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The Game 2023: An Instant Classic
In a contest that was up in the air until the very end, the Woodberry Tigers outlasted the Maroon from Episcopal to claim the 122nd playing of The Game by a score of 34–28. Woodberry now leads the series, 60–53–9.
It was a perfect day for a football game: sunny skies and a warm breeze, on a field that was turned into an amphitheater to accommodate all the fans from both schools. With boisterous students trading cheers from the opening kickoff until the final whistle, the environment brought out the best from the players. After winning the coin toss and electing to defer, however, the game couldn’t have had a less auspicious beginning for the Woodberry side.
On the opening play, Episcopal’s quarterback hit a streaking wide receiver for a 60-yard gain. After several positive runs, a touchdown seemed inevitable, but after several short runs up the middle, the Episcopal quarterback threw an ill-advised pass that was intercepted by Shorty Strother ’26 in the endzone. In a blink the momentum turned. Two plays later, running back Savion Hiter ’26, who was filling in at quarterback because of injuries to the starter and backup, took a direct snap and ripped off an 80-yard run for a touchdown.
After the scorching start, the game settled into a steady rhythm: Episcopal putting together long, time-consuming drives, only to be answered by the quick-striking Woodberry offense. It looked like Woodberry would go into halftime with a 14-point lead, but Episcopal managed to get into the endzone late in the 2nd quarter, so that at the end of the half, Woodberry held a narrow 21-14 lead.
The Tigers got possession to start the 3rd quarter with an opportunity to build on their lead again, but it was quickly apparent that the coaching staff for the Maroon made some adjustments in the locker room and all of a sudden the potent Tiger rushing attack was neutralized. With three minutes left to play in the 3rd, Episcopal evened the score at 21.
Yet again, the gritty Tigers would answer. From their own 35-yard line, Dyzier Carter ’26 took the snap and pitched to Sheldon Robinson ’25, who carried it 63 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.
EHS answered again, tying it up at 28 with no time left in the 3rd.
It would all come down to one quarter.
The Tigers big-play offense struck again with 10 minutes left in the game. A 45-yard pass from Carter to Jayden Ferguson ’24 put the ball at the 5-yard line. Two plays later, Carter ran it in untouched. After a blocked extra point, Woodberry held a six-point lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Offensively, Woodberry was carried by the dazzling runs of Hiter, who rushed for 193 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns, and Carter, who finished with 109 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns. The impressive running attack was made possible by a dominant offensive line that was led by senior tackle Émile Beaulieu.
On the defensive side of the ball, Shorty Strother and Sheldon Robinson ’25 both had great games. Strother recorded 14 tackles (8 solo), an interception, and a game-changing sack in the fourth quarter with about six minutes to play, when he brought down the EHS quarterback for a 13-yard loss on 3rd and 11. Robinson had a pass-defense tip that led to Strother’s interception and an interception of his own.
Playing in front of Strother and Robinson and keeping the Episcopal running attack in check were linebackers and defensive ends Torin Craig ’24, Charlie Sutton ’25, Matt Smith ’24, and Chapman Cella ’24, who were effective all game in closing holes in the line.
In a series that has gone back and forth for more than a century, the 2023 edition of The Game goes to the Tigers of Woodberry Forest in a matchup they will never forget.
Woodberry Forest School is an exceptional private school community for high school boys in grades nine through twelve. It is one of the top boarding schools in the United States and one of the only all-boys, all-boarding schools in the country.
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Woodberry Forest admits students of any race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religious belief, and national or ethnic origin to all of the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religious belief, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs. The school is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students.