Briacin Bywater runs away from the Mound City defenders on a drive for the Wolves Friday, October 4. The Wolves defeated the Panthers.

Kaylin Merriweather runs the ball toward the endzone to try and break the tie. The game was a back and forth battle with the score repeatedly being tied by both sides.

EA’s Josh Smith battles to hang on to the rain-soaked jersey of a Panther in the EA win.

The cold temperatures and rain on Friday, October 4, 2019, let us know that fall football weather had finally arrived. The huge crowd who attended the high school game in Tarkio thought it was worth getting drenched as this was one all of us hope to witness. The intense, close contest saw players making amazing plays and constantly keeping the score at a tie until the last minutes of the game, which ended with an East Atchison Wolves’ 58-50 victory over the Mound City Panthers.

The Panthers won the toss, but deferred to the second half, giving the Wolves the ball first. East Atchison turned the ball over on downs on the Panther 23 yard line. However, the Wolves’ defense stood strong forcing the Panthers to turn the ball over on downs on the EA 35 yard line. Seven plays later, EA’s Jake McEnaney put the first points on the board from four yards out. The two-point conversion failed, making the score EA 6, MC 0 with 3:20 left in the first quarter.

Mound City wasted no time putting six points up on their next possession. The two-point conversion failed, making the score EA 6, MC 6, with 2:29 left in the first quarter.

The next score for the Wolves came with 28 seconds left in the first quarter. After a 66 yard interception by Ian Hedlund, Kaylin Merriweather covered the last four yards for the touchdown. After the successful two-point conversion pass from McEnaney to Gus Hurst, the score was EA 14, MC 6.

With 10:49 left in the second quarter, the Panthers answered back, with the good two-point conversion making the score EA 14, MC 14.

The next drive for the Wolves started on the Mound City 19 yard line. Ten plays later, McEnaney drove three yards to score. The two-point conversion from McEnaney to Briacin Bywater was good, making the score EA 22, MC 14 with 7:07 left in the 2nd quarter.

The next score of the game was a Panther drive tying the score EA 22, MC 22 with the successful two-point conversion with 1:37 left in the second quarter.

The Wolves worked quickly to get one more touchdown before halftime. McEnaney found Hurst in the endzone with four seconds left on the clock. Bywater added the two-point conversion to make the score at halftime EA 30, MC 22.

The first score in the third quarter saw the Panthers once again tie the game up, EA 30, MC 30.

The next score did not come until the fourth quarter when the Wolves went back on top on a McEnaney two yard drive. The two-point conversion failed, making the score EA 36, MC 30, with 8:59 left in the fourth quarter.

Mound City answered back quickly, scoring with 8:38 left in the fourth quarter. The two-point conversion failed and the score was tied at EA 36, MC 36.

With 4:52 in the fourth quarter, East Atchison hit pay dirt again with Merriweather finding the endzone. McEnaney’s successful two-point conversion run made the score EA 44, MC 36.

On the next Mound City drive, the Panthers wasted no time in finding the end zone. However, the two-point conversion failed, so with 4:38 left in the fourth quarter, the score was EA 44, MC 42.

The next Wolves’ offensive drive ended with a pass from McEnaney to Hurst adding to the score. The two-point conversion failed. The score was now EA 50, MC 42, with 2:54 left in the fourth quarter.

However, the little amount of time left did not deter the Panthers. On the ensuing kick-off, the Panthers ran it all the way back to score. With a successful two-point conversion and with 2:46 left in the fourth quarter, the score was once again tied, EA 50, MC 50.

With a nail biting 47 seconds left in the game, McEnaney scored the final touchdown of the evening (with a successful Hurst two-point conversion) to make the score 58-50 Wolves. Though Mound City had possession of the ball following the Wolves’ touchdown, McEnaney intercepted a pass which gave the Wolves the advantage to take the victory.

The undefeated Wolves now have a 6-0 overall record. This Friday, October 11, the Wolves will host Stewartsville in Tarkio at 7:00 p.m. for East Atchison’s fall homecoming game.