The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
The West Central Heat rewarded a Senior Night crowd to a resounding 48 to 24 win on the final home game of the season as they finished 2021 home schedule with a perfect 4 wins and no losses.
The Heat will take their 6 and 2 record on the road next Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. contest to wrap up the 2021 regular season at South Fork.
On the 3rd play of their first possession Kaiden Droste broke loose for a 53 yard gallop to pay dirt and the Heat were on the board 6 to 0 with only 32 seconds gone in the game.
The Patriots responded with 2 consecutive first downs via the pass but their hopes of tying the score died at the Heat 39 yard line.
The Heat went to work again and 2 nifty runs of 25 and 10 yards by Parker Meldrum set the stage for Droste's 2nd score from 2 yards out. That put the Heat up 14 to 0.
With time running out in the first quarter the Heat held the line and were aided by a 4 yard Patriot punt to give them possession at the Patriot 25 yard line.
The Heat moved the ball to the 5 yard line and on a 3rd down and 3 Mason Carnes dented the end zone for the Heat's 3rd TD of the quarter and a 22 to 0 lead.
The Heat kept the pressure on in the 2nd quarter and scored 14 more points to build a halftime lead of 36 to 0.
Kaiden Droste's 54 yard gain to the Patriot 20 yard line set up a Mason Carnes to Andy Lumbeck passing score and Brady McGraw's interception set up the final score of the half with Mason Carnes scoring his 2nd TD of the evening from 8 yards out.
With a comfortable lead Coach Kirby took the opportunity to get more players involved in the game and they rewarded the coach by increasing the lead to 42 to 8 by the end of the 3rd quarter. Devin Shaw scored a touch down during the first 2 minutes of the half.
On the Patriots next possession Shaw recovered a fumble and the Heat were back in business.
After exchanging possessions the Patriots took over on their own 36. Gage Stimpson made a TD saving tackle at the 29 yard line but on the next set of downs Peoria was able to get a score by Kemaurion Richardson and the 3rd quarter ended with the Heat on top 42 to 8.
Hunter Shrader rounded out the Heat's scoring making the final score 48 to 24.
Most, if not all, of the squad saw action and at one point Coach Kirby substituted all the Seniors out of the game and the crowd gave them a resounding well deserved ovation on Senior Night.
At times the Patriots displayed a competitive passing game but it was hampered by a strong Heat rush and by 4 Devin Shaw knock downs.
Squad members getting in on the 56 defensive tackles and assists were Kaiden Droste (13), Parker Meldrum (10), Devin Shaw (8), Brady McGraw (7), Kolton Bell (2), Shawn Kapsch (1), Dexter Rickets (1), Colton Fletcher (4), Walker Conchas (2), Blake Cole (2), Gage Stimpson (1), Jeremiah Gerdes (1), Hunter Shrader (2), Andy Lumbeck (1) and Daniel Reyes (1).
The West Central busses will be headed to South Fork next Saturday, October 29th for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
The home season has sped by quickly this year but there is still work to be done before the playoffs which The Heat will be in.