Tigers win rivalry’s latest installment

WOODBERRY — In the 108th edition of the South’s oldest continuing high school football rivalry, Woodberry Forest got a huge game from its seniors in their final contest at Johnson Stadium to knock off Episcopal, 25-13, on Saturday afternoon.
The rivalry, which is the oldest in the state and one of the oldest in the nation, dates back to 1901, when EHS came away with a 54-0 victory.
“It’s such an exciting game, the feeling’s electric all week,” Woodberry coach Clint Alexander said of atmosphere. “I told the boys after they won the Prep League title, it’s a one-game season.”
Woodberry running back KG Gaskins, playing in his last contest for the Tigers, understood the history and importance of the series, and made his mark by rushing for two touchdowns.
“There’s so much tradition, it’s overwhelming,” said Gaskins. “Woodberry just makes me love the game, it’s easier to play because you look beside you and the person that’s next to you, you know they’re going to be there for you. That’s what Woodberry taught me.”
Woodberry got on the board first with a Layton Brown field goal, and led 3-0 after the first quarter. In the second, Alex Hagood connected with senior Landrus Lewis on a 21-yard pass to set up Gaskins’ first score, a six-yard scamper, and the Tigers extended the lead to 9-0.
With 34 seconds left in the half, Woodberry started from the Episcopal 46-yard line, and Gaskins followed up a 20-yard run with a 26-yard touchdown catch on a screen pass from fellow senior Chase Boyer with 13 seconds left, and the Tigers led 16-0 at the half.
“I just didn’t want to go down, so I broke a few tackles, and then I was in the end zone,” said Gaskins, a native of Burlington, New Jersey.
Episcopal rallied to start the third quarter, putting together a 12-play, 53-yard drive, capped off by a Stefan Graff touchdown reception. The two-point conversion failed, but EHS trailed by just 10 with plenty of time left.
After a Woodberry three-and-out, the Maroon was threatening again, but Tigers senior DB Joe Owens picked off quarterback Alex Helm in WFS territory to kill the drive.
Brown added another field goal from with 5:05 to play, giving Woodberry a 19-6 lead. Two plays later, Helm’s pass was intercepted by Ed Reynolds, who returned it 46 yards to wrap up the win for the Tigers and their seniors in their last game.
“It’s been a long, tough haul, and I’m so happy for these guys to get the senior year they deserved,” said Alexander. “To come down to practice and match the effort they put forth in the classroom, I’m so impressed with them. It’s like saying goodbye to sons.”
Following the game, the Tiger faithful stormed the field and celebrated. With the win, Woodberry now leads the all-time series 52-48-8.
Neither school participates in the state playoffs for the opportunity to maintain the rivalry.
“In one sense, it’s a sacrifice, but we would never be able to duplicate this atmosphere next week,” explained Alexander, who admitted that the importance of the rivalry is one of the main reasons he took the job. “This is our state championship.”