Wolves senior Briacin Bywater is pictured with the carry in the East Atchison win over South Holt/Nodaway-Holt.
Wolves senior Keaton Williams, back, tackles a Spartan in the East Atchison win over South Holt/Nodaway-Holt.
Despite a hand to the face, East Atchison’s Josh Smith pulls down a Spartan with his fingertips in the Wolves’ win. Smith was the Wolves’ lead defender with 12 tackles and one sack.
East Atchison senior Gus Hurst makes the touchdown catch in the Wolves’ win over the Spartans.
After enjoying a bye the first week of Missouri 8-man district play-offs, the East Atchison Wolves varsity football team faced off with the South Holt/Nodaway-Holt Spartans Friday, November 8, 2019, on the Wolves’ home field in Tarkio. Even with the temperature below freezing, there was a great crowd on hand to see the Wolves add to their undefeated record, defeating the Spartans 58-36.
The Spartans won the toss and elected to receive the ball to begin the game. Starting on their own 26 yard line, they put together an impressive drive to put the first points on the board. With 8:42 left in the first quarter, the score was EA 0, SHNH 7, after the PAT.
Briacin Bywater’s ensuing return was called back on a penalty, so the Wolves’ first possession started on their own 6 yard line. On their first play from scrimmage, Kaylin Merriweather took a shuffle pass from Jake McEnaney and covered the 74 yards to give the Wolves their first points of the night. With 8:20 left in the first quarter, the score was EA 8, SHNH 7, with McEnaney converting the two-point attempt.
On another impressive eight play drive, SHNH scored again with 4:58 in the first quarter. This put the score to EA 8, SHNH 14, with another successful PAT.
After a short kick-off the Wolves had the ball on the SHNH 38 yard line. McEnaney turned the corner on the first play to tie the game at 14. The two-point conversion failed with 4:43 left in the first quarter.
The first quarter drew to a close with the Spartans turning the ball over on downs to the Wolves on their own 12 yard line. Six plays later Gus Hurst fought through a defender to put the next points on the board for the Wolves. The two-point conversion failed making the score EA 20, SHNH 14.
SHNH failed to convert on their next offensive possession, turning the ball over to EA on the SHNH 37 yard line. The Wolves again scored quickly on a pitch from McEnaney to Merriweather. Ian Hedlund caught the two-point conversion from McEnaney (9 of 17) to make the score EA 36, SHNH 14. That concluded the scoring in the first half.
The second half began with the Wolves on offense. Bywater capped off a four play drive with an 11 yard scoring run. McEnaney found Merriweather to convert the two-point conversion, making the score EA 42, SHNH 14, with 10:54 in the third quarter.
The Spartans were able to move the ball on the next drive, but ended up punting the ball away. The Wolves took over on their own 10 yard line. Hedlund hauled in a pass from McEnaney to give the Wolves another touchdown. With 5:59 in the third quarter, the score was now EA 50, SHNH 14.
The final touchdown for the Wolves on the evening came after the defense forced another Spartan punt. Merriweather covered 45 yards for the score. Hedlund caught the two-point conversion from McEnaney to make the score EA 58, SHNH 14.
In the fourth quarter, the Spartans mounted a comeback, scoring three times to make the final score of the game EA 58, SHNH 36.
This week, the Wolves will face the Panthers from Mound City/Craig Friday, November 15, 2019, at 7:00 p.m. in Tarkio. This is the second time this season the two have met on the field and considering the extremely close first game, this one should be one of the best games of the year. The game will be broadcast on the radio (101.3 FM and 99.1 FM). The winner of this Class 1, District 4 game will be named District Champion and move on to compete in the state semifinals (either against Appleton City or Drexel). Go Wolves!
