The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
The West Prairie-La Harpe Cyclone football team posted a decisive 61-18 victory last Friday night against the visiting Athens Warriors.
The Cyclones got five first half touchdowns from senior running back Brian Butterfield and Joel DeCounter. Butterfield scored on TD runs of 45, 49, and 64 yards as part of a huge 174 yard night for the Cyclone fullback. DeCounter added a 61-yard punt return and a 20-yard run to paydirt to fortify the WP-LH offensive effort.
The Cyclones sixth first half score came on a 20-yard TD toss from junior quarterback Bryan Rodeffer to senior halfback Matt Woolam. Woolam also added successful PAT kicks after 6 of the 7 first half TD's. WP-LH led at the intermission 41-7.
Second half Cyclone scorers came via a 7-yard run by DeCounter, a 3-yard run by senior fullback Kylen Carpenter, and an electrifying 80-yard kick-off return by DeCounter. PAT kicks were added by Woolam and Dustin Derry to close the WP-LH scoring outburst. The 61 total points was more than the Cyclones had scored in the first 3 games combined.
West Prairie picked up 411 total yards of offense in the contest, including 363 on the ground. Butterfield's 174 yards led the ground attack, but several others chipped in as well.
DeCounter picked up another 101 yards, while Woolam gained 35 and Rodeffer added 22. Carpenter picked up 10 yards, while Blake Harper and Derrick Daudelin had single carries for 6 and 4 yards, respectively.
Rodeffer added 48 yards through the air on 2 of 3 passing. He had a 28-yard completion to junior tight end Skyler Pence in addition to his 20-yard soaring strike to Woolam. The lone blemishes on the Cyclone offense were 3 turnovers and 10 penalties.
The Cyclone offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage to pave the offensive output. Evan Wisely (center), Dustin Derry(guard), Roger James guard), Zach Doscher (guard), Bruce James (tackle), Justin Ward (tackle, Lance Ward (tight end), Jason Coplan (tight end), and Skyler Pence (tight end) dominated their Warrior counterparts to ensure ample running room for the quick Cyclone backs.
The Cyclone defense held Athens to 150 total yards, most of which came after the outcome was essentially decided. The Cyclones also forced 3 Warrior turnovers to off-set their offensives trio of giveaways.
Thy Cyclone tackle chart include Blake Harper (9 total tackles), Jason Coplan (7), Kylen Carpenter (5), Dustin Derry (5), Justin Ward (5), Brytton Mason (5), Skyler Pence (5), Matt Woolam (5), Joel DeCounter (4), Dakota Hicks (4), Jared Schwerer (4), and Lance Ward (3).
Others on the chart included Brain Butterfield, Daniel Patterson, Michael Burke, Brice James, Evan Wisely, Derek Van Fleet, Keith Rittenhouse and Brian Rodeffer.