Wildcats rally at Dalton for a come-from-behind region win
November 2, 2024 The Woodland Wildcats’ offense drove for touchdowns on two of their final three possessions Friday night at Dalton for a come-from-behind 20-17 Region 7-4A win over the host Catamounts.
The Wildcats trailed 17-6 late in the third quarter before scoring the final 14 points to escape with their third win.
Dalton returned the opening kickoff to the Woodland 6-yard line and scored two plays later on a 1-yard plunge by running back Julio Perez. Catamounts’ kicker Adrian Gongora booted the PAT kick, and Dalton had a 7-0 lead with 10:59 remaining in the initial period.
The two teams traded possessions for the remainder of the first quarter.
Dalton reached Woodland territory twice but punted at the 40-yard line and turned the ball over on downs at the Wildcats’ 41-yard line.
Woodland went three-and-out on two first-quarter possessions but drove deep into Dalton territory late in the period. Starting from their 39-yard line, the Wildcats drove to the Catamounts’ 10-yard line before turning the ball over on downs on the first play of the second quarter. The Woodland drive included three runs by Solly James, a reception by Cam Williams, a shuttle-pass catch, and a run by Isaiah Livsey. The drive also included a pass interference penalty on Dalton.
The Catamounts responded with a 72-yard drive that took 16 plays. Gongora's 35-yard field goal with 4:18 left in the half gave Dalton a 10-0 lead.
Dalton started from their 10-yard line and reached midfield on eight consecutive running plays featuring Nash Smith and Perez. Quarterback Caine Woods completed passes to Kamdon London for 10- and 18-yards and had a short scramble run to put his team in field goal position.
On their ensuing possession, Woodland drove 80 yards in eight plays for the first Wildcats points of the night.
A 22-yard pass from quarterback JD Trail to Taylor Mooney moved the Wildcats to their 47-yard line, and a Dalton penalty advanced Woodland to plus territory. Four plays later, a 23-yard wheel route pass from Trail to Livsey set up the Wildcats for their first score.
Trail connected with Livsey on a hook route along the Woodland sideline, and Livsey lateraled to James, who raced the football into the end zone. The classic hook-and-lateral play narrowed the Dalton advantage to 10-6. Woodland’s PAT kick failed when it hit the crossbar.
Dalton returned the next kickoff to the Woodland 48-yard line and drove to the Wildcats’ 37 in the half's final seconds. Woodland picked off a pass on the half's final play to end the Catamounts’ late threat.
On the second half's opening drive, the Wildcats moved into Dalton territory on a 50-yard pass from Trail to Mooney. The drive stalled a few plays later, and Woodland’s negative-yardage punt gave Dalton possession at their 36-yard line.
The Woodland defense forced a three-and-out by Dalton, but the Wildcats fumbled the punt that followed at the 4-yard line, setting up a Catamounts touchdown.
On first-and-goal, Smith scored on a 4-yard run, giving Dalton a 17-6 lead with 7:15 left in the third quarter.
Woodland’s next possession started at their 27-yard line and ended with a three-and-out. Dalton fumbled the Wildcats’ punt at the 50-yard line, and Woodland recovered to set up their next scoring drive.
Three consecutive runs by Livsey advanced the Wildcats to the Dalton 28-yard line. Three plays later, Livsey converted a fourth-and-one situation with a two-yard run. Following an incomplete pass, Livsey found daylight for a nine-yard touchdown run.
A two-point conversion pass play failed, but Woodland had narrowed Dalton’s lead to 17-12 with 2:03 remaining in the third period.
The Woodland defense forced a fumble on the next Dalton possession, but the Wildcats had to punt as the fourth quarter got underway. Dalton drove to the Woodland 35-yard line again, but the Wildcat defense tightened.
A Catamounts’ quick-kick punt went out of bounds at the Woodland 17-yard line, setting up the Wildcats’ game-winning drive.
Woodland marched 83 yards on ten plays, with Trail connecting with Traver Groves in the right corner of the end zone for a go-ahead, 24-yard touchdown pass. Livsey followed with a two-point conversion run out of a “Wildcat formation,” and Woodland had a 20-17 lead with 3:58 remaining in the game.
Dalton returned the ensuing kickoff to their 38-yard line and kept the ball on the ground in their comeback effort. Nine consecutive running plays featuring Smith, Perez, and Woods set up a 52-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds.
Woodland blocked the kick attempt, however, and was able to run out the clock from “victory formation.”
Trail was 9-for-23 passing for 192 yards and two touchdowns. Williams caught three passes for 41 yards, and Mooney had two receptions for 72 yards.
Livsey had nine carries for 45 yards and caught two passes for 24 yards. James rushed for 57 yards on 14 carries and had a 33-yard reception.
Dalton finished the 2024 season 0-10, marking the first winless football year for the Catamounts since 1928. Woodland’s win was also its first over Dalton since a 35-34 victory in 1999. The Wildcats are now 2-7 all-time against Dalton.
Woodland finished the 2024 season with a 3-7 overall record and a 1-5 mark in Region 7-4A.
“I cannot be more proud of our seniors, our entire team, and our coaches for sticking together and finishing the season the right way,” said Wildcats head coach Andy Scott. “I am really looking forward to the future of Woodland football.”
Comments