Worth County could not make lightning strike twice as they fell 60-14 to Ian Hedlund and the East Atchison Wolves Friday to end their season at 5-5. It was the first time ever that an East Atchison franchise had beaten Worth County in eight man football. The last time a Tarkio franchise beat Worth County in an eight man game was back in 1989.
Like several recent games, Worth County got off to a fast start. They overcame a third and seven at their own 35 as Andrew Alarcon took a direct snap from the Wildkat formation and took it 16 yards to the Wolves 29. They overcame a fourth and four at the 23 as Alarcon got the necessary four yards to the 19 and a measured first down. Then, they overcame a holding penalty as Aydan Gladstone threw a strike to Jackson Runde for a 29 yard score to make it 6-0.
After East Atchison went three and out, Worth County had a chance to go up two possessions, but that was when the wheels began to come off for the Tigers. First, Worth County tried for a fake punt on their own 28. They lined up in punt formation with Aydan Gladstone as their kicker, but it fooled nobody as nobody dropped back for the Wolves, and they tackled Gladstone one yard short of the first down. They took advantage as Ian Hedlund ran it in from the Tiger 13 with 4:06 left and Braden Graves ran in the extra points to put the Wolves up 8-6.
Then, the backbreaker came on the next sequence. First, Worth County went three and out and Aydan Gladstone made a good punt into the wind, pinning East Atchison at their own 14. But the field position didn’t matter as Hedlund took a handoff on a triple option play and ran past the Tiger defenders like they weren’t even there. The energy level dropped like a lead balloon and the body language said it all. Graves ran in the extra points to make it 16-6.
Things went from bad to worse on the ensuing kickoff as Andrew Alarcon injured his knee while attempting to make a cut. Worth County overcame a sack back to the six as Aydan Gladstone burst through for a 59 yard scramble to the 15, but then the blocking broke down after that and Worth County gave up the ball on downs at the 19. East Atchison overcame a holding penalty as Josh Smith took advantage of a breakdown in tacking for 14 yards to the 31 and Kaylin Merriweather took it 15 yards on an option to the Tiger 34 for a first down. They overcame a fumble thanks to an offsides penalty that put it on the 23. From there, Smith took an option 13 yards to the 10 and Hedlund took it the rest of the way; nobody wanted to take him on after he got past the white shirts, and he scored with 5:51 left in the second. Hedlund scored the extra points to make it 24-6.
Once again, the blocking broke down, and Worth County was forced to punt. But for once, Worth County got a stop on a fumbled snap, pounced on by Austin Welch at the East Atchison 39. They were faced with fourth and one at the 30, but a botched pass play was buried back at the Tiger 37. East Atchison took full advantage as they handed it off to Hedlund. Once again, nobody wanted to take him on, and he got 15 yards to the 22. Two plays later, Smith threw a strike to Braden Graves for 19 yards with 24 seconds left, and Graves ran in the extra points to make it 32-6.
Worth County nearly answered as Aydan Gladstone aired it out to Dylan McIntyre for 37 yards to the 14 with 14 seconds left. They were sacked back to the 29, but a pass interference penalty gave the Tigers an untimed down at the 14 as time had expired. It nearly backfired, as Jarrett Spinnato picked it off and nearly took it to the house before being tackled at the Tiger 30.
Then, all hell broke loose to start the second half. First, East Atchison overcame a holding penalty as Smith bounced outside on a keeper for 41 yards to the 12 and Kaylin Merriweather took it the rest of the way with 10:23 left. Merriweather ran in the extra points to make it 40-6. Then, the ensuing kickoff bounced off a white shirt and East Atchison pounced on it at the Tiger 19. They only needed one play to capitalize as Smith threw a strike to Graves and Merriweather’s pass made it 48-6.
Worth County gave up the ball on downs after a horsecollar penalty gave the Tigers a first down on the 40. East Atchison overcame a holding and a false start, as once again, the big play came to hurt the Tigers. This time, it was Smith again who broke loose for 65 yards to the Tiger 12. Two plays later, Merriweather was in the end zone with 6:08 left to make it 54-6 in the third quarter and trigger the running clock.
Merriweather added another score in the fourth to make it 60-6 with 9:12 left. Little-used Chance Jacobs sparked the Tigers when one of the East Atchison players unloaded on him, but he held on to the ball for a 20 yard completion to the Tiger 35. Braxton Hightshoe caught a 14 yard pass to the 31 from Aydan Gladstone and then Nate Adwell bounced one to the outside, got a block from Chance Jacobs, and took it to the house with 4:30 left. Chance Jacobs made the most of his chance as he made a diving grab in the end zone for the extra points to make it 60-14.
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