ERIE — The Yates Center Wildcats are one game away from securing second place in the district playoff race with Friday’s 58-6 drubbing of the Erie Red Devils.
The Wildcats raced out to a 28-0 lead by the end of the first quarter, then added 30 more in the second to halt the contest at halftime as they improved their record to 4-3 and 2-1 in district play.
A 16-yard toss to junior running back Marcus Cummings on the Wildcats’ opening possession was a bad omen for the Red Devils. Cummings’ three touchdowns on 11 carries for 160 yards.
Following a successful onside kick, Yates Center junior quarterback Gavin Busteed put the Wildcats up 14-0 off an 11-yard run.
A turnover on downs on the Red Devils’ next possession eventually made it a three-possession game after Busteed scored his second touchdown of the night and ended the contest with a team-leading 181 yards and four TDs.
Busteed was also perfect through the air completing 4 of 4 attempts for 55 yards and a touchdown.
With the ground game being so effective, and senior linebacker Jeremiah Jones having a career night on defense with 17 tackles, three for a loss and a blocked field goal, Yates Center coach Ryan Palco had little interest going to the air.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The Wildcats are playing for playoff seeding from here and will likely host a postseason contest if they can play senior night spoiler to the Southeast Lancers (4-3) Friday in Cherokee.
The Lancers come into the contest 1-2 in district play but already secured a playoff spot with a victory over West Elk last month. They were the recipient of a 54-6 drubbing by undefeated Oswego (7-0) last week and hope to enter the playoffs on a high note with a win Friday.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
FRIDAY’S LEADERS
Passing: Busteed, 4 of 4 passes, 55 yards and a TD. Rushing: Busteed, 11 carries, 181 yards and four TDs; Cummings, 11 carries, 160 yards, three TDs; Ben Cook, 1 carry, 19 yards. Cook, two catches, 36 yards, 1 TD; Evan McVey, two catches, 19 yards.
Defense: Jones, 17 tackles, 9 solo, 3 TFL, a blocked field goal and a sack; Karter Westerman, 8 tackles, 2 solo and 2 TFL and a sack; Cummings, 5 tackles, 2 solo and 2 TFL; Cummings, 4 tackles, 3 solo and 3 TFL; Jorden Bishop, 1 tackle, 1 TFL.
Crest falls to Flinthills
COLONY — The Crest Lancers are headed to a bracket game after Friday’s 76-30 loss mathematically eliminated them from the postseason.
Needing a win with a 1-3 district record, the Lancers fell short of the mark as their overall record fell to 1-6.
