Unbeaten Raiders beat Bucs 20-6

By Tim Mastro
Posted 10/22/21

MILFORD — Rasheed Stones trotted to the Woodbridge High sideline with an observation for his coaching staff in a tied game.

“Coach, they didn’t cover me at all,” Stones …

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Unbeaten Raiders beat Bucs 20-6

Posted

MILFORD — Rasheed Stones trotted to the Woodbridge High sideline with an observation for his coaching staff in a tied game.

“Coach, they didn’t cover me at all,” Stones told Woodbridge coach Marvin Dooley.

“You sure?” Dooley asked.

Stones nodded.

“Then we’re throwing to you,” Dooley said and sent back him into the huddle.

Stones was right. The Blue Raider senior tight end was wide open.

Stones caught a 32-yard pop-pass from running back Kenny Newton for the go-ahead score in a 20-6 Woodbridge victory at Milford High on Friday night in a Class 2A. District III contest. It kept the Blue Raiders unbeaten on the season, improving to 7-0 overall and 4-0 in district play

“I told him the play, no one was covering me and it was open,” Stones said. “We made it happen and got six.”

The play call from Stones came after Woodbridge shifted to an “earthquake” formation in the second half — tightly packed with direct snaps to Newton.

Every play out of the formation prior to Stones’ touchdown was a designed run up the middle for Newton, including a 48-yard touchdown to tie the game 6-6 on Woodbridge’s first possession of the third quarter.

Stones noticed Milford’s defense was selling out to stop Newton, and no one was covering him as he leaked out across the middle of the field. So Newton faked another run, lobbed a ball down the field to an open Stones who was able to sneak behind all 11 Buccaneers.

“Tip your hat to him, we always tell our players to tell us what they see,” Dooley said. “I believed him and the players executed it perfectly.”

It was the first touchdown reception for Stones. For Newton, however, it was the second career touchdown throw.

The sophomore running back passed for a touchdown on a similar play last season against Caravel, which he said gave him the confidence in the pop-pass playcall.

“I said I did it before so I got it,” Newton said. “I saw him down there by himself and he caught it.”

Newton then sealed the game with his legs in the fourth quarter on a 49-yard touchdown rush out of the same formation.

Woodbridge ended the contest with 20 unanswered points, shutting out the Buccaneers (3-3) in the second half. Milford led 6-0 at halftime thanks to a rushing touchdown by Aaron Sivels from a yard out and three interceptions on defense — all by junior Ryan Mejia.

“I’m proud of our guys resiliency to come back,” Dooley said. “Whenever it looks like we’re down and out, we find the big plays. Then once we get going, our defense gets fired up. Our defense can really smother you once we get the lead.”

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