The Worth County football team remained undefeated as they blanked St. Joseph Christian at halftime, 72-0 as they scored nine times and converted all extra point tries. The Lions had been a regular opponent for Worth County, but formed a cooperative and went to eight man football in 2019 and 2020 with Northland Christian. But the new cooperative didn't win a single game, had to travel to Maryville for districts in 2019, and didn't hold a single opponent under 50 points last year. The cooperative broke up for this year's campaign and formed separate football teams. Northland beat Christian 42-20 in week one. The Lions are rebuilding this year with 16 players, 12 of whom are freshmen and sophomores.
The game was over quickly as Alex Rinehart, on Worth County's second play from scrimmage, broke a host of tackles, got some good blocking up front, and took it to the house with 11:15 from 55 yards out. Aydan Gladstone rolled out and threw it to Alex for the two points to make it 8-0.
The Lions came out in a triple option look built around their lone senior, Caleb Carlson. But Jace Latham formed a human wall against the dive play and flowed to the ball well, while everybody else stuck to their assignments. As a result, Christian never got a first down and never crossed into Tiger territory. The Lions elected to go for it on fourth and three at their own 29, but Dawson Vore stopped Carlson two yards short of the first down at the 30 to give the Tigers back the ball on downs with a short field. Levi Cassavaugh took it seven yards, Alex Rinehart took an option three more to the 20, and then Aydan Gladstone faked to Alex and took it himself for the remaining 20 yards with 7:48 left. Dylan McIntyre caught the pass to make it 16-0.
Christian tried a flat pass on third down at the 28, but Jace Latham moved down the line well and blew up the play, forcing them to punt. A good kick and a late hit pinned the Tigers on their own two, but that only made things more interesting. This time, Alex Rinehart broke three different tackles and took it to the house from 78 yards out, Worth County's longest ever play from scrimmage at the eight man level, to get on the board again. Alex also caught the pass to make it 24-0.
The Lions fumbled the ball to Worth County, but the Tigers fumbled it right back to them. A holding penalty backed up the Lions and they were forced to punt. A good kick pinned the Tigers at their own six, but the Tigers moved the ball, aided by a nine yard run from Aydan Gladstone and a pass interference that placed it on the 31. From there, Aydan Gladstone optioned it down the left side to Alex Rinehart, Dylan McIntyre knocked his man down to spring him loose, and Alex took it to the house from 49 yards out. Alex made a one handed grab to put the Tigers up 32-0 with 39.2 seconds left in the first.
Dylan Wilmes blew up a play on third down after Aydan Gladstone tackled Carlson for a loss to force another punt. This time, Worth County took to the air. The first time, Aydan's pass was incomplete, but then he got the timing back with his receivers that he had two years ago that he lost last year after missing half the year with an injury. He threw a strike to Dylan McIntyre over the middle and he took it 18 yards to the 27, and then aired out a perfect strike to Jackson Runde for 23 more to the 4 after Runde got behind his man and spotted up perfectly for the throw. Runde caught another pass for a score after some good blocking gave Aydan time, and Alex Rinehart added the extra point pass to make it 40-0 with 9:52 left in the second.
Dylan McIntyre recovered a fumble, got a good block from Alex Rinehart, and took it for an apparent scoop and score. The official right on top of the play didn't throw a flag, but the official from clear across the field threw a block in the back penalty after McIntyre had scored that placed the ball on the Lion 35. Worth County, which had 15 penalties against South Holt, only had three against Christian, and they were able to overcome all three. This time, they needed only one play to overcome the penalty as the line gave Aydan Gladstone an eternity to throw and he led McIntyre perfectly on a deep crossing route for a score, and Alex Rinehart ran in the extra points.
That finished the night for the varsity offense, with Alex Rinehart getting five carries for 186 yards after getting over 200 the week before, and Aydan Gladstone threw for another 80 yards. But the second string was able to tack on three more scores. Christian, with nothing to lose, tried to go for it but Carlson was tackled six yards short of the first down and the reserves had a short field to work with at the Lion 28. Grant McIntyre ripped off 9 yards and Jackson Smith caught a short pass from Tyler New and muscled his way for 10 yards to the 9. A late hit pinned the Tigers back to the 22, but like before, it just made things more interesting. This time, Landon Wilmes took a quick pitch to the house with 4:33 left and Grant McIntyre caught the extra point pass to make it 56-0.
Cody Meyer recovered a Lion fumble on the 14 and it only took one play to convert, as Grant McIntyre bounced outside down the right side of the field to the house to score with 3:19 left. Jon Galanakis caught the extra point pass from Tyler New. Jackson Smith recovered a Lion fumble on the 26 and Worth County gave Levi Cassavaugh a couple of carries and he ripped off gains of 7 and 8 to the 11. That set up Worth County's final score as Landon Wilmes broke a host of tackles to score and Grant McIntyre caught the extra point pass from Tyler New.
No comments:
Post a Comment