The Woodland Wolverines pushed their record to 3-0 after battling through early adversity and showing resilience against the Whale Branch Warriors.
Woodland struck first when #35 Dorian Britt broke through for the opening touchdown, giving the Wolverines an early lead. But the Warriors answered back and, by halftime, Woodland found themselves down by 7. The flat first half left plenty of questions, but the second half told a different story.
Halftime itself was also a highlight for the community, as first responders were honored in a spirited and emotional ceremony. Woodland also recognized Dorchester School District’s very own athletic trainer, Tabria Dobison, for her dedication and service to Woodland athletics.
Coming out of the break, the Wolverines tightened up on both sides of the ball. Defensively, they made the adjustments needed and did not allow the Warriors to get back into the end zone. The Warriors’ drives stalled near the 40-yard line, as Woodland’s defense shut the door on their scoring chances. On special teams, kicker Gibson Kepley executed a picture-perfect kickoff that #24 Tyler Wright recovered, firing up the Wolverines and giving them a key extra possession.
With standout performances from #55 Donovan Miles and #18 Jaemin Pinckney, a South Florida commit, the Warriors simply didn’t know what to do. Pinckney made his presence felt on both sides of the ball and capped it off with a momentum-shifting defensive touchdown. After #10 Chandler Fogle delivered a big sack that jarred the ball loose, Pinckney scooped it up and took it to the house a turning point that turned up the stands. Key contributions also came from Starting Quarterback #2 Duece Sally and #8 Lavonte Furray, who stepped up in clutch moments to help seal the victory.
By the final whistle, Woodland had not only erased their halftime deficit but also proved their toughness, shutting down the Warriors’ offense and walking away with a 28–14 victory, moving them on to a 3-0 start to the season.