Friday, October the West Central Area/Ashby Knight gridmen traveled to Long Prairie to face the hometown Long Prairie-Grey Eagle Thunder. Previous to the game both teams looked to be evenly matched on paper. They both carried a 3-3 record, the common teams played had similar scores against them and MN Scores had them ranked right next to each other in 6AA football. Following 48 minutes of football the Knights made it clear that they were not similar teams as they pummeled the Thunder on their own homecoming night 36-13!
The contest began with the Knight defense forcing a three and out setting up fairly good field position after the punt. On the first offensive play from scrimmage WCAA put the ball on the ground and the Thunder scooped it up. LPGE would not waste the gift as it took them seven plays to cover 30 yards finished by a three yard run from Jr (RB) Caleb Pesta. The PAT kick from SR (PK) Kevin Nuno was good. It took the Knights a few drives to get in the rhythm but once they did they scored on five out of the final eight drives. The first was following a LPGE fumble on their own 30. WCAA used up seven plays and Sr (RB) Christian Norby punched his way into the end zone from four yards out as the first period clock hit zero. The PAT pass from Sr (QB) Isaiah Sykora to Norby was good giving the Knights a 8-7 advantage. Three minutes later at 9:09 in the second stanza Knight's Sr (RB) Scott Johnson ripped off an 11 yard run for a touchdown. The Knights had not taken the fight quite out of the dog yet as LPGE answered at 5:45 on a 50 yard connection between Sr (QB) Hudson Pung and Sr (WR) Gabe Abraham. The kick was no good. With little time left on the clock WCAA mounted a 54 yard six play drive that ended in a six yard touchdown with 36 seconds left on the clock from Sr (FB) Tanner Bennett. The PAT run from Christian Norby was good. Score at the end of the first half was 22-13.
WCAA received the ball to begin the second half and used up an incredible eight minutes and thirty three seconds as they traveled 65 yards in 17 plays. Scott Johnson put up the score on a seven yard scamper. Sykora hit Johnson for the 2 point PAT pass. The final score of the contest came with 2:13 remaining in the game. Following a defensive stance in which WCAA got the ball back on downs at the Thunder 30 the visitors used the short field advantage and nine plays later Sr (OL turned FB) Ben Johnsrud smashed his way into the end zone from two yards out.
The Knight running game was on display Friday. The offensive line opened up holes that provided 268 yards, 15 first downs, five touchdowns on the ground and one PAT run. Leading rushers for WCAA included Scott Johnson with a pair of scores and 96 yards on 14 carries. Tanner Bennett pounded out 61 yards and a score on 11 runs and Christian Norby slashed his way to 57 yards on 11 totes with a TD and a PAT run. The passing game added 51 yards on five completions with a pair of PAT passes. Johnson was the leading receiver in both yards and catches with two for 35 yards and a PAT.
The Knights defense was just as good as the offenses run game. The unit allowed 162 yards on 42 plays most of those yards being acquired on isolated chunk plays. In fact, there were just four first downs allowed all game. LPGE rushed for just 40 yards and passed for 122 yards. Leading the squad on the stat sheet were (LB) Christian Norby with 4 solo tackles, four assists and an interception returned 20 yards. Jr (DT) Devin Stone recorded a sack and six assists. Sr (DE) Gavin Paulson added a pair of solo tackles, a tackle for loss an assist and a fumble recovery. Jr (LB) Jaden Norbysnagged the other interception and returned it seven yards.
WCAA will host their final game at home this Wednesday as the 4-3 Knights host the undefeated, #2 ranked 1A Ottertail Central Bulldogs. Game time is set for 7 pm.
