IROQUOIS — The Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds evened their season record at 2-2 Friday night, with a 50-0 mercy-rule shortened win that ended at halftime, over the Iroquois Chiefs. Iroquois falls to 0-4 as they continue to build in their first season of varsity football in several years.
The Warbirds struck quickly.
After seeing their touchdown return of the opening kickoff called back for a penalty, Wolsey-Wessington scored on its second snap, as Diedrich Offt cruised to paydirt from 80-yards out.
Wolsey-Wessington pooch-kicked the ensuing kick off, and recovered the ball in Iroquois territory. After a couple of runs, quarterback Skylar Zomer found Carter Mehling on a crossing route from 10-yards out and the score was 12-0 with two minutes and two seconds off the clock.
Iroquois began driving after a short kick-off return, only to see Jaron Waters step in front of quarterback Jacob Bich’s pass and return it 35 yards for a touchdown. After an Offt conversion run, the Warbirds enjoyed 20-0 lead.
Iroquois began to move the ball on its next drive, earning a first down before seeing the drive stall. Unfortunately, the snap on the attempted punt sailed over punter Keistan Dubro’s reach, setting the Warbirds up in great field position.
A pair of Wolsey-Wessington penalties pushed the ball back to the 21-yard line, from where Lynden Williams ran for the score. Offt added another conversion run.
Iroquois fumbled on their next possession, setting Wolsey-Wessington up at the Chiefs’ 42-yard line. But from there, Devante Luellman zig-zagged to the endzone and after a failed conversion, it was 34-0.
After a short Chief drive, Tate Haider intercepted the second pass of the night for the Warbirds, putting them in business at their own 36-yard line.
From there, the Warbirds sustained their first drive of the game, overcoming a couple of penalties and scoring on a 12-yard Luelleman run. Zomer ran in the conversion and it was 42-0.
Iroquois got a good runback on the ensuing kickoff, but ended up fumbling the ball. Wolsey-Wessington began the drive on the Iroquois 30 and after another penalty - the Warbirds had 10 in the first quarter - managed a couple of runs and a first down before Caleb Liebnow hit paydirt from 26-yards out. Eric Klanchnik added a conversion run to make the score 50-0 with 10:11 in the first half.
Iroquois went three-and-out, and Wolsey-Wessington managed to run out most of the rest of the half and departed with the score-shortened win.
