The West Carroll High School War Eagles delivered a solid performance Friday night as they tripled the Humboldt Vikings 36-12 on Viking turf.
The Vikings, however, drew first blood, making good on their first possession with a seven-yard touchdown on a quarterback keeper. West Carroll stopped the conversion attempt, but Humboldt was off to an early 6-0 lead.
After punting away their first possession, the War Eagles quickly regained the ball with a fumble recovery by Jacob Blankenship. West Carroll starting quarterback Xander Moon, who showed off his skills as both a runner and passer Friday night, ran it in from one yard out a few players later. Moon then went airborne to Dylan Cox on the conversion, and the War Eagles were up 8-6 with 2:44 left in the first quarter.
West Carroll scored twice in the second quarter – first on a 15-yard carry by Tyler Shaddon at the 2:23 mark and then on a one-yard run by Deven Rader with 44 seconds left in the first half.
Seth Edwards made the second second-quarter touchdown possible by intercepting a Viking pass on the first play after Humbolt’s kickoff return.
Moon’s conversion pass attempt fell incomplete after the Shaddon touchdown, but he made it in on foot following Rader’s score, setting West Carroll’s halftime lead at 22-6.
The Vikings cancelled West Carroll’s opening possession in the third quarter when they recovered an onside kick. But the War Eagle defense soon forced the punt, which was blocked by Jay Long, setting West Carroll up at midfield.
A few plays later, Shaddon trucked it in from 18 yards out, pushing forward those last several yards amidst a jam-up of Viking and War Eagle players. The conversion pass failed, but West Carroll was pulling away 28-6.
Late in the third quarter, Moon hit Edwards on what would have been a 40-yard touchdown if it hadn’t been called back on a penalty. But Moon did it again on the very next play, this time connecting with Dylan Cox as his receiver for six, and then ran it in for two more, putting West Carroll way up 36-6 going into the final quarter.
The Vikings scored the last touchdown of the game with a 20-yard carry at the 7:14 mark, but the War Eagle defense stopped the conversion attempt with a quarterback sack.
Now 1-1 for the season, the War Eagles are slated to travel to Dresden Friday night to face off with the Lions starting at 7:30 p.m.
