WOODLAND WILDCATS
2020 RECORD: 4-4, overall (1-4, REGION 7-AAAAA)
HEAD COACH: Tony Plott 13-45, 6 seasons as Woodland Head Coach
ALL TIME RECORD: 229 games 70 – 159 – 0 (31%)
TOTAL SEASONS: 23 FIRST SEASON: 1998 ALL STATE PLAYERS: 4
REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0
2020 REVIEW
In 2020, The Woodland Wildcats had a mountain of momentum that the pandemic made crash like an avalanche. “We had one of our better teams since I’ve been here,” says Coach Tony Plott. “We started off strong and then got hit with COVID and suffered a huge setback.
We went a month between playing our third and fourth games. When we made it back to the field, we struggled to rebuild the momentum we had. We had a good ball team and a great senior class, but it didn’t go completely how we wished.”
OFFENSE
Up front, the Woodland offensive line will be led by senior center Beau Jernigan, a three-year starter. The Wildcats expect good protection from junior tackle Hunter Deaton and senior Dawson Wheeler.
Lining up under center will be sophomore Breelace Williams, who Plott describes as a very talented player. There is a possibility of a battle for the position as another quarterback is making strides for playing time.
In the backfield, the Wildcats still have senior Asa James, a three-year starter. In a 7-game stretch last seasons, James had 1,500 yards of total offense.
OFFENSE
Up front, the Woodland offensive line will be led by senior center Beau Jernigan, a three-year starter. The Wildcats expect good protection from junior tackle Hunter Deaton and senior Dawson Wheeler.
Lining up under center will be sophomore Breelace Williams, who Plott describes as a very talented player. There is a possibility of a battle for the position as another quarterback is making strides for playing time.
In the backfield, the Wildcats still have senior Asa James, a three-year starter. In a 7-game stretch last seasons, James had 1,500 yards of total offense.
DEFENSE
The defense begins with the front line, which features senior defensive end/linebacker hybrid Jeremiah Rhodes. There’s also sophomore Kwadrus Wilson, a strong and athletic kid.
Another linebacker, senior Harlin Morris, has had a great offseason and is ready to shine.
Plott describes the Woodland secondary as a strength of the defense, with players such as juniors Chase Carson, Jaeden Smith, and Christiaan Vera looking to shut down the opposing teams’ pass offense.
LASTING THOUGHTS
This season, Coach Plott will give strong focus and push for the Wildcats to be a family. “The closeness and togetherness is our identity,” he says. “We always want to be a tough and physical football team, but I think the family aspect is more important than the other stuff.”
2021 GAMES OF SIGNIFICANCE
- The Region Schedule
“It would be big to win a few games in the region,” Plott says, “especially with it being as tough as it is. Sweeter would be pulling a victory off versus Cass or Cartersville.”
