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The West Central Area/Ashby Knights got touchdowns from seven different players on Friday night as they rolled to a 52-6 victory over Wadena-Deer Creek in Barrett. The Knights had 448 yards of offense, 285 on the ground and 163 through the air as they evened their season record at 2 wins and 2 losses.
The Knights went 59 yards in six plays on the very first possession of the game, ending with a 6 yard run by Braden Overson and a 2-point conversion pass from Isaiah Sykora to Scot Johnson. The Knights recovered a fumble by the Wolverines on their first possession of the game, however, they failed to capitalize and had to punt. Gage Staples came up with the first of five interceptions for the Knights, giving the home team great starting field position at the Wadena-Deer Creek 34 yard line. Seven plays later Jaden Norby ran the ball in from six yards. Sykora connected with Staples on the two-point conversion pass to give the Knights a 16-0 lead. Johnson broke loose for a 64-yard TD run with just 16 seconds left in the opening quarter and Overson ran for the two-point conversion, kicking the lead to 24-0.
In the second quarter, Tate Christensen hauled in a 24-yard scoring toss from Sykora and on the two-point conversion, center Ben Johnsrud lined up as the blocking back in the I formation and carried the ball into the end zone to put the halftime lead at 32-0.
Wadena-Deer Creek had an excellent drive to start the second half but it stalled due to some huge penalties after the Wolverines advanced the ball to the Knights five yard line. West Central Area/Ashby held them and got the ball back. Sykora hooked up with Staples on a 68-yard touchdown pass with 5:58 left in the third quarter and then Tanner Bennett scored on a 30 yard run with just over 46 seconds left in the third quarter to make it a 44-0 lead after three.
The Wolverines struck on a fifteen yard run by Chase Domeier with 6:-04 remaining in the game and West Central Area/Ashby covered 62 yards in 9 plays with Cade Olson scoring on a 7 yard run and Hunter Norby scoring the 2-point conversion.
Statistical leaders for the Knights were Sykora (8 completions, 16 attempts, 151 yards, 2 TDs), Bennet (9 carries, 81 yards, 1 TD), Johnson (5 carries, 79 yards, 1 TD, 1 catch, 33 yards) and Staples (3 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD). Defensively, Staples, Overson, Bennett, Jordan Lohse and Sykora all had interceptions. Bennett also had 4 tackles. Alex Butcher added a fumble recovery.
“The boys played extremely hard for all four quarters,” said Head Coach Nate Wood.
The Knights (2-2) will play at Pillager next Friday night.