Quarterback Gavin Walker rushed 20 times for 194 yards and three touchdowns in leading Win-E-Mac to a 41-13 9-man football victory over Nevis at Erskine on Thursday, Oct. 15.
Bryer Strom opened the scoring with a 52-yard touchdown run on the opening series to give WEM a 7-0 lead with 11:31 to play in the first quarter. That 61-yard drive took only three plays.
Nevis responded with a 12-play drive. Ian Ahrendt rushed for 10 yards on third-and-1, Joe Houchin caught a 4-yard pass from Derek Lindow on third-and-2, and Houchin ran for 9 yards, but that drive stalled at the WEM 23.
The Patriots padded their lead when Walker scampered for 22 yards and 29 yards before ending the seven-play, 77-yard drive with a 3-yard TD run. WEM led 13-0 with 1:48 to play in the opening quarter.
After forcing the Tigers to punt, WEM threatened again as Walker followed an 11-yard run with an 18-yard run. A holding penalty helped end that drive at the Nevis 5.
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Nevis was forced to punt again and the Patriots strung together a four-play, 34-yard scoring drive. Walker’s 14-yard run set up a 16-yard TD run by Strom. That made it 21-0 with 5:19 remaining in the first half.
Cain Mitchell’s 31-yard kickoff return and 11-yard reception on fourth-and-9 led to a first down at the WEM 37, but that drive by the Tigers stalled.
The Tigers regained possession near midfield on an interception by Mitchell. A 33-yard reception by Jon Rice and a 10-yard catch by Ethan Klimek set up a 5-yard TD run by Lindow, who kicked the extra point. That 52-yard drive took only three plays and cut the gap to 21-7 at the 1:43 mark.
WEM quickly responded with a 12-play, 58-yard drive to end the half. Walker rushed for 14, 9 and 19 yards before capping the drive with a 4-yard TD run as time expired. The Patriots carried a 27-7 advantage into the break.
After stopping Nevis on the opening series of the second half, the Patriots marched 47 yards in nine plays to extend the lead. Walker’s 4-yard TD run capped that drive as WEM led 35-7 with 3:33 to play in the third quarter.
Lindow’s 14-yard run and two passes for 34 yards to Houchin sparked a 12-play, 66-yard scoring drive for Nevis. Lindow hit Houchin on a 3-yard scoring route as the Tigers trailed 35-13 with :05 showing in the third quarter.
A 47-yard TD run by Kobe Hamre on WEM’s next series concluded the scoring with 11:48 to play.
WEM’s defense forced a fumble and stopped the Tigers on their next two possessions to preserve the win.
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WEM, which shut out Northern Freeze 46-0 in the season opener, finished with 409 yards in offense.
The Tigers compiled 271 offensive yards with Lindow completing 14 of 29 passes for 151 yards and rushing 13 times for 45 yards. Ahrendt added 38 yards on 13 carries while Houchin had seven receptions for 51 yards. John Paul Benson caught two passes for 31 yards.
Defensively, Ahrendt was in on nine tackles while David Riehle and Brody Johnson were in on eight tackles each. Houchin and Mitchell contributed six tackles apiece as the Tigers fell to 0-2 on the season.
Nevis gets a bye this week before traveling to Clearbrook-Gonvick on Oct. 30.
Nevis 0 7 6 0...13
Win-E-Mac 13 14 8 6...41
SCORING
WEM-Strom 52 run (Walker kick)
WEM-Walker 3 run (kick failed)
WEM-Strom 16 run (Jacobson pass from Walker)
N-Lindow 5 run (Lindow kick)
WEM-Walker 4 run (pass failed)
WEM-Walker 4 run (Hamre run)
N-Houchin 3 pass from Lindow (kick blocked)
WEM-Hamre 47 run (run failed)
OFFENSIVE STATISTICS
RUSHING. Nevis: Lindow 13-45, I. Ahrendt 13-38, Arola-Johnson 4-15, Houchin 4-13, A. Ahrendt 2-12, Ogundeji 1-(-3). WEM: Walker 20-194, Strom 10-95, Hamre 4-58, Spry 8-33, Shear 1-4.
PASSING. Nevis: Lindow 14-29-0 for 151 yards. WEM: Walker 6-10-1 for 25 yards.
RECEIVING. Nevis: Houchin 7-51, Benson 2-31, Rice 1-33, Mitchell 2-19, Klimek 1-10, Lewis 1-7. WEM: Spry 3-17, DeChamp 1-7, Hamre 2-1.
KICKOFF RETURNS. Nevis: Rice 3-1, Mitchell 2-55, Houchin 1-20. WEM: Spry 2-0.
PUNT RETURNS. Nevis: Rice 1-0. WEM: Hamre 2-13.
NEVIS DEFENSIVE STATISTICS
SOLO TACKLES: Riehle 7, Houchin 4, I. Ahrendt 4, Aman 4, Mitchell 3, Johnson 3, Benson 1, Kline 1, Lewis 1, Thompson 1, Andress 1.
ASSISTED TACKLES: I. Ahrendt 5, Johnson 5, Mitchell 3, Houchin 2, Thompson 2, Lindow 1, Lewis 1, Riehle 1, Arola-Johnson 1, Aman 1.
INTERCEPTIONS: Mitchell 1.
KICKOFFS: Lindow 3-64.
PUNTS: Lindow 1-33.
