The West Carroll War Eagles capped off their regular season at home Friday night with a 33-14 win over the Greenfield Yellow Jackets.
But as it turns out, the War Eagles will be facing Greenfield again in a rematch this upcoming Friday night, this time on Greenfield’s turf, in the first round of state playoffs. Game time is 7 p.m.
Now 6-3 overall and 4-2 in regional competition, the War Eagles enter the playoffs as the third seed right behind Greenfield (8-1, 5-1), the number two seed.
This past Friday night, the first quarter did not yield any points for either team, but the War Eagles drew first blood at the 9:52 mark of the second quarter with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Xander Moon to Jack Barrow on a fourth-down saver. The conversion attempt failed, but West Carroll was off to a 6-0 lead.
A fumble recovery by Timothy Gilford ended Greenfield’s subsequent possession, but the Jackets grabbed the ball back a few minutes later on a pass interception. Jacob Blankenship returned the favor at the 2:37 mark with an interception that set the War Eagles at Greenfield’s 34-yard line.
West Carroll made good on that turnover with just over 10 seconds left on the clock as Moon pushed in from the two-yard line. Moon’s pass attempt on the conversion didn’t pan out, but the War Eagles were still up 12-zip at the half.
The War Eagles scored again halfway through the second quarter on a 45-yard breakaway keeper by Moon. This time, after a successful conversion pass to Blankenship was called back on a holding penalty, Moon hit him again from further out for two, increasing West Carroll’s lead to 20-0.
The Jackets grabbed their first score with two and half minutes left in the third on a two-yard touchdown carry, but the two-point attempt was thwarted, leaving Greenfield trailing by 14 going into the fourth quarter.
Moon was in the end zone again with 10:26 left to play on a one-yard keeper. Dakota Saunders booted the extra point, putting the War Eagles up 27-6.
Another pass interception by Blankenship set the stage for West Carroll’s final touchdown of the regular season. After a six-minute drive from from mid-field, Moon put it in from two yards out, and Saunders put it between the posts for a 33-6 lead.
The Jackets made a parting remark with a 24-yard TD run and a successful conversion, but with just over a minute left in the game, West Carroll easily retired the game with a couple of knees.
