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ATWOOD (September 20) — The West Carroll War Eagles celebrated Homecoming Friday with a 48-8 region win over Gleason. Earlier in the afternoon, the Homecoming Court was presented on the field, and senior Ashton Worrell was crowned Queen.
In the parking lot, several classes of West Carroll alumni held tailgate parties with food, fellowship, music and games. Participating were the classes of 1986, 1989, 1995, 1996, 2002, 2003 and 2004. Some current students also up their own tent in the lot for tailgate activities.
On the field, the War Eagles set the tone with touchdowns on their first two possessions. They continued to dominate with four scores in the second quarter to lead 40-0 at the half. Gleason got on the board with a touchdown to start the second half, and West Carroll answered at the end of the third. A quick fourth quarter was scoreless as the Bulldogs controlled the ball until time expired.
West Carroll won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff.
War Eagle Cody Wildridge fielded the low kick and returned it to the West Carroll 35. A delay of game penalty before the first snap moved the ball back five yards. Quarterback Jeremiah Bryant threw across the backfield to Jack Barrow for a six-yard gain, then Jarrius Weatherford dragged a pile of Bulldog defenders for eight more. On third-and-one, Bryant kept and ran it into the end zone, but an illegal block in the back negated the touchdown and brought the ball back to the Gleason 30. Weatherford took it in on the next play, and Bryant kept for the two-point conversion to give the War Eagles a quick 8-0 lead.
The West Carroll defense forced a three-and-out on Gleason’s first drive. Zach Perry led a host of War Eagle defenders to stop Bulldog Dawson Arnold for no gain on first down, then quarterback Kolton Crochet threw incomplete twice. Carson Tidwell’s punt was downed at the West Carroll 38.
Xander Moon took over at quarterback for the War Eagles and threw to Bryant for a six-yard gain. Weatherford rushed for 13 to move the chains, then Moon connected with Jacob Blankenship for a 40-yard reception. Bulldog Mason Fuzzell made a diving tackle at the 3 to keep Blankenship from scoring. Moon handed off to Bryant for a two-yard gain, then kept for the one-yard touchdown. Moon scrambled on the two-point attempt, but was chased down by Hagen Hodges. With six minutes to play in the opening frame, West Carroll led 14-0.
Bulldog Cody O’Callaghan fell on a low kick at the Gleason 44. Isaac Denton ran for two yards, then Crochet kept for four. Arnold gained three on third down, just short of the first-down marker. Gleason went for it on fourth-and-one, but the snap was high and Crochet was stopped for a loss.
The War Eagles took over near midfield, but a first-down penalty for holding doomed the drive to a three-and-out. Devin Rader’s punt was downed at the Bulldog 44.
Gleason went three-and-out, but a good punt by Tidwell was downed at the West Carroll 25.
Weatherford started the drive with a five-yard run, then gained 15 more to end the first frame. Bryant threw to Perry for 29 yards to start the second, then kept for 16. Rader was stopped for a loss by Bulldog Elijah Young, then Bryant kept for a 13-yard touchdown. Bryant missed the PAT, and the War Eagles led 20-0 early in the second quarter.
The Bulldogs started the ensuing drive at their own 46. Crochet kept for seven, then Austin Clark ran for just enough to move the chains. A penalty on the next play pushed the Bulldogs back into their own territory. Crochet completed a pass to Young, but his next pass was intercepted by Bryant and run back for a touchdown. Dakota Saunders missed the PAT, and West Carroll led 26-0 with eight minutes left before the half.
Gleason started near midfield with a run by Arnold, who was stopped by War Eagle Jay Long for a short loss. Crochet fell on a fumble on second down, then threw to Young on third. The Bulldogs went for it on fourth-and-two, but the play resulted in a fumble recovered by Bryant at the Gleason 48.
Bryant scrambled on first down, but was dropped for a seven-yard loss by Young. Weatherford gained 12, then repeated for eight and a first down. Bryant tossed to Barrow for seven, then threw incomplete. On third down, Bryant kept for a touchdown, but it was called back on a holding penalty. He found the end zone again on the second try, and, after a failed two-point try, West Carroll led 32-0 with 2:38 remaining in the half.
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