We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Wildcat senior Clay Adams breaks free of the Rocky Boy tackle for a big gain Friday night. Adams scored a pair of touchdowns and converted four extra point conversion runs helping the Wildcats to defeat the Stars 54-8.
Harlem freshman Ki-iw Windy Boy celebrates in the end zone after hauling in a 17 yard touchdown catch to put Harlem on top 16-0 in the first quarter.
Harlem junior Quarterback Leon Champagne puts the exclamation point on Harlem's first touchdown by adding the conversion run to put Harlem up 8-0. Champagne three for three touchdowns in the 54-8 Homecoming win over Rocky Boy.
The Harlem Wildcats got to play in front of their home town fans for the first time after two weeks on the road to start the season. The Wildcats added the finishing touches to a fun Homecoming week by thumping the visiting Rocky Boy Stars 54-8 to improve to 2-1 on the season.
Harlem led just 16-8 at halftime but a huge 30 point third quarter blew the game open. Harlem tacked on a fourth quarter touchdown for good measure and went home happy following a 54-8 Homecoming win.
The Stars began their first drive with a few good plays, but were soon shut down. Senior Linebacker Clay Adams made a big stop on third down to bring up a fourth and four for the Stars. Freshman Defensive End Ki-iw Windy Boy fired off the line of scrimmage and stopped the Rocky Boy Back behind the line of scrimmage.
On the Wildcats first possession they started deep in Rocky Boy territory at the Stars 19 yard line. A Stars penalty moved the ball to the 14 and then Wildcats Junior Quarterback Leon Champagne gained nine yards down to the five. Two plays later Adams was in the end zone with a two yard touchdown run. Champagne added the conversion run and Harlem quickly opened up a 8-0 lead.
The Stars began their second drive at their own 29 yard line and again seemed to move the ball fairly well. Rocky Boy worked their way down the field to a first and goal situation at the Harlem eight yard line. Windy Boy again knifed his way into the backfield for a five yard Stars loss back to the 13 yard line. On the very next play senior Defensive Back Charlie Calvert batted a pass down field into the air and made the interception giving the Wildcat offense the ball back at their own 14.
Champagne found Adams in the flat on a nice little swing pass for 14 yards. Champagne then had a nice run of eight yards setting up a 23 yard scamper by Adams down to the Rocky Boy 20 yard line. After a three yard pickup on first down by Adams, Champagne dropped back and found Windy Boy on the left sideline for a 17 yard scoring strike. Adams added the conversion run to put Harlem up 16-0 with time winding down in the first quarter.
The Stars returned the ensuing kickoff all the way to their own 39 yard line. On first down Rocky Boy picked up 28 yards on the ground. Two plays later they were in the end zone after a 16 yard touchdown pass to bring the Stars within ten at 16-6.
The second quarter didn't really have much action. Rocky Boy made a nice push deep into the Wildcats side of the field but Harlem's defense stood tall and kept the Stars at bay. The Wildcats then gave two points back to the Stars after they were unable to get out of their own end zone to avoid the safety.
Harlem would end the half with another outstanding defensive effort near their own goal line, stopping the Stars on fourth down inside the 10 yard line. The Wildcats took a 16-8 Homecoming lead into halftime.
The Coaching staff rallied the Wildcats in their halftime locker room talk and when the team took the field to start the third quarter they were ready to roll. Freshman Donovan Posey returned the second half kickoff all the way out to the 37 yard line giving the offense a short field to work with.
Adams ran hard on first down for a six yard gain and then picked up the first down will a seven yard scamper. Champagne rumbled down to the nine yard line for a gain of 19. Champagne then took the snap, read the defensive end and executed the option perfectly pitching the ball out to Adams for a nine yard scoring run. Adams added the conversion to give Harlem a 24-8 lead early in the third quarter.
The defense was relentless to start the half with entire line gain tackling the Rocky Boy runner on first and second down. After an incomplete pass on third down and facing a fourth and 19 at their own 25 the Stars elected to punt.
Freshman Cody McCabe settled in to receive the punt, hauling in the kick at the Wildcat 26 yard line. McCabe shook the first defender with a little juke move and then turned on the burners, streaking down the sideline in front of the Harlem bench on his way to 54 yard punt return touchdown to really open the flood gate.
Adams added another conversion run to put Harlem on top 32-8 still early in the second half. The Wildcats firmly had all the momentum on their side and it being Homecoming night, the game seemed to be completely in their control.
Freshman Matt Billmayer ended the Stars next possession with a fumble recovery. Champagne quickly found the end zone with a 26 yard run to give Harlem a 40-8 lead.
The Wildcats would score twice more. Following a strip sack by Adams and a fumble recovery by Windy Boy, Champagne found junior Tight End Tommy Champagne for a 13 yard Touchdown catch and a 46-8 Harlem lead.
The final Wildcat score came on a 39 yard strike from Champagne to Calvert following another Rocky Boy fumble. McCabe provided the final points of the contest, adding the conversion run. To make the final score 54-8.
"I thought in the first half we were a little sub par. We were 16-0 and Rocky Boy came back and scored to make it 16-6. Then we gave up a safety to make the score 16-8," said Head Coach Trenton Woodward. "Right before half they put together a really good drive but we stood tall defensively inside the 10 and held them scoreless."
The second half was much better in the eyes of the Head Coach, "We had a really big third quarter. Put together a nice scoring drive to start the second half and that really opened the gate. We started stringing some drives together, making stops, forcing turnovers and doing all the things we needed to do to win the game."
When the dust settled Harlem's big win was satisfying, "The second half we played a complete game. The first half we weren't playing up to our standard. The kids started to execute and began playing as they have been coached," said Woodward. "Charlie Calvert had a huge game for us. He had one interception, and then another one that was called back after a roughing the passer call. Plus he had a couple of huge receptions including his first ever touchdown and for that to happen on his senior Homecoming night was pretty cool."
Woodward was quick to mention several players, "Thomas Champagne had big game for us well, he had a couple big plays at the defensive end position and added a receiving touchdown at tight end as well. Freshman Ki-iw Windy Boy recovered a fumble and scored a touchdown for us and had a good game. Cody McCabe returned a punt and of course Leon (Champagne) and Clay (Adams) played huge for us as well."
Harlem will be at home again this Thursday to take on the No. 4 Chinook Sugarbeeters, "I think if we play our game and play the football we can play it's going to be a competitive game. The team that we took to Shelby is going to be a lot different than the team we will have show up Thursday," concluded Woodward.
