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The West Central Heat showcased their offensive firepower and defensive opportunism, overwhelming the Bushnell-Prairie City (BPC) Spartans 59-36 in a high-scoring affair.
The victory improves the Heat’s record to 7-1, riding a seven-game win streak after dropping their season opener.
The Heat set the tone early, starting at their own 25 after the opening kickoff.
A 5-yard run by Graham Kelly and an 11-yard scamper by Aidan Garner quickly moved the chains, setting up a first-and-10 at their own 41.
Garner then broke free on a 59-yard pitch play for the game’s first touchdown. The Heat converted the two-point try with a halfback pass from Garner to tight end Cooper Gibb, taking an 8-0 lead with 10:54 left in the first quarter.
BPC’s first possession started at their own 35 after a kickoff went out of bounds, but their offense faltered immediately.
A mishandled snap on their first play was pounced on by Heat linebacker Jordan Kane, giving West Central prime field position at the Spartans’ 27.
Kelly ripped off a 22-yard run to set up first-and-goal at the 5, and Garner capped the drive with another touchdown on a pitch play.
The Heat dialed up a trick play for the two-point conversion, with Garner taking a pitch from quarterback Colton Spence and throwing it back to Spence for a Philly Special-esque score.
Just 41 seconds later, the Heat led 16-0 with 10:13 remaining in the first.
BPC responded with a scoring drive of their own, marching from their 36 into the Heat’s red zone.
Quarterback Thomas Anderson connected with Jonavan Harrell for a 9-yard touchdown pass, and a successful two-point try cut the deficit to 16-8 with 5:08 left in the opening quarter.
The Heat answered swiftly. Starting at their own 38 after Cameron Robinson recovered a squib kick, big runs by Kelly (22 yards) and Robinson (12 yards) set up another red-zone trip.
On third-and-5, Robinson took a counter handoff 15 yards to the end zone, and Gibb’s PAT kick extended the lead to 23-8 with 1:14 left in the first.
The Spartans started their next drive at their own 45 but were hampered by a personal foul penalty, facing second-and-23. A long pass play gave BPC a first down, and moved them to the Heat’s 30 as the first quarter ended.
However, the second quarter opened with disaster for BPC as Cody Wade disrupted a handoff, forcing a fumble recovered again by Kane at the Heat’s 33.
West Central drove into Spartan territory, but Spence’s pass to Gibb was intercepted at the BPC 7.
Spence redeemed himself on the next series, picking off an Anderson pass and returning it seven yards for a pick-six. Kelly’s two-point run pushed the score to 31-8 with 9:02 left in the half.
BPC’s next drive stalled after penalties created a third-and-37, and Wade’s sack forced a punt. The Heat capitalized, with Robinson’s 35-yard run setting up first-and-goal.
Spence fooled the Spartans with a fake to Kelly, strolling untouched into the end zone from 4 yards out.
Robinson added a two-point conversion, making it 39-8 with 3:13 left in the half.
The Heat weren’t done. After BPC’s turnover-on-downs at the West Central 48, Garner’s 15-yard run moved the ball into Spartan territory.
With 33 seconds left, Spence lobbed a 35-yard touchdown pass to Robinson, and Kelly’s two-point run extended the lead to 47-8.
BPC managed a late score of their own as Anderson hit Harrell for a 25-yard touchdown pass as the half expired, but a failed two-point try left the score at 47-14 at halftime.
The second half began with more Heat dominance. Wade and Kane combined for a tackle for loss on BPC’s first play, and Spence struck again with his second pick-six of the game. This time from twenty-one yards out. Garner was stopped short on the two-point try, keeping the score at 53-14 and narrowly avoiding a running clock (triggered at a 40-point lead).
BPC moved the ball on their next drive but faltered after penalties and a Wade sack forced a fourth-and-13.
The Heat took over at their own 44 following the turnover-on-downs.
Robinson’s 27-yard run set up his 14-yard touchdown scamper on a pitch from Spence.
The Heat took a knee on the conversion, as the 59-14 score triggered the running clock with 4:05 left in the third.
BPC added a 52-yard touchdown pass from Anderson to Harrell in the final minute of the third, making it 59-22 after a two-point conversion.
The Heat’s JV offense took over for their next drive, and BPC tacked on two late garbage-time touchdowns to close the gap to 59-36.
Kelly finished the night with 94 yards on 13 carries, while Garner matched him with 94 yards on six carries and two touchdowns.
Robinson racked up 116 yards on nine carries with two scores.
Spence was the standout, contributing 21 yards rushing on four carries, going 1-for-3 for 35 yards passing, and accounting for four total touchdowns (one passing, one rushing, and two pick-sixes).
The Heat (7-1) now prepare to host I8FA power Amboy (7-1) for Senior Night in Biggsville at 7:00 p.m.
The matchup promises to be a clash of titans as West Central looks to keep their momentum rolling as they approach the playoffs.