Welcome to our new web site!

To give our readers a chance to experience all that our new website has to offer, we have made all content freely avaiable, through October 1, 2018.

During this time, print and digital subscribers will not need to log in to view our stories or e-editions.

War Eagles Topple Undefeated Yellowjackets in Season Finale

Posted

ATWOOD (October 30) — The West Carroll War Eagles hosted undefeated region foe Greenfield Friday to wrap the regular season and handed the Yellowjackets their first loss of the year, 33-14. After a scoreless first quarter, the War Eagles scored twice in the second and led by as much as 27 en route to the win.
Greenfield had already clinched the Region 7-1A title, but West Carroll needed the win and a Dresden loss to move from fourth to third.
The War Eagles won the coin toss and elected to defer.
Yellowjacket Kiah Reynolds received the opening kickoff and returned it to the Greenfield 40. The Yellowjackets earned three first downs before turning the ball over on downs at the West Carroll 15.
War Eagle quarterback Xander Moon kept the first snap for 62 yards. Three plays later, West Carroll came up short on a fourth-down attempt and turned the ball over at the 24.
Greenfield went three-and-out, and Samuel Thum’s punt was downed at the War Eagle 35.
After a five-yard penalty, War Eagle Deven Rader ran for seven. Moon kept for six, and a Greenfield penalty gave West Carroll a first down near midfield. Moon threw to Jack Barrow for 17, then Malik Lee ran twice for two total yards as the first frame ended. Moon started the second quarter with a 12-yard keeper, then threw incomplete. Lee ran for six, then lost a yard. On fourth-and-five, Moon threw to Barrow for a 16-yard touchdown. Moon threw incomplete on the two-point attempt, and the War Eagles led 6-0 with ten minutes to play in the first half.
The Yellowjackets started at their own 30, and, after three plays, a fumble was recovered by War Eagle Timothy Gilford at the Greenfield 39.
Moon kept for a short gain, then threw to Seth Edwards for 32 yards down to the 4. Moon kept several times for short gains with the teams swapping penalties in between. On fourth-and-goal from the 2, Moon’s pass was intercepted in the end zone by Yellowjacket Hayden Smith for a touchback.
Greenfield earned a pair of first downs before quarterback Baker Porter threw an interception to Blankenship at the 34.
Rader started the drive with a three-yard gain. After a false start, Moon scrambled and threw to Barrow for eleven. On third-and-one, Moon kept and pushed the pile forward to move the chains. The QB threw to Barrow for five, then to Lee for 17 down to the 1. Moon spiked the ball to stop the clock with 14 second remaining in the half, then kept for a two-yard score. The two-point try failed, and West Carroll led 12-0.

The Yellowjackets managed just one play before time expired.
The War Eagles got the ball to start the second half, but the teams swapped three-and-outs.
West Carroll got the ball back at the far 26. Lee ran for six, then for nine to move the chains. Lee earned another first with two carries, then Moon kept for a 45-yard touchdown. After two War Eagle penalties, Moon threw to Blankenship from the 22 for two points and the lead was 20-0 with 6:31 to play in the third.
Greenfield got on the board with an eight-play, 57-yard drive capped by a two-yard run by Smith. A fumble spoiled the two-point conversion, and the deficit was cut to 20-6 with 2:30 remaining in the third.
The War Eagles started at the 37 and moved the ball across midfield as the quarter ended. Moon started the final frame with two keepers for another first down, then threw to Blankenship for 28 yards. Moon kept for seven, then punched it in from the 1. Jose Martinez kicked the PAT, and West Carroll led 27-6 with just over ten minutes to play.
The Yellowjackets moved the ball to midfield, but Porter threw an interception to Blankenship, who returned it to the War Eagle 45.
West Carroll kept the ball mostly on the ground to run off as much time as possible, leading to a third-and-13 at the 14. Moon kept and was stopped just short of the goal line, but repeated on a fourth-and-inches for a one-yard touchdown. Martinez missed the point-after, but the lead was 33-6 with two-and-a-half minutes remaining in the contest.
Playing for pride, Greenfield scored on a five-play, 60-yard drive ending with Porter keeping from the 24. The two-point conversion was good, and the West Carroll lead was 33-14 with a minute left.
Blankenship smothered the onside kick attempt, and two kneels ran out the clock.
Greenfield (8-1, 5-1) finishes as region champion, and West Carroll (6-3, 4-2) ends up in third thanks to a Dresden loss (20-12 to Humboldt). All Region 7-1A teams have first round byes as Region 8 (Memphis) did not play this season.
The two teams will meet again in the second round, this time at Greenfield, on Friday, November 13. Dresden travels to Lake County. Kickoff is 7 p.m. for all playoff games.