Saturday, September 29, 2018

Colton Wilmes Scores Two Defensive Touchdowns; Tigers Blank Christian

Colton Wilmes scored two defensive touchdowns and Worth County preserved its unbeaten record, going to 6-0 and clinching another winning season. The level of play grows exponentially at this point, as Pattonsburg comes to town, followed by road trips to North Andrew and Stanberry.

After having been solid for much of its history, Christian, under a new coach, has fallen on hard times. There were 18 players listed in the program, but only 13 suited out for the winless Lions. They had some speedy backs, hit hard, and did a better job of slowing down Worth County than Albany did. But there were too many breakdowns and big plays and Worth County was able to come away with the 52-0 halftime victory.

Christian started off with the ball on their own 15, but were driven back as Colton Wilmes and Isaac Alarcon dropped Grady Kellam for a loss of five on its first play. Andrew Alarcon dropped Kellam again before Christian got a first down as Brent Boyd completed a pass to Dylan Zug to the 31. But then, they kept getting driven back as a false start and a sack by Wilmes drove them back to the 19. Austin Welch then shot up the middle to block a punt and Worth County took over on the Lions 8. Two cracks by Caleb Parman got Worth County into the end zone with 8:32 left. Parman followed the blocking of Dakota Auffert and Andrew Alarcon to make it 8-0.

The Lions could not get anywhere on their next series as Worth County got its second sack in as many defensive possessions as Colton Wilmes and Jaxon Anderson dropped Boyd. Worth County took over on its own 31. Its first play was an incomplete pass, but then Caleb Parman took a dive play, broke a tackle, bounced outside, and picked up 34 yards to the Christian 15. Jacob New lost two on the next play, but Caleb Parman got a block from Isaac Alarcon and shot up the middle for a score with 6:15 left to make it 14-0.

Brad Boyd, a freshman for the Lions, broke free for 31 yards on a sweep to the Tiger 33 on Christian’s next series. But Jaxon Anderson got a sack, Worth County’s third in three possessions, and Christian could not convert on fourth down and gave it up on downs.

Worth County was backed up by a holding penalty third and 23 on the Lion 39, but an 11 yard pass to Bryant McCord moved it to the 28. On fourth down, quarterback Jacob New dropped back to air it out, got in trouble, and badly underthrew his pass. But Caleb Parman turned back towards the ball, caught it, juked a couple of defenders, and was in the end zone with 1:55 left. Bryant McCord took a jet sweep and ran in the extra points to make it 22-0.

St. Joseph Christian got in trouble on its next series, as they were driven back from the 15 to the five on two plays. On third down, Christian fumbled the ball and Colton Wilmes scored his first of two defensive touchdowns right before the end of the third quarter. Andrew Alarcon delivered a big hit to Brad Boyd and got in for the extra points to make it 30-0.

The Lions got a first down on their next series as Zach Reece caught a pass to the 27. But then Colton Wilmes got a sack, Worth County’s fourth for the game, and Christian was forced to punt. The ensuing kick was ran back by Bryant McCord to the 22 behind a block from Isaac Alarcon. Alex Rinehart got a turn at carrying the ball and moved it seven to the 15 behind a block from Alarcon. Rinehart got the ball again and laid out two red shirts as he got in with 8:23 left to make it 36-0.

Isaac Alarcon, who cut his hair for this game, was a force on defense all night, and he drove back the Lions on a couple of plays. The Lions were once again forced to punt, but as they were lined up in punt formation, the ball was snapped over the punter’s head and Colton Wilmes beat everybody to the ball in the end zone with 7:04 left for his second defensive score. Andrew Alarcon took a counter play and ran it in to make it 44-0.

St. Joseph Christian turned to an option game and had some success, crossing into Tiger territory at the 38 at one point. But the Tiger defense held and they were forced to punt, getting it into the end zone. Caleb Parman picked up seven on Worth County’s first play, and then Andrew Alarcon took a counter, got through a hole, and turned on the afterburners, scoring from 58 yards out. Caleb Parman ran in the extra points to make it 52-0. The Lions drove down as deep as the Tiger 10 against the reserves in the closing seconds of the first half, but Worth County held on defense and preserved the shutout.

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