The West Central Area/Ashby football team ended their season with a 6-1 record after their 48-27 victory over Staples-Motley on Friday night in Barrett. The Knights led 34-6 at the half. WCA/Ashby had 432 yards of offense with 306 coming on the ground.
The Knights got on the scoreboard first when Jordan Lohse broke loose for a 39-yard TD run to cap a 6-play, 65-yard drive and give the home team a 6-0 lead. That was the way the first quarter ended.
Jaden Norby’s 1-yard run at 11:21 of the second quarter put the Knights in front 12-0. Evan Paulson hit Torin Olson with a 41-yard TD pass with 8:29 left in the first half, giving WCA/Ashby an 18-0 advantage. Norby’s 14 yard run was followed by a two-point conversion pass to Lohse, increasing the Knights lead to 26-0 with 6:03 on the clock. Following a muffed punt, recovered by Hunter Martin of Staples-Motley, Martin scored on a one yard run to get the Cardinals on the board as they trailed 26-6 with 4:03 left in the second quarter. Tate Christenson then caught a 15 yard pass from Norby and a two-point conversion pass from Paulson to Norby made it a 34-6 lead for WCA/Ashby at the half.
The Knights extended their lead to 42-6 when Anthony Sykora scored on a 10-yard run and Shane Wrolson added a two-point conversion run. The Knights Connor Nadgwick then scored on a 43-yard run, increasing the Knights lead to 48-6. The Cardinals responded with a 7-yard TD run by Isaiah Schultz with 30 seconds to play in the third quarter. Dominic Gomez booted the extra point kick and it was 48-13, Knights after three.
A 14 yard TD pass from Schultz to Max Strickland and a 75 yard interception return by Chandler Braith, along with a pair of PAT kicks by Gomez, completed the scoring with the Cardinals on the short end of a 48-27 final score.
Leaders for the Knights were Paulson (3 completions, 7 attempts, 79 yards, TD), Norby (4 completions, 7 attempts, 47 yards TD, 12 carries, 84 yards, 2 TD’s), Anthony Sykora (13 carries, 56 yards, TD, 3 receptions, 29 yards), Jordan Lohse (6 carries, 51 yards, TD) and Torin Nelson (3 catches, 82 yards, TD). Nate Kisgen returned a fumble, setting up a touchdown, while Hunter Norby and Lohse had interceptions.
For Staples-Motley, Schultz completed 13-of-22 passes for 143 yards and one touchdown. Braith was on the receiving end of 6 passes for 114 yards and lineman Alex Giza added 39 yards as part of a hook-and-ladder combo with Braith. The Knights held the Cardinals to 29 rushing yards on the night.