WOODLAWN - This Friday night’s non-conference clash between the Woodlawn Bears and Augusta Red Devils will pit a couple of the original schools that revived eight-man football in Arkansas back in 2018.The junior high teams are scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. followed by the varsity teams at 7 p.m. Friday at the Carl Jones Sports Complex at Woodlawn.This game will give Woodlawn Coach Zach Meyer one last chance to get his team ready for the South Conference opener next week when the Bears host the top-ranked Strong Bulldogs.While Augusta and Woodlawn played one another on a regular basis over the first three seasons of eight-man football, this will be their first meeting since 2020 when the Bears won at home, 30-24. Woodlawn will be the fourth consecutive South Conference team the Red Devils have faced in their non-conference schedule. They started the season with a 28-24 win over Dermott before dropping their next two to Marvell (54-22) and Brinkley (58-14).Augusta returns its starting quarterback in sophomore Keldrick Woods (6-0, 160), whom Meyer described as a playmaker. While Red Devil Coach Stephen Andrews told Hooten’s during the off season that Woods prefers to throw the ball, he would like to see him use his legs more this season, and Meyer said the Devils are running the ball more this season. Two other offensive skill players that Augusta will rely on are juniors Ta’von Johnson and Jermaine Love, who both measure out at about 6-0, 160. Both are versatile players who can be used in the run game or split out as receivers.Meyer said Augusta likes to run the spread out of the pistol formation with twin sets, not that the Red Devils like to use a lot of “gimmick” plays on offense. He said they have run reverses and double reverses so far this season. “Defensively, we’ve got to stay home and play assignment football,” he said. Woodlawn, according to Meyer, should see two ke...
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