Skip To Main Content

Atlantic Collegiate Academy

Atlantic Collegiate Academy
Calendar
playoffs vs Woodland
Mike Duprez | MyHorryNews.com

Football Mike Duprez | MyHorryNews.com

Armada Earns Historic First Playoff Victory

Daylight savings ended last weekend and clocks were turned back an hour.

Atlantic Collegiate Academy played football Friday night like the Armada were turning back the clock decades.

Semaj Wilson ran for a pair of touchdowns as the surging Armada ground out a 14-0 win over Woodland for their first-ever postseason win in the first round of the 2-A state playoffs. 

"Oh, man it's exciting," said ACA coach Antoine Rivens. "It's really unbelievable. But if you look at how hard our kids work, it's believable. Our goal at the beginning of the season was to make the playoffs. We'll see how far we can go."

Right now, they believe.

"It's just a team effort," said lineman Brodie Miller. "...They gave us a plan and we stuck with it. When we were 0-5, a lot of people quit on us. A lot of people doubted us. But we stuck together."

They did so with a retro look.

The game was played on a grass field at Carolina Forest Community Church. The Armada huddled on offense and quarterback Broderick Evans took snaps under center. They lined up in old-school formations like the wishbone and I-formation. There were toss sweeps, even pitchouts.

Offensive coordinator Brock Miller was on the sidelines, not up in the press box calling plays. Miller didn't even wear a head set.

"I tried at the beginning of the year," said the former N.C. State lineman. "I couldn't do it."

Most of all, they just pound the ball while spicing it up with clever traps and counters. There's no semblance of a passing game. What it does is shorten the game by limiting possessions to the other team.

Best of all for the Armada, who are now 5-6, it works.

"Our linemen grew up," Rivens said. "Some people in our region thought we imported some guys. I said, 'no, it's the same guys you've been beating on for two years.' They've gotten older and we can play a more physical style."

The Armada scored touchdowns on their first two possessions. On the other drives, they didn't score but used up a lot of clock.

Wilson capped a grinding, 14-play, 64-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run as the Armada took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

Woodland, relying on jet sweeps, moved to a first down at the ACA but the drive stalled.

Moments later, Wilson worked his way free on the left side and raced 50 yards for a touchdown.

"I saw the hole and I hit the hole," Wilson said. "They tried to grab me but I'm a big dude. It takes more than that to bring me down."

Woodland (5-6) didn't threaten to score until the closing seconds of the game but the Wolverines were kept out of the end zone.

There were numerous 15-yard penalties in the second half and one Woodland player was ejected.

ACA will play at Philip Simmons next Friday in the second round.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Broderick Evans

#14 Broderick Evans

QB/P
6' 1"
Sophomore
R/R
Brodie Miller

#82 Brodie Miller

TE/DE
6' 1"
Senior
R/L
Semaj Wilson

#7 Semaj Wilson

QB/LB
5' 11"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Broderick Evans

#14 Broderick Evans

6' 1"
Sophomore
R/R
QB/P
Brodie Miller

#82 Brodie Miller

6' 1"
Senior
R/L
TE/DE
Semaj Wilson

#7 Semaj Wilson

5' 11"
Junior
QB/LB

Scoreboard