'The defensive line did a great job': Anderson football hands Winton Woods its 1st loss

A hostile home environment and stellar defensive play helped Anderson football defeat Winton Woods, 20-13, in Eastern Cincinnati Conference play. Anderson advances to 5-1 (4-1 ECC) and Winton Woods suffers its first loss of the season to fall to 5-1 (4-1). The two schools are tied for second in the ECC behind an undefeated Milford.

Winton Woods was held to its lowest-scoring game this year as Anderson's defense stepped up to the challenge.

“I thought we were going to have to score in the mid-20s to win the game,” Anderson head coach Evan Dreyer said. “(Winton Woods) defense is spectacular. Their rushing attack is really special.”

Dreyer, mentioning Winton Woods' defense and run game, knew that handling these two aspects of the Warriors' game would be crucial to a win on Friday.

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Keys to victory

Stopping the run game. It was no secret coming into the game that Winton Woods excelled in the trenches with its rush attack. Despite this, Anderson went in confidently and kept Winton Woods' feet on the ground. On the year, Winton Woods running backs Tyler Gooding and Isaiah Garrett are two of the top five rushers in the ECC, both well over 400 yards individually. As a team, Winton Woods leads the ECC in rushing yards per game, 212, and rushing average, 8.4 yards per carry.

On Friday, Anderson held the visiting running backs to 52 total yards. Gooding garnered 36, and Garrett gained just seven.

"We got some key first down stops to make it second and long," Dreyer said. "We pressured the quarterback, that was a great thing … the defensive line did a great job of pressuring the pocket tonight. That was exciting."

Minimalizing turnovers. Anderson didn’t turn the ball over a single time Friday night. The only sliver of insecurity on the ball came on an Anderson punt, which Winton Woods blocked and recovered for a touchdown. Offensively, though, Anderson had a clear game plan and executed. The Raptors proved effective in the air with a five-wide system that caused havoc for Winton Woods's defenders.

“We had five great receivers, and I think all five did a few things tonight and people have got to guard them,” Dreyer said, “and our quarterback did enough as a point guard to dish it out there, and it was exciting to see how many guys contributed in a positive way.”

Standout performers

Justice Burnam, Anderson: The quarterback completed 16 of 24 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown, but truly shined in moments where quarterbacks aren’t always expected to. Last-ditch scrambles, QB keeps, and creativity from Burnam cemented Anderson’s offense as a presence in the game. Burnam gathered 69 yards of his own on the ground.

David Norgren, Anderson: The linebacker was a spark in the Raptors team that was needed to hold the visiting Warriors to their lowest point total this season and only 52 yards on the ground. Norgren, a senior, deserves a game ball from Friday, according to coach Dreyer.

“He had a contagious energy. My man did an unbelievable job of getting our team ready to rock and roll for this one, I couldn’t be more proud of him," Dreyer said.

Tra'mar Harris, Winton Woods: Harris led the Warriors in receiving yards, 103, and scored the Warriors' only offensive touchdown of the night on a 37-yarder. The senior caught five balls Friday, leading the Warriors, and now has over 320 yards receiving on the season.

Moment of the game

An interception from Anderson, the game's only, in the third quarter put the home team in the red zone with a tight score of 13-12, Winton Woods' lead.

Anderson's crowd erupted.

The interception led to a quick drive from the Raptors' offense that brought the game to its final score, 20-13. Running back Brodey Berg, a senior, broke through the line for a 20-yard rushing touchdown before Anderson converted its one and only two-point conversion of the night.

Anderson's crowd erupted. Again.

From that point forward, Anderson's defense was comfortable and the offense was controlling. The only thing holding the Raptors from victory was the game clock, which ticked down slowly, but surely, during a tame fourth quarter.

What’s next

Anderson hosts Little Miami next Friday. Little Miami was shut out in Week 6, losing 28-0 to league-leading Milford. Little Miami is tied for last in the ECC with Walnut Hills as the only two winless teams in the conference.

Winton Woods will host Kings next week in a rematch of last year’s top two ECC teams. Winton Woods was Kings’ only loss last season; a 28-23 battle halfway through the season. This year the 4-2 Kings team will travel to Winton Woods looking for revenge.

Anderson 20, Winton Woods 13

Anderson 6 6 8 0 - 20

Winton Woods 0 13 0 0 - 13

AND: Michael Smith 66-yd rec TD

WW: T.J. Buckman blocked punt recovery TD

AND: Brodey Berg 1-yd rush TD

WW: Tra’mar Harris 37-yd rec TD

AND: Brodey Berg 20-yd rush TD