Loudoun Football 2008: Potomac Falls

For the Panthers This Season, It's a Show of Hands

By Matt Brooks (Contact)

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Potomac Falls quarterback Gregory Woodlief dropped back into the pocket at Tuesday's practice and zipped a quick pass to wide receiver Chris Pelto, who made a diving catch on a short curl route. On the next snap, Woodlief threw a deep ball down the middle of the field where Chad McMichael plucked it out of the air for a 30-yard gain. One play later, Tarrell Owens caught another perfectly placed ball on a slant to pick up 15 yards.

In 20 minutes of seven-on-seven play calls, of the 15 or so balls that left the senior quarterback's hand, only two hit the ground.

That type of efficiency in the passing game, combined with Woodlief's ability to get the ball to his three top receivers – seniors Pelto and McMichael and junior Owens – could make or break the Panthers' season.

"We're going to spread the ball out and throw the football," third-year coach Scott Woodlief said. "I'm not hiding that. We're going to throw the football. We're going to spread it out and if they spread out with us, we're going to run the football. So whatever they give us we're going to take. But we're definitely going to be throwing it a lot."

It's difficult to find fault in such a game plan with the team returning two three-year starters and a third set of sure hands that started as a sophomore last season. In Pelto and Owens, the Panthers have size and speed. And with McMichael playing in the slot and slipping into the holes in coverage or splitting out wide, Potomac Falls could make a strong case for having the best receiving corps in the Dulles District.

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Potomac Falls Season Preview

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Potomac Falls senior quarterback Gregory Woodlief is entering his third year as a starter. (Ricky Carioti)

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Potomac Falls' Chad McMichael is one of a trio of wide receivers expected to spark the Panthers' offense. (Ricky Carioti)

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Tarrell Owens will be another big target for Potomac Falls this season. (Ricky Carioti)

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Chris Pelto will be yet another prime target for quarterback Gregory Woodlief and the Panthers this season. (Ricky Carioti)

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Potomac Falls works on its spread offense in practice this week. (Ricky Carioti)

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Potomac Falls Coach Scott Woodlief enters his third season with the Panthers. (Ricky Carioti)

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"This is our third year playing together, so we've got good chemistry," McMichael said. "We know where each other are on the field, and I think we all really work well together."

At 5-foot-10, McMichael is the smallest of the triumvirate, but what he lacks in size, he more than makes up for in sure-handedness and solid route-running ability. Pelto and Owens are both 6-foot-1 and at least 175 pounds, providing big targets for Woodlief over the middle and downfield. Pelto had back-to-back 100-yard receiving games against Park View and Freedom last year and comes into this season with a bigger body and a sense of determination.

"This year we've just got to catch the ball and make bigger plays after we catch it," Pelto said. "Last year we didn't really do that too much. We've got to get used to winning with this group, and if we can get going early, we'll be all right."

The receivers' ability to make plays will be heavily dependant on the ability of their senior quarterback to put the ball in their hands. With two years under his belt in his father's spread offense system, Woodlief is poised to produce more consistent numbers in 2008.

In five district games reported to the Washington Post last season, Woodlief completed 53 of 114 passes for 728 yards. Those numbers should increase significantly with more experience for him under center and a higher level of comfort with his teammates around him.

"A lot of people don't understand, Gregory has only played quarterback for four years," Coach Woodlief said. "The good thing about him is he's been in the system for three years. He knows the plays, the reads. He does a great job at reading coverages now, and just the leadership qualities of him just maturing, being older, being around some older guys when he was young, I think that's helped him mature and become one of our leaders here."

Gregory, who also plays point guard on the basketball team and shortstop on the baseball team, has developed a rapport with his receivers through time spent on the hardwood and the diamond as well as the football field. Owens is used to catching bounce passes from Woodlief during basketball season while McMichael and Pelto played behind him in the outfield last spring.

"They get along and they communicate well on the field," Coach Woodlief said. "That's the one thing that I can see that's different from last year – they talk. They come back to the huddle and Chad will say this or Chris will be at the line and give Gregory some eye contact, and that means a lot right now. That's maturity and that's going to help us."

Increased maturity is something Gregory expects to bring to the table in his third season at the helm. An intense competitor in all sports, he hopes to be able to keep his emotions in check this season, enabling the Panthers to hang in the types of close games they might have lost one year ago.

"My first year starting, I was very nervous maybe my first five games," he said. "I didn't feel as comfortable under center or in the huddle. But last year I think I became more comfortable at the varsity level, and this year I feel like I'm more mature. I've become more of a leader and I've learned to control my emotions better than I have in the past.

"We have a great receiving corps, and I'm an OK quarterback, I guess. So if I can just get them the ball, we'll be fine."

With Pelto, McMichael and Owens on the field, the quarterback has plenty of options. All three have a chance to put up big numbers this season, but rather than focus on individual numbers, they're driven to help the team win football games.

"Chris Pelto made a statement this year that meant a lot," Coach Woodlief said. "He said, 'I'd rather win a football game and have no receptions than have 12 receptions and lose.' That, to me, is the team concept. Would I love to have all three guys over 750 yards this year? That’s a dream come true. But some guys are going to have a lot more catches than the other guys from week to week. Other teams are going to watch film, they're going to scout. If Chad has nine receptions the week prior to playing them, they're going to do something to shut him down. That's going to leave an opening for the other guys."

Woodlief's pass-first declaration will undoubtedly lead opposing coaches to drop into heavier coverage packages and also bring pressure on the quarterback to force Gregory to make quick decisions in the pocket. In order to keep defenses honest, the Panthers will need consistent production from their running backs – senior Michael Baker and sophomore Leo Pittman. With Baker, Potomac Falls has an experienced back with decent size at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds. Meanwhile the smaller Pittman brings some elusiveness and what Woodlief modestly called "halfway decent speed." Gregory will also be used in certain situations to mix things up with draws and delayed runs.

"I think we're going to throw to set up the run," Gregory said. "We'll probably spread it out, go deep on them and try to get them to back up, and then run the ball. We have two very good running backs and I can run it a little bit. We've got a spread offense with a lot of different options out of there – we can run reads, we run all different kinds of plays out of the shotgun. So it should be exciting."

Another key to the offense’s success will be the ability of the line to preserve the pocket around their quarterback. Senior center Trevor Cottom is a three-year starter and 6-foot-3, 270-pound left tackle Mason Mehalic started every game last season. Together they will anchor a line that also includes senior Jeremy Fertig at right guard and several underclassmen.

Last year the Panthers offense put up 20 or more points in five of their 10 games, but only twice held an opponent below 14 points. They will need a much better showing from the defense this season, which again will require production from their quarterback and three star receivers as all four start in the secondary.

Potomac Falls might be able to simply outscore a few teams with its high-octane offense, but the Panthers' first three non-district games – matchups with West Virginia’s Martinsburg, Hedgesville and Jefferson – will be big measuring sticks for the potential this team has to contend in the District.

"The kids expect a lot this year," Woodlief said. "This is their senior year for a lot of them. They’ve stuck together since their sophomore year and they expect a lot out of each other. Do we need to win early? I think we need to have success early. I don't know about winning, but I think we need to have success and they need to see success.

"I think we need success here, and I think it's our turning year, I really do. I think the kids believe that this is the year for them. What more can you ask for than to have them believe?"

Tagged: 2008 Football Preview, football, high school sports, Potomac Falls High School

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