The high school football season excitement started fast when Lovett fumbled the opening kickoff and Woodward’s Juwan Thompson punched in the first touchdown, giving Woodward a 7-0 lead over Lovett within the first two minutes of the game. The ensuing kickoff to Lovett was a touchback, and Lovett’s first play was a pass in the flats from quarterback Jonathan Carkhuff to Max Williams. Williams raced 80 yards for the score to tie the game with 10:14 still left on the first quarter clock.
Lovett held Woodward on the next posession and scored again with 5:56 still left in quarter one. A two-point conversion gave Lovett a 15-7 lead. Lovett kicked off to Woodward and two plays later Juwan Thompson scored on a 51-yard pass from Greg Patton with five minutes left in the second quarter.
Lovett failed to produce a score and punted on their next possession. Woodward was stuffed on a fourth-and-one at the Lovett 5-yard line. The following play, sophomore Zach Boden raced 95 yards into the end zone, but the return was nullified by a penalty and the ball was placed on the Lovett 27. Lovett’s drive was ended by a one-handed pick by Jordan Plank of Woodward.
The final score of the half was a 20-yard touchdown pass from Carkhuff to Drew Stockton. Zach Wolfe scored a two-point conversion and the half ended with Lovett leading 23-21.
Both defenses stiffened in the second half. Lovett’s Ross Pope and Zach Wolfe had a sack and safety on Woodward’s Juwan Thompson in the third quarter. Drew Stockton also had an interception. Woodward’s Henry Anderson caused a Carkhuff fumble.
The lone touchdown was a 1-yard plunge by Carkhuff that was set up by Zach Boden’s 13-yard reverse to the goal line. Boden led all Lovett rushers with 81 yards on 11 carries. Carkhuff was 12 for 18 with 203 yards including two touchdowns and one interception. The final score was 32-21 in favor of Woodward.