Woodward Academy star running back Elijah Holyfield is expected to make his season debut Friday, when the third-ranked War Eagles visit No. 7 St. Pius, the team that ended their season last year in the state semifinals.
Holyfield, one of the state’s premier recruits and the son of former boxing champion Evander Holyfield, sat out the season opener with an injured big toe. Woodward Academy coach John Hunt said Holyfield was about 85 percent last week and was hoping to get him up to 100 percent for Week 2. Holyfield injured the toe in a preseason scrimmage against Greater Atlanta Christian.
“As coaches, we’re just trying to be cautious, because we’re hoping we’re going to have a long season,” Hunt said.
St. Pius rallied from behind to beat Woodward Academy 28-21 in the Class AAAA state semifinals last season. The two teams also met in the regular season last year, with Woodward Academy winning 42-21 in Week 2.
St. Pius is coming off a frustrating performance in an opening loss to Blessed Trinity (No. 2 in Class AAA). The Golden Lions failed to score a touchdown, despite forcing three turnovers and driving deep into the Blessed Trinity territory multiple times.
Woodward Academy cruised past Decatur, 34-7, in its season opener.
