Woodbridge football tops Colonia for first time since 2011

COLONIA - The Kevin Coleman Era at Woodbridge High School got off to an inauspicious beginning Friday evening.

The Barrons coughed up the football on the game's third play, giving arch-rival Colonia its first possession in the red zone. Barely four minutes into the contest and Woodbridge already trailed by a touchdown.

The Woodbridge defense stiffened from there, ceding just one more touchdown, and the Barrons' capable playmakers took over and delivered three consecutive scores to rally for a 19-14 triumph it celebrated like a championship.

The outcome in Coleman's head coaching debut was Woodbridge's first victory over Colonia since 2011, and marked the Patriots' first season-opening loss since that same campaign.

"It was a very emotional win for our team, we played really hard," said Coleman, Woodbridge's defensive coordinator last season. "It was a knockdown, drag-out, beat 'em up, Colonia and Woodbridge type of game and the kids came to play. Our defense played really, really well."

Turnovers and penalties played a significant role in the contest, as Colonia capitalized on that early fumble as Luke Pero carried on all seven plays of the 16-yard drive that ended with his 1-yard plunge up the middle on fourth-and-goal.

Woodbridge took the lead for good by scoring twice in a decisive 44-second burst that spanned the first two quarters, both set up by Colonia fumbles.

Colonia's second possession ended with a fumbled snap on a punt, giving Woodbridge the ball at the Colonia 45. On third-and-2 from the 11 six plays later sophomore quarterback Donovan Tabon found Quassim Glover in the left front corner of the end zone and the talented wideout boxed out and out-jumped a defender for the equalizer.

The Patriots fumbled away on its next play from scrimmage and senior end Marquand Payne recovered and rumbled 26 yards for the score that put Woodbridge on top to stay.

"I was coming from the back side and I saw the quarterback pitch it and the running back dropped it. I saw the running back go for the ball so I dove, then I got back up and scooped it and scored," said Payne, a senior describing his first varsity touchdown. "We haven't beaten them in four years so to break that streak was awesome."

Woodbridge padded its cushion with an explosive six-play, 84-yard march, that included a 40-yard pass from Tabon that Glover (five catches for 70 yards) saved from being intercepted with another leaping grab. DaAvian Ellington, the game's leading rusher with 104 yards on 23 carries, extended the lead to 19-7 midway through the third quarter with a 22-yard burst up the middle.

Colonia's lone extended drive followed, a 73-yard, 11-play trek that was extended by holding penalty on fourth-and-16 and a roughing the passer call on a fourth-and-goal incomplete pass. Pero, who finished with 52 hard-fought yards on 22 carries, narrowed the margin to 19-14 with a 6-yard jaunt with three seconds remaining the third quarter.

But Colonia would not threaten again as its three, fourth-quarter possessions ended with a three-and-out, another fumble recovery by Payne after a crushing hit by Keshawn Henry, and an interception by Glover.

WOODBRIDGE (1-0)  7-6-6-0-19

COLONIA (0-1)           7-0-7-0-14

SCORING SUMMARY

C -  Pero 1 run (Ribeiro kick)

W - Glover 11 pass from Tabon (Henry kick)

W - Payne 26 fumble return (kick failed)

W - Ellington 22 run (run failed)

C - Pero 6 run (Ribeiro kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - W: Ellington 23-104, Henry 7-18, Tabon 4-2; C: Johnson 1-56, Pero 22-52, Layton 14-33.

Passing - W: Tabon 7-11-0-107; C: Layton 8-16-1-60.

Receiving - W: Glover 5-70, Henry 2-37; C: Johnson 5-20, Zawacki 1-20, Weathers 1-18, Pahopin-Lige 1-2.