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It was not a happy Homecoming celebration for the Duluth East Greyhounds.  In a true team effort, seven different Wildcat players scored touchdowns and the Wildcat defense forced five turnovers as the Wildcats crushed the Greyhounds 62-13 Friday night at Ordean Stadium in Duluth.  The Greyhounds scored on their first possession of the game and the Wildcats responded with 62 unanswered points, including 27 in the third quarter alone.

After the Wildcats went three and out to start the game, a short punt into a stiff wind from the Wildcat 17 yard line gave Duluth East a first down at the Wildcat 30.  Three plays later, Greyhound quarterback Jack Rashid hit running back Evan Anderson with a 15 yard touchdown pass and Duluth East led 7-0 early in the first quarter.  Three plays into the ensuing Wildcat drive, the Wildcats had the ball first and ten at their own 47 yard line.  Wildcat quarterback Ethan Hickcox made the right read, kept the ball and took off through a seam up the middle.  He outran the Greyhound defense all the way to the end zone for a 53 yard touchdown run to knot the game at 7-7.  After the Wildcat defense forced a punt on the next Duluth East drive, the Wildcats went 72 yards in nine plays, with Hickcox going over from the one to give the Wildcats their first lead of the game at 14-7.

Early in the second quarter, the Wildcats went on a nine play, 50 yard drive, capped off by an eight yard touchdown run by Trevin Nelson to go up 21-7.  Later in the quarter, the Greyhounds had a first and ten at the Wildcat 42.  Rashid dropped back and threw it deep downfield.  Wildcat defensive back Anders Brown intercepted it at the 11 yard line, ending the Duluth East drive.  After the Wildcats were forced to punt, the Greyhounds began a drive at the Wildcat 49.  But on the first play, defensive back Bryce Thompson picked off a Rashid pass at the 25 and the Wildcat offense was back in business.  They went 75 yards in eight plays, capped off by a six yard touchdown pass from Hickcox to Carter Duncan to make the score 28-7 in favor of the Wildcats.

The play that sealed the win for the Wildcats came on the next Duluth East drive.  On second and eight from their own 22, with just seconds remaining in the first half, Rashid hit wide receiver Iyzaya Gill with an eight yard pass and Gill was off to the races.  It looked like he was going to score easily and bring the Greyhounds within two touchdowns.  But Wildcat Henry Trost never gave up and chased Gill all the way downfield, a la Don Beebe in a long ago Super Bowl.  Trost’s persistence paid off as he caught Gill from behind and hauled him down just a foot short of the end zone.  With no timeouts left, the Greyhounds had time for just one play.  Rashid called his own number, but he was stopped by Jax Ebbenga for no gain as the half ended with the Wildcats up 28-7.  “Henry’s play kept us ahead by three scores,” said Wildcat head coach Bill Weiss, “and gave us continued momentum going into the second half.”

The Wildcats poured it on in the third quarter.  Hickcox hooked up with Tanner Marquardt for a 31 yard touchdown pass.  Running back Corbin Lee scored from seven yards out and fellow running back Brenden Boudin had a nice 28 yard run for a touchdown.  Nelson scooped up a fumble at the Greyhound 30 and returned it for a touchdown.  Vaughn Strenke had an interception and Trost had a fumble recovery that gave the Wildcats short fields on two of the drives.  The Wildcats led 55-7 after the third quarter and the big lead meant the fourth quarter would be running time.  Teddy Pierce added a touchdown for the Wildcats on a four yard run and the Greyhounds scored on the last play of the game to make the final score 62-13 in favor of the Wildcats.

 The five turnovers by the Greyhounds came in seven possessions straddling halftime.  Weiss said, “Those turnovers really opened things up in the second half.  It was pretty crazy.  We scored on some short drives and held them in check and things really snowballed.  And the fact that we had seven different guys score touchdowns in one game says a lot.  It was a good team win.”
Hickcox led the Wildcats in rushing with 12 carries for 139 yards.  Matt Mohr ran the ball ten times for 78 yards and Boudin made the most of his six carries, picking up 64 yards.  Hickcox was seven for ten passing for 80 yards and two touchdowns.

The Wildcats (5-2) will head out to Rogers to take on the Rogers Royals (6-1) tonight at 7 p.m. in the final regular season game for both teams.  Weiss said, “Rogers played a tough schedule.  They are a solid team, especially defensively.  And their offense is not too fancy, but very effective.”  

The Section 7AAAAA playoffs begin Tuesday, October 13.  The Wildcats are currently seeded second according to QRF rankings.  A number two seeding would give the Wildcats a bye on Tuesday and a home game Saturday, October 17.    “If we can take care of things on our end,” said Weiss, “we should have a first round bye.  But it’s no small task.”  Next week’s Chisago County Press will contain results of this game against Rogers, the potential section game on Tuesday and a section preview.   Check minnesota-scores.net for the Wildcats’ final seeding and playoff schedule.

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