Cavaliers Set to Challenge the Patriot District

00:00:00-Intro 00:04:23-Alexandria City 00:11:39-Woodson 00:20:41- Robinson 00:30:50-West Potomac 00:38:45-Fairfax 00:50:30-West Springfield 00:58:30-South County 01:11:00-Lake Braddock 01:24:00- Future Picks

• 8/29: vs. Yorktown at 7:00 PM

• 9/6: vs. Chantilly at 7:00 PM

• 9/13: @ Oakton at 7:00 PM

• 9/27: @ Alexandria City* at 7:00 PM

• 10/4: vs. Lake Braddock* at 7:00 PM

• 10/10: @ Fairfax* at 7:00 PM

• 10/18: vs. Robinson* at 7:00 PM

• 10/25: @ South County* at 7:00 PM

• 11/2: vs. West Potomac* at 12:00 PM

• 11/8: @ West Springfield* at 7:00 PM

Eric Henderson, entering his third year at Woodson High School as the head coach, is ready to lead the Cavaliers into a promising season. Looking back at last season, Coach Henderson feels his team took significant steps toward becoming more competitive, though he acknowledges there's still work to be done. "The ship is slowly turning," he remarked, emphasizing the incremental progress his team is making.

The offseason was a crucial period for the Cavaliers, with several players committing to becoming better football players. This commitment forms the core around which Coach Henderson plans to build. "We'd like to have more, but we can build around this core," he stated, expressing optimism for the future.

This year's schedule presents its own set of challenges. With quality teams in the Patriot District and some formidable non-conference opponents, the Cavaliers will need to bring their best to compete. "The schedule is a challenge, but I think we can compete. We just have to have a really good pre-season," Coach Henderson noted.

The Cavaliers will need to fill some significant gaps left by key players from last season. Quarterback Aiden Dash, known for his ball security and leadership, will be missed, as will all-region defensive player and top receiver Kai Sanchez. The offensive line will also need to replace Jason Kim and Peter Phan, two quality linemen who were instrumental last year. Despite these losses, Coach Henderson is optimistic, citing an improvement in talent coming up from the lower ranks.

Looking ahead, several players are expected to make a significant impact this season. Jeremiah Randall, a captain, is one of the hardest-working young men in the program. "He does everything we ask of him and we will lean on him this fall," said Coach Henderson. Bryan Urrutia, a second-year starter, has shown flashes of dominance at nose guard. However, he'll need to play on both sides of the ball this season, making conditioning critical. Gabriel Castro returns as the number one running back, and Coach Henderson is excited to see what he can do on both offense and defense. "I think his skill set is unique and offers him the opportunity to play at a high level on both sides of the ball," he added.

With a mix of seasoned veterans and promising newcomers, the Woodson Cavaliers are poised to make waves in the Patriot District this year. Coach Henderson's focus on building a competitive and resilient team seems to be paying off, and fans have much to look forward to as the season unfolds.

Key Players:

• Jeremiah Randall – DB, 12th

• Bryan Urrutia – Nose Guard, 11th

• Gabriel Castro – Running Back, 12th