WILMINGTON – With its offense in high gear, Wilmington won a shootout with Butler 59-35 Friday night at Alumni Field.
Though 59 points is impressive, Wilmington actually scored 80 points, but had three touchdowns called back due to penalties. That is something WHS head coach Scott Killen said must be addressed.
“As good as we played, and we certainly played very well offensively, we can’t make stupid penalties like unsportsmanlike conduct and personal fouls which really took the wind out of our sails,” he noted.
As reflected on the scoreboard, Wilmington showed its athletic prowess with eight touchdowns and a 40-yard field goal by Brady Henry. Wilmington held a slim lead at the first quarter break, 10-7. The rest of the way, it was 14 points in the second and third quarters and three more scores in the final quarter.
“We are truly a dynamic football team and I’m not boasting when I say that. Between DJ (Ames) and Dylan (Beaugard) and Brady’s (Evans) capabilities of passing, running and even catching the ball at times, we can come at you at all directions. We are probably a match-up nightmare for our opponents,” Killen said.
On the defensive side of the ball, Garrett Hickey and Sloan Marsh made big interceptions for the Hurricane. Hickey’s interception thwarted a Butler drive late in the first quarter, helping to set the stage for Henry’s field goal in the closing minute of the first quarter.
Marsh came up with a pick that all but sealed the win mid-way through the final quarter with WHS holding a 45-35 lead. Immediately after his interception gave Wilmington the ball at the VB 27, Matt Smith hooked up with Evans for a touchdown which enabled Wilmington to extend the lead to 52-35 with 8:14 to play.
Beaugard had an electrifying, 75-yard punt return for a touchdown during the second half explosion, when Wilmington seemingly had put the game away, but the pesky Aviators kept Wilmington on the ropes before the ‘Cane distanced itself in the closing minutes.
Individually, Ames had two rushing touchdowns and one TD reception. Smith had a pair of TD receptions, while Jeffery Mansfield and Brady Evans each had a TD through the air. Beaugard, along with his punt return for a score, fired a TD pass to Evans. All in all, many players made key contributions to support the Canes offensive attack.
Wilmington is now 2-1 on the year, and will begin SBAAC conference play next Friday versus Blanchester. Kickoff will be at 7:00 pm at Alumni Field.
SUMMARY
Sept 8 2017
@Alumni Field
Wilmington 59 Butler 35
W 10.14.14.21…..59
B 07.14.06.08…..35
First Period
WHS —D. J. Ames, 18 yd. run. PAT kick by Henry good at 9:13
VBHS-Johnston, 23 yd. pass from Motter, PAT kick good by Boren at 3:05
WHS—4- yard field goal by Brady Henry good at :52
Second Quarter
VBHS-Sharpe, 33-yard pass from Motten. PAT kick good by Boren at 9:37.
WHS-D J Ames, 19-yard pass from Brady Evans, PAT kick good by Henry at 7:46
VBHS—Flatt, 42-yard run. PAT kick good by Boren at 7:29
WHS—Mansfield, 18 yard pass from Evans. PAT kick good by Henry at 6:17.
Third Quarter
WHS-Evans, 29-yard pass from Beaugard. PAT kick good by Henry at 6:14
WHS-Beaugard, 75 yard punt return. PAT kick good by Henry at 5:00
VBHS Johnson, 48-yard pass from Motter. Kick attempt failed at 2:35.
Fourth Quarter
WHS-Smith, 10-yard pass reception from Evans. PAT kick good by Henry at 11:54.
VBHS-Justice, 52-yard pass from Motter. 2-point run by Flatt successful at 11:19.
WHS-Smith, 27-yard pass from Evans,PAT kick good by Henry at 8:14.
WHS-Ames, 1-yard run. Henry PAT kick good at 2:06.
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