Timberwolves defeat Stanton

CORNING—It was a big home debut for the Southwest Valley Timberwolves.

Southwest Valley scored a blowout win against the Stanton Vikings Friday 60-12.

The Timberwolves scored 44 of their 60 points in the first half, putting them ahead for good while establishing a running clock for the entire second half.

“Our kids came out and executed pretty well,” Southwest Valley Coach Kent Bass said. “I thought we had a really good week of practice. I think our execution kind of matched our week of preparation.”

Jordan Stuart had a big night for Southwest Valley as he threw three touchdown passes and returned a punt for a fourth.

“They’re an excellent ball team, big kids, lots of speed,” Stanton football coach Jeff Grebin said about Southwest Valley.

Stuart was 6-for-9 passing for 196 yards. Two of his touchdown passes went to Kal Schmelzer, while a third went to Scott Vanderhoof. Stuart’s punt return touchdown, his first of the season, went for 66 yards.

Zach Barton had three touchdowns as well as he carried the ball 11 times for 125 yards. Barton’s six touchdowns leads the district.

Barton scored the first touchdown of the game when he took the hand-off out of shotgun formation and ran it in from six yards out. The Timberwolves led 8-0Southwest Valley scored early in the second quarter, thanks to a Stuart touchdown pass to Schmelzer. The lead was 14-0 with 10:52 left.

On the ensuing kickoff, Stanton’s Trevor Wood took a hand-off from Kyle Peterson and ran it in 71-yards for the score. Stanton missed the two-point conversion and trailed 14-6.

“A kick-off return, it’s one of the most dangerous plays in the game, especially in 8-man,” Grebin said.

Southwest Valley kept the scoring going as the lead became 20-6, thanks to a 31-yard touchdown pass from Stuart to Vanderhoof.

Stuart had his third touchdown of the game with more than six minutes left until halftime as he ran back a punt return 66 yards for a touchdown. The Timberwolves led 28-6.

“We just needed a spark. I think we got it for sure on that punt return,” Bass said.

Bass added that it was a key block by Clint Mullen, which helped set up the punt return touchdown.

Southwest Valley scored a couple more touchdowns before the half and two more touchdowns in the second half. One by Barton on the first play from including scrimmage and the other by Gunnar McCuen.

McCuen finished the game with 72 yards on 12 carries.

The other touchdown for Stanton came in the fourth quarter when Cade Confer scored on a one-yard run. Confer had 12 carries for 21 yards.

“We got some young guys in there that got playing time, that do not normally get a lot of reps in practice,” Grebin said.

Leading rusher for Stanton was Kyle Peterson, who had three carries for 25 yards. Peterson also was 4-for-11 for 38 yards passing. Peterson didn’t play in the second half as he dealt with a heat-related illness.

Grebin said it was tough not having Peterson out there.

“You move one guy and it shifts, two or three other guys,” he said. “It’s always a challenge.”

Southwest Valley faces a big test this week as they take on the Sidney Cowboys in Sidney. The Cowboys are the reigning district champions, defeated both Villisca and Corning last season.

“We look forward to the challenge next week,” Bass said.

Stanton meanwhile will be home for the first time this season as they take on a 2-0 Lenox team fresh off a win against ESP.

“I think we’ll have everyone back,” Grebin said. “Everyone should be healthy. We just have to hydrate the bodies and nurse a couple of the injuries, nothing too serious.”