Dons Honor Woolford In Win

By: Keith Mills

The Loyola Dons honored kicker Dennis Woolford with a moment of silence before last Saturday's MIAA A Conference showdown with McDonogh -- then went out and played a game to remember.

Woolford, a junior kicker, died in a car accident two weeks ago and will be remembered this year with his No. 25 on the back of every Loyola helmet. His teammates turned the emotion of the day and their near-perfect execution into yet another impressive win, 55-14.

Six plays into the game, Loyola's Matt Heacock ran around right end for a big gain, thanks to a big block from pulling tackle Elliott Poehlman.

Along with 5-foot-9 quarterback Leon Kinnard, Poehlman, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound two-way lineman, is a big reason why the Dons are a Perfect 6-0, punishing teams with a balance of speed power and quickness.

Poehlman is also a friendly reminder of Loyola's storied athletic tradition. Elliott's father, Mark, graduated from Loyola in 1976 after an outstanding football career for coach Joe Brune and baseball career for coach Pat O'Malley. In 1975, he teamed with quarterback Tom Bender and fellow running back Pete Legler to form one of Loyola's best backfields ever, though his best sport was baseball.

Mark Poehlman was drafted by the Orioles in June 1976 but went to the University of Maryland, where he played for coach Elton "Jack" Jackson, along with such other area standouts as Frankie Thomas and Gary Bishop (Poly) and Mark Jackman (Parkville). He is now a chiropractor living in Ellicott City with wife Susan and their three children, Elliott, Madison and Katelynn.

A regular at Elliott's football games, Mark Poehlman has to like what he sees this season. The Dons have no apparent weakness and are four wins away from the first unbeaten team at Loyola since 1960. The team is loaded with talent and experience.

Terrence Garvin scored on a 60-yard touchdown run on the Dons' first series and they never looked back as Garvin, Kinnard, Brandon Floyd, Heacock and Connor Bruns scored touchdowns and Matt Lentz, Ben Cranston, Doug Shaw and Elliott Poehlman controlled the line of scrimmage.ons are a perfect 6-0, punishing teams with a balance of speed, power and quickness.

The Dons have a bye this week, then play Mount St. Joe's, Gilman, Georgetown Prep and Calvert Hall.

Issue 3.41: October 9, 2008