No. 11 Friendship Collegiate (9-2) vs. No. 12 H.D. Woodson (11-1)
When Friendship Collegiate has the ball: The Knights have had their ups and downs offensively this season, but they are at their best once tailback Vincent Abney picks up steam running downhill. This sets up play-action passes to speedy wide receiver Nykeim Johnson (Syracuse), who is a big play threat whenever he touches the ball. Passing, however, could be difficult with Woodson seniors Charles Peeler and Vincent Flythe at cornerback. The Warriors also feature defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman and linebacker Shyheem Jackson as run stuffers. If Knights quarterback Chris Ferguson can avoid mistakes and create some plays with his feet, he could be the X-factor in this title game.
When Woodson has the ball: Warriors quarterback Tyron Robinson did not play when these teams met in September, but he has been coming on strong over the past month. The dual-threat signal caller, who replaced injured starter Kahlil Wright in September, has 10 total touchdowns and just one interception while completing more than 71 percent of his passes over the past three games. He earned most valuable player honors at last week's Turkey Bowl. But the Friendship defense is one of the stingiest in the Washington area and will be his toughest test to date. Sack artist Vaughn Taylor and cornerback Christian Braswell lead the way for a unit that has yet to allow more than 14 points against a local opponent this year and could give the Warriors' offensive line fits. Woodson has plenty of playmakers with the tailback tandem of senior Marcel Foster and junior Mychale Salahuddin and wide receivers Noah Boykin, Edward Hendrix and Peeler outside, but touchdowns will be at a premium Saturday.
Skinny: Friendship upended Woodson, 19-14, when the two met in the "Battle of Ward 7" in September and the Knights accomplished the feat while overcoming a dreadful first half in which they committed 17 penalties. The hype for that first matchup was huge and the result confirmed that Friendship was in the midst of a resurgent fall after a couple subpar seasons. The stakes are even higher now after Woodson proved again it is the class of the D.C. Interscholastic Athletic Association. Saturday will show definitively who had the best public school football team in the District this year.
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