CoachesAid.com - High School Sports

Ricardo Young definitely has a knack for finishing strong. After missing the first half, the H.D. Woodson High senior quarterback sparked his team to a 29-6 victory over McKinley Tech in a DCIAA East division match Friday evening.

Dejohn Evans and Damien Herbert each had a rushing touchdown for the Warriors, and senior wide receiver Alonzo Russell added a 73-yard scoring pass. Senior Desma Nicholson’s 34-yard scoring catch from Malik Jarrett accounted for McKinley’s only score.

Young, who was benched in the first half for showing up late to the team bus, spearheaded three second half scoring drives for the defending DCIAA champions. Last week, Young’s touchdown pass to Evans on fourth down in overtime lifted H.D. Woodson past Friendship Collegiate Academy in overtime.

“I take full responsibility for the team getting out slow,” said Young, who’s given a verbal commitment to Virginia Tech University. “Normally, I set the tempo, but the team reacts a little differently when I’m not out there. We’re successful when we’re out there as one unit.”

“It’s totally different with Ricardo, he’s a veteran,” said Warriors coach Greg Fuller, who used sophomores Ishmael Andrews and Darone Okolie at quarterback in the first half. “The offense is much better when Ricardo is at the helm. Anybody can see that.”

Young’s opening drive was short circuited by an interception from McKinley Tech’s Nathan Baker, but the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder came back with a seven-play, 53-yard drive capped with him diving in the end zone from a yard out on the first play of the fourth quarter. He completed all four of his passes for 45 yards in the drive.

On the Warriors’ next possession, Young (nine of 12 passing for 157 yards) showed off his impressive arm with a 73-yard strike to Russell (five catches, 108 yards) on the right sidelines. Young scrambled 13 yards on a third-and-one, then Herbert broke a couple of tackles and powered his way into the end zone with three minutes, 39 seconds remaining.

Fuller was far from pleased with his team’s sporadic showing Friday. He said the Warriors aren’t complacent after beating Dunbar in the Turkey Bowl last Thanksgiving for the city crown.

“It’s selfishness, there’s only one football out there,” said Fuller. “We need to be more consistent all the way around. We do good things in practice, but when game day comes, it’s totally different.”

McKinley, who lost to H.D. Woodson by 48 points last season, got the early lead as Nicholson broke free down the right sidelines and hauled in Jarrett’s pass with 11 seconds left in the first quarter. It took only three plays for H.D. Woodson to respond as Evans went 44 yards for a score with 11:13 left in the second quarter, and Tyrell Arrington’s conversion run gave the Warriors their final lead.

“We’ve been getting off to slow starts lately,” said Young. “We got to get out there and put points on the board soon as possible.”

H.D. Woodson 29, McKinley Tech 6

Scoring summary

H.D. Woodson 0 8 0 21-29

McKinley Tech 6 0 0   0-6

First quarter

M: Nicholson 34 pass from Jarrett (run failed)

Second quarter

HDW: Evans 44 run (Backus run)

Fourth quarter

HDW: Young 1 run (Evans kick)

HDW: Russell 73 pass from Young (Evans kick)

HDW: Evans 12 run (Evans kick)