Woodford County wakes and rolls past Douglass to boys lacrosse state semis
Woodford County’s 1 p.m. boys lacrosse state quarterfinals match at Frederick Douglass on Saturday came with a wake-up call early in the first quarter.
Yellow Jackets coach Ted Wilson probably would have preferred the alarm to have sounded before their bus trip to The Farm.
Because just over six minutes into the win-or-go-home game, Woodford trailed 3-0 on Douglass goals by Nolan Falloway, Ben Seely and Noah Buchanan. Buchanan’s goal prompted a Woodford timeout.
“They really just needed to talk,” Wilson said. “It was like ‘Hey guys, we’re in the game now. You know, nothing’s guaranteed. We’ve got three quarters left guaranteed.’ That was a horrible first quarter.”
Woodford shook off enough doldrums to tie it 4-4 by halftime.
In the second half, the Yellow Jackets buzzed around the field as if six pots of coffee came with the halftime talk.
Woodford exploded for 12 second half goals on its way to a 16-6 victory to earn their place in Monday’s 8 p.m. state semifinal against South Oldham at Martha Layne Collins High School in Shelbyville.
“We had a really poor first half and we just needed to wake up and play our game,” said sophomore attacker Grey Hodge, who scored the first of his four goals to tie the game with 18 seconds left in the first half.
Woodford put its passing ability on display almost immediately in the third quarter as Brayden Humston received Aidan McMahon’s pass from behind the net at almost point blank range and fired to give Woodford a 5-4 lead at the 9:41 mark.
Then, Woodford face-off man Charlie Twehues got hot and set up more Yellow Jackets possessions. Hodge got his second goal at 9:10 of the third quarter. Drew Sumner scored after taking a pass from Behr Wheeler less than three minutes later for a 7-4 lead.
“Charlie’s kind of our engine. He’s our face-off guy, and when he gets going our goals skyrocket,” Wilson said.
When Hodge immediately recovered a Woodford turnover deep in Douglass’ end and whipped in his third goal of the game, the Yellow Jackets’ rout seemed on. They led 8-4 with 5:39 left in the third.
Woodford’s Cole Humston and Brayden Humston finished with three goals each. Wheeler’s two goals kept the Yellow Jackets in the game in the first quarter. Sumner also finished with two goals. McMahon and Twehues each scored once.
Chase Upchurch and Falloway scored in each half for 7th Region champion Frederick Douglass (15-5). The Broncos got within 13-6 on Upchurch’s last goal with 5:23 to play, but Woodford piled on from there.
Next, the Yellow Jackets (14-2) face South Oldham (16-5), one of the two teams to beat Woodford this season. The Dragons won 10-8 at home on March 24.
“They’re very similar to us — strong position players everywhere,” Wilson said. “It’s going to come down to X’s and O’s and who makes more mistakes. That’s what we got to come out of today with. We made probably too many mistakes, and we can’t make those against them, because every round the competition level bumps up.”
Monday’s game offers a chance for revenge, sure, but there’s more at stake.
“We’re real excited,” Hodge said. “We want to get back at them. They got us the first time, but we’re ready to go.” Hodge said. “ … We want to be in that state championship.”
BOYS LACROSSE STATE TOURNAMENT
Saturday’s quarterfinals
(At various home sites via draw)
South Warren 11, Manual 10.
Trinity 11, St. Xavier 9.
South Oldham 23, Dixie Heights 4.
Woodford County 16, Douglass 6.
Monday’s semifinals
(At Martha Layne Collins High School, Shelbyville)
5 p.m.: South Warren vs. Trinity.
8 p.m.: Woodford County vs. South Oldham.
Wednesday’s finals
(At Martha Layne Collins High School, Shelbyville)
8 p.m.: Championship game.
