Timberland football coach Art Craig hobbled onto the Wolves team bus Friday afternoon with an air cast stabilizing his right leg.
Just a couple hours earlier, Craig damaged ligaments in his ankle teaching a volleyball class. Craig’s ankle will likely need further attention, but for now the air cast would suffice as he had a region road game to coach.
For months, he’d been stressing the idea of being tough and playing hard to his players. Friday, the Wolves just followed their coach’s lead.
Timberland shut out Bishop England, 13-0, Friday on Daniel Island to stay undefeated atop Region 7-AAA. It’s the third straight win over the Bishops for the Wolves (5-3, 2-0), who now own the all-time series 13-1.
“We’ve been preaching to this team that we have to learn to play hard,” Craig said. “I think maybe we’re starting to take a little pride in what we’re doing. We’re finally starting to get some continuity, starting to gel a little bit and I just felt like we played extremely hard tonight.”
Bishop England (7-2, 1-2) managed just 117 rushing yards and 148 total yards of offense, both season lows. The Bishops’ five turnovers are a new season high.
Three of those turnovers came off interceptions in the first half; Bishops quarterback Leo Albano threw four Friday after giving away just two all season. The junior was averaging 120 rushing yards through the first eight games but was limited to 78 as the Wolves penetrated through the Bishops’ lead blockers.
“We didn’t control the line of scrimmage,” Bishop England coach John Cantey said. “We had drives going and we stalled every time. We were optioning to (Timberland defensive end Matthew Rembert) and he’s making a play on the dive and (Albano) at the same time. They’re quick and we weren’t’ able to block them.”
Timberland held possession for less than three minutes in the first quarter but took a 7-0 lead off a 1-yard touchdown run by Jaquez Mitchell 79 seconds into the second quarter.
Mitchell opened a two-score advantage 11 seconds into the fourth quarter with a 48-yard touchdown pass to Roger Gibbs. Albano then fumbled at the Wolves 25-yard line on the Bishops’ ensuing possession ending any hopes of a late rally.
Mitchell finished 4-of-4 passing for 83 yards and the score. Jermaine Gadsden rushed for 43 yards on 11 carries.
“We’ve basically been preparing for them for two weeks now with the hurricane and everything else going on,” Craig said. “Our defensive coordinator, Justin Scott, did an outstanding job. They were everywhere they were supposed to be. The big thing is we never let (Albano) get the big run and so they never really got a chance to get in the flow of their offense.”
Timberland travels to Hanahan next week looking to keep pace at the top of Region 7-AAA. Bishop England began the season 7-0 but with its second straight loss falls to third in Region 7 with its regular-season finale at Lake Marion next week.
“It’s going to be important to stay focused and take care of business at Lake Marion and get in the playoffs, make a run and see what we can do,” Cantey said. “We have to make sure our seniors are still on board and everyone’s still on board with what we’re trying to do.”
