Woodstock ends 17-year playoff winless streak with 35-7 rout
Quarterback Cash White recorded four touchdowns on his birthday to lead the Blue Streaks over Prairie Ridge in the Class 5A first round.
By Takeshi Davidson ·
Woodstock quarterback Cash White threw two touchdown passes and rushed for two more on Saturday, leading the Blue Streaks to a 35-7 victory over Prairie Ridge in the Class 5A first-round playoff game. The win marks Woodstock's first playoff triumph since 2009, ending a 17-year drought.
White, a junior, described the victory as his birthday wish. He told his parents all week that a win was the only thing he wanted. The Blue Streaks' defense forced a punt on Prairie Ridge's opening possession, setting the tone for a dominant first half.
Woodstock capitalized on every possession in the first half, building a 21-0 lead before the break. The first score came on a 13-play, 60-yard drive that ended with sophomore running back Nick Morrow rushing 26 yards for a touchdown. White followed with a 19-yard rush in the second quarter. He then completed a 65-yard sideline pass to Morrow for the final score of the half.
White finished the game 6 of 8 for 119 yards and two touchdowns. He also gained 103 yards on 12 carries. Morrow accumulated 137 rushing yards and caught two passes for 83 yards, with both receptions resulting in touchdowns. White credited the offensive line for dominating the line of scrimmage, which allowed the running game to open up the passing attack.
The Blue Streaks continued their scoring in the second half. White added another rushing touchdown on a one-yard run and connected with Morrow on a 19-yard pass. The Woodstock defense limited Prairie Ridge to 172 total yards. Senior Jaxon Hansen recorded two tackles for loss, while Connor Calvin-Garcia and Morrow each added one.
Coach Mike Brasile noted that the team's intense practice sessions during the bye week helped their execution. He expressed pride in the players' work ethic, stating that the victory was rewarding for the group. The Blue Streaks will travel to St. Francis for the second round of the playoffs.
Prairie Ridge, which finished the regular season with a 3-8 record, fell short despite a resilient effort. Senior Jake Wagler led the Wolves with 64 rushing yards and a four-yard touchdown run. Quarterback Brock Bowden added 33 yards on 11 carries. Coach Mike Frericks said he was proud of the team for staying together through the season's ups and downs.
