It may not have determined the outcome of the high school football game, but it certainly changed its trajectory.
Early in the second half with the score tied, Woodstock Academy quarterback Derek Thompson looked like he had completed a pass to Caleb Feen just inside Capital Prep/Achievement territory.
As Feen was being tackled, the ball popped out. Trailblazer defensive back Kadeem McKnight picked up the loose ball and returned it down the sidelines for a 56-yard touchdown.
The early score led to 16 unanswered points for Capital Prep/Achievement Academy which held off the Centaurs, 29-15, at the Bentley Athletic Complex Sept. 22.
After the game, no one truly knew whether it was a fumble recovery, if the ball had touched the ground, or an interception if it had not and whether or not it was a turnover at all.
“I wish I knew what it was. Regardless, it was what was called and it definitely was not easy to overcome. A momentum swing is an understatement,” said Woodstock Academy coach Sean Saucier.
Back on their heels, the Centaurs surrendered two more points when punter Damian Bonneau-Nichols was forced to punt from the end zone. The kick was blocked and the ball fallen upon by senior linebacker Roy Clemons for the safety.
The Centaurs (1-2) did make a defensive stand after punting the ball back to the Trailblazers following the safety and forced them to punt.
Unfortunately, Woodstock Academy failed to move the ball either and kicked it back to Capital Prep who took over on their own 49-yard line.
Jeremiah Taylor (17 carries, 119 yards), on the first play from scrimmage, broke the line of scrimmage and outraced Woodstock Academy defenders to the end zone for the 51-yard score and a 23-7 Capital Prep lead.
It would have been easy for the Centaurs to pack it in.
They didn’t.
The defense stepped up on the next two Capital Prep possessions.
Nick Bedard intercepted a pass on one and the defense forced a punt on the other.
“The defense played really well and that’s a tribute to Joe Humphrey, our defensive coordinator, he worked really hard this week to put in things to combat their offense,” Saucier said.
Midway through the final quarter, the offense delivered.
Derek Thompson (18-for-26 passing, 163 yards) completed a 10-yard pass to Feen (5 catches, 48 yards) following the Capital Prep punt. A personal foul moved it close to the 50 and Thompson found Bedard (2 catches, 53 yards) to take them halfway to the end zone.
The rest came on the next play when Thompson lofted a pass over a Capital Prep for a 25-yard strike to Luis Miranda (6 catches, 48 yards) that made it a one-possession game again, 23-15.
“That was one of the nicest throws and catches that I’ve seen our guys do. That was a halftime adjustment. We tried to figure out ways to beat the man coverage and we did a little switching among the receivers and their routes and we were able to free up Luis,” Saucier said.
The Trailblazers (1-2) responded on their next series.
They put one of their longest series of the day, a nine-play drive that chewed up over three minutes on the clock and ended with Taylor scoring on a 21-yard run with 1:08 to play.
“I think we wanted to do more than just compete (Saturday). I think we had a good chance to win and a couple of unfortunate mistakes kind of did us in. We will come back stronger,” Thompson said.
The Centaurs scored the first touchdown of the game on their first series.
Feen intercepted a Solomon Barlow (6-for-15 passing, 34 yards) pass and returned it to the Trailblazer 24.
Five running plays later, Jaden Dennett (11 carries, 40 yards) took it in from the 1-yard line for the quick 7-0 lead.
Capital Prep responded with a nine-play drive, capped by Barlow’s 13-yard touchdown keeper.
It was all the scoring the first half would see.
“I was thrilled,” Saucier said of the 7-7 halftime score. “I told them that we were in a battle and it was awesome. It was a great game to coach, a great game to be a part of and our kids showed me something this week.”
Saucier, prior to the game, called the matchup a litmus test for the Centaurs.
“We definitely passed it,” Saucier said. “The bar will be raised now in practice. The mental toughness meter is being pushed up, not out of punishment, but out of reaching their potential. I think they showed it (Saturday) and now we have to go after it.”
One thing the Centaurs will have to get better on is turnovers.
Three Woodstock Academy passes were intercepted and it also turned the ball over on two fumbles, one at the Capital Prep 10 and the other resulting in the Capital Prep touchdown.
“The turnovers came at tough times, right when we needed momentum, and we just lost it. I think we have to give it up for our defense, they did an unbelievable job all day,” Thompson said.
The Centaurs go on the road on Friday for a 6:30 p.m. game at Ludlow, Mass.
“It’s a Friday night. I’m sure it will be a great, small town atmosphere similar to Greenfield, Mass. If we can bottle what we did (Saturday) and bring it on the road, I like our chances,” Saucier said.
The Centaurs downed Ludlow, 54-28, last season in Woodstock.
Ludlow is 2-1 on the year and is coming off a 25-16 win over Amherst, Mass., which the Centaurs will host on Oct. 5.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy

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