After its disastrous outing the week before, the Wayland varsity football team turned in a much more creditable performance Friday night in a 27-19 loss to Kenowa Hills.
The verdict was not certain until 22 seconds remained, when the Knights’ Mr. Everything, Andrew Bradley, intercepted a desperation pass.
The Wildcats scored more points in the first seven minutes than they had in their previous eight quarters this season and led Kenowa 12-7 midway in the first quarter.
Senior speed demon Ian Thompson electrified the home crowd by returning the opening kickoff about 85 yards for a touchdown. Thompson virtually duplicated the feat early in the fourth period when just about all hope was lost in a 27-12 deficit.
So it’s true that two of Wayland’s TDs were the result of Thompson’s kickoff returns, but there were some signs of life, particularly considering the fact that starting quarterback Dustin Loomans was sidelined under quarantine.
Enter sophomore signal caller Brady Casini, who certainly had his rough spots, but he stepped up make the ‘Cats competitive.
After Thompson’s game-opening touchdown, the Wildcats’ defense stuffed the Knights on a three-and-out, but fumbled the ball over deep in their own territory and then committed pass interference, leading to a 14-yard scoring run by Bradley.
But Wayland crossed the end zone three minutes later on a 19-yard run by Cameron Bogart to give the home team the lead for the second and last time of the evening.
The 12-7 count held up for the remainder of the first half.
Things were looking up on the kickoff to start the third quarter when free safety Brady Dobry pounced on a fumble at the Knights’ 22. But his team coughed up the football three plays later, starting a bad patch for the ‘Cats. They were whistled for a personal foul at midfield and then Bradley fired a 53-yard scoring strike to Preston Mull.
Down 14-12, Wayland got another boost it wasted when Thompson returned the ensuing kickoff 50 yards to midfield. The offense stalled, but Thompson booted a 49-yard punt that freshman Hudson Biondo downed just one year shy of the end zone.
The ‘Cats were caught offside on a hard count and Kenowa then was able to crawl out of its predicament. Bradley eventually broke loose for a 38-yard TD romp on a quarterback keeper, for which he was so effective all night. A splendid opportunity somehow turned into a 99-yard Kenowa Hills scoring drive.
The Wildcats responded by driving to midfield, where they failed to convert a fourth down and one.
The Knights used five plays to cover the distance, with the other QB, sophomore Sutton Tutas, tossing a 23-yard TD pass to Nolan Thayer. The fourth period had just begun and the home team was down 27-12.
That’s when Thompson came up with his second kick return TD of the night, catching a squib kick in mid-air and then taking it to the house from 80 yards away.
Leonard Scheidel booted the extra point. It was the first time Wayland has made a PAT this season, after 11 quarters.
Not long afterward Maverick Daley got loose and ran the football 59 yards to Kenowa’s 16, but Bradley then came up with the first of his two interceptions.
Wayland is now 0-3 overall for the season and it will play next Friday night at Ottawa Hills, the only team it has beaten since 2018.
COVER PHOTO: Brady Dobry (10) breaks up a Kenowa pass and enables Moore (15, not listed in program) to make an interception of a tipped pass the end zone, ending a Knight scoring threat in the first half.