In a highly anticipated matchup in District 15 of 2A Division 1, Weimar welcomed the Indians in what many expected to be a dogfight, but it would end up being the opposite of that. Apart from the first two plays of the game, the Indians maintained control of the game and came away with a convincing 49-8 victory to move to 3-0 in district play.
Ganado Head Coach Josh Ervin talked about the growth of the team since last week, “We watched film and knew there was a lot to improve, so the guys locked in all week during practice, and it showed in this game.”
Ganado won the coin toss and deferred, which meant the Wildcats would get the first shot on offense. It didn’t take long for the Weimar offense to make its presence felt, as on the first play from scrimmage, a trick play would put them a couple of yards outside the endzone, then they followed it up with a short rushing touchdown and two-point conversion to give themselves the 80 lead less than a minute into the game.
However, the Indians would respond in no time as Logan Bures took the pass from Landyn Arriaga on the first play of scrimmage and went 57 yards to the endzone to cut into the Weimar lead.
After a Weimar punt, the Indians faced little difficulty moving the ball on the drive, picking up four first downs before setting themselves up outside the 5 of Weimar. Arriaga would drop back and hit Bures in traffic for the short touchdown to give Ganado the 14-8 lead.
The Wildcats would be met with a wall again on offense as they faced a fourth down in their territory, and the Indian defense would rise to the occasion again, foiling the attempt and setting the offense up with great field position.
On the next play, Arriaga connected with Sean Willis from 25 yards out to extend the Indian lead to 13 points. Things were beginning to spiral out of control for the Weimar offense as they were again stuffed, this time Willis batted a ball down on third down.
Bures would continue to run wild on the Wildcats as his punt return put the Indians at the 8 yard line. He would follow up his punt return with a short rushing touchdown to make it a 28-8 game just before the end of the first quarter.
The Wildcat quarterback was intercepted by Austen Pena and returned it a couple of yards short of the goal line. After the interception, Arriaga shed a tackler and ran it in himself for the touchdown, making it a 35-8 contest at the top of the second quarter.
Following the touchdown, the Wildcat offense began to string together positive plays. Chunk plays were a big factor in the Wildcats moving inside the 10 yard line of Ganado, but Willis made his presence felt as he jumped the pass for the interception, preventing any points on the drive. Following the interception, Pena took a screen pass and went 37 yards for the touchdown to push the score to 42-8.
Out of halftime, the Indians had the opportunity to tack on more points, but a big sack on first down for Weimar would derail the drive for Ganado and force their first punt of the night.
After moving into Ganado territory, the Wildcats’ fourth down attempt failed, and the Indians would get the ball back. Ganado continued to be efficient on offense, picking up a couple of first downs before setting up just outside the endzone. However, the Wildcat defense continued to fight and forced a turnover on downs after stopping the Indians at the half yard line. However, Ganado’s defense continued its impressive showing and forced another punt from the Wildcats near their endzone. Arriaga would continue his stellar night with a long rushing touchdown to make it a 49-8 game just before the end of the game.
Willis spoke about the team’s offensive mentality, “We wanted to dominate, we knew it was gonna be a tough game but we came out and played physical.”
Bures talked about the defense’s toughness, “We had to respond after getting hit in the mouth, but we didn’t fold under pressure and gave it to them throughout the game.”
The game would end 49-8 in favor of Ganado, moving them to 3-0 in district play, 6-1 overall. Next week, the Indians welcome the Schulenburg Shorthorns to town in what should be another good test for the Indians.
