Woodbridge takes over first in the Cardinal District

The Woodbridge offensive line opened holes for running backs Jaylen Avent and Michael Ford.

Its pass protection was sharp enough to give quarterback Frank Buckley ample time in the pocket.

But that Vikings' defense sure knows how to control a game. It limited Osbourn Park to 168 yards of total offense in a 9-3 victory, which puts Woodbridge (9-0, 5-0 Cardinal) one game away from its second straight perfect regular season. The Vikings can wrap up the Cardinal District title next Friday with a win over Gar-Field.

Before focusing on the Indians, the Vikings knew Osbourn Park presented a formidable challenge thanks to stout defense and a quarterback-running duo of Dominique Terrell and Gary Jackson.

"We came into this game knowing this was a playoff game," Vikings interim coach Kevin Smith said.

It was a victory, though, that did not come easy.

Most of Woodbridge's offensive drives ended with punts or turnovers. Avent gave the Yellow Jackets the ball by fumbling at the Osbourn Park 13 on Woodbridge's first drive of the third quarter. Ford ripped off a 31-yard gain early in the fourth quarter only to fumble and have Osbourn Park linebacker Christian Portillo return it to the Yellow Jackets 17.

Woodbridge also dodged two huge fourth quarter bullets. Avent's 17-yard gain ended with a fumble early in the fourth, which guard Jordan Hairston recovered. A failed extra point attempt left the Vikings with nine points at the 5:14 mark.

And Woodbridge played the second half without receiver/defensive back Darius Smith after he was kicked out of the game during a sequence of offsetting penalties in the first half.

The ejection gives Smith a one-game suspension, but the Vikings will be allowed to appeal it.

"Mistakes are going to happen," Kevin Smith said. "You just have to be able to overcome them and we were able to overcome them tonight."

That was due to a defense that forced three three-and-outs and a Terrell fumble, which linebacker Michael Herrity recovered at midfield with 8:30 left in the second quarter.

"Our defense shuts down any offense," Woodbridge center John St. Amant said.

St. Amant's night was spent trying to spring Avent and Ford loose for long gains. The duo combined to rush for 187 yards on with Avent getting 109 on 22 carries.

But the Osbourn Park defense also played a role in giving its offense a chance to score. Defensive back Josh Ramseur put Osbourn Park back on offense with an interception with just over two minutes left in the second half.

An Avent first quarter run of two yards fell three short of the five Woodbridge needed for a first down, forcing the Vikings to settle for a 29-yard Chris Drisko field goal.

"We were bending, but we didn't break," Osbourn Park coach Brian Beaty said. "They have some good kids and our kids battled. Woodbridge is a good team. We just didn't come up with the big plays when we needed to make them."

Stopping Vikings receiver Collin Frazer after he caught a pass on a hitch pattern would have helped. Instead, Frazer ran around a defender, down the left sideline and into the end zone for a 49-yard touchdown.

Kicker Zach Roy's 25-yard field goal put the Yellow Jackets (7-2, 5-1) on the board with three minutes left.

After Woodbridge's Anthony Earl recovered the onside kick, the Vikings took over at their 39-yard line. They picked up two first downs. On the second, Buckley took two straight kneel downs and the clock expired.

"Hats off to the defense," Smith said. "They kept us in it."

Staff writer Robert Daski can be reached at 703-878-8049.