep Sherwood ahead.
After an impressive defensive effort from Sherwood’s defensive unit, their offense put together an amazing final drive that culminated with an Amari Allen-to-Markel King walk-off touchdown, giving Sherwood both the win and season sweep.
Sherwood High School in Maryland serves 1,700 students from the nearby communities of Ashton, Olney, and Brookeville. Known for its international studies curriculum as well as music programs like Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival, which draws crowds every year with music from a range of genres, Sherwood also provides numerous extracurricular activities like debate, art, and theater to keep its students busy while its athletic teams boast impressive records in football and baseball competition.
Leadership
Sherwood boasts an abundance of talented student-athletes, as its teams have demonstrated. These teams boast several rising recruits as well as seniors poised for breakout years in 2022. These players have been working hard in preparation for this new season; additionally, the coaching staff has attended multiple high-profile camps.
Sherwood’s offense made an early statement with an impressive first drive that covered 68 yards in 14 plays and ended with Dillon Beidleman completing a four-yard touchdown run for Sherwood Warriors. They would later add another field goal and two more touchdown runs before the Blazers managed to find themselves back in contention via a fumble return touchdown.
Sherwood’s defense continued its dominant play this weekend, led by senior linebacker Liam Haley, who made several big plays. He forced two fumbles and recovered another while adding seven tackles and three tackles for loss – not to mention forcing another two with his strong performance! Michael Robles and Walker-Smith also contributed significantly on defense.
After their difficult loss to Blake, Sherwood returned home for a rematch against Magruder and never looked back. They quickly took control of the first half, scoring two running touchdowns by sophomore Van Mahoney (13 yards) and Brendan Heyer (3 yards), leading them to take an unassailable 21-0 advantage at halftime.
Sherwood closed out the game with scores in each of the last three quarters, as their Warriors managed to remain dominant on both sides of the ball despite playing without star RB Ryan Johnson. Sophomores Alex Lacey and Idris Elburuji made significant contributions in the backfield, while senior FB Dillon Beidleman added two rushing touchdowns of his own.
Sherwood looks to continue its impressive start to the regular season against an unbeaten Quince Orchard Wildcats side on Friday night before taking on Blake Bengals for their last regular season game on November 30.
