For the first time since Week 2, the Wilmington High School football team will play away from the friendly confines of Alumni Field.
Friday night, the Hurryin’ Hurricane travels northeast to Fayette County to face the Washington Blue Lions in a South Central Ohio League battle. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Gardner Park.
This will be the first of two straight games for the Hurricane in Fayette County. WHS plays at Miami Trace Oct. 16.
For Washington Senior, this game marks the completion of a three-game run against Clinton County teams. Thus far, the Blue Lions are 1-1 against the Clinton County SCOL contingent, having defeated East Clinton 22-21 and lost to Clinton-Massie 50-6.
“Court House is a big, run-oriented team that wants to control the line of scrimmage and use their big back to wear on you,” said WHS coach Scott Killen.
Wilmington is 3-0 and tied with Clinton-Massie and Chillicothe atop the SCOL standings. The Blue Lions are one game back at 2-1.
Wilmington defeated East Clinton 35-0 last week.
“We were able to execute the run game and the defense started to play very fast and flex to the ball,” said Killen. “What I didn’t like was the loss of focus in the second quarter.”
Cam Stewart was the top offensive threat for the Hurricane. After missing some time, Stewart came back to account for 114 of Wilmington’s 246 yards in the game. He also had three touchdowns.
Dylan Beaugard, who the ’Cane rode for much of the first half of the season, had just 11 yards rushing and 15 yards receiving.
Wilmington’s defense, buoyed by the returns of Brady McCune and Austin Thompson, held East Clinton to 73 yards on offense (61 passing and 12 rushing).
Killen said the Hurricane special teams “have steadily gotten better” this season.
“We have a freshman kicker, Brady Henry, who has yet to miss an extra point and is starting to understand where to place the ball on kickoffs and our return teams can be very dangerous with Beaugard and Stewart returning for us,” said Killen.
One side note to the game is Jarett Patton, Blue Lion quarterback and punter, will face his father’s alma mater. Patton is the son of Brent and Lisa Patton, the grandson of John and Vickie Patton of Wilmington, and the nephew of Chris and Scott Patton.
