Cougars clinch playoff berth with win over Routt
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.
By Kent Coultas
Ryan Moore scored two touchdowns, and West Central clinched a spot in the IHSA playoffs with a 27-6 win against Routt Oct. 15 at Winchester.
The Cougars (6-2) end the regular season Friday at Mendon Unity at 7 p.m. West Central will find out its playoff opponent Saturday evening. All teams with six wins qualify for the playoffs.
Routt (2-6) took the lead by scoring on its first possession of the game. The Rockets had a 27-yard pass play and an 18-yard run during the drive and scored on a 1-yard run by Kohen Hoots with 7:48 remaining in the first quarter.
Moore returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown with 7:33 remaining in the quarter.West Central regained possession at the Routt 43-yard yard after forcing the Rockets to punt.
Landon Barnett kicked a 25-yard field goal four plays later, and the Cougars led 9-6 with 3:48 remained in the quarter. Chance Little had a 33-yard run that set up Barnett’s field goal.
The Cougars reached the Routt 28-yard on its next possession before turning the ball over on downs, and they lost a fumble on its fourth possession of the game.
Routt reached the West Central 23-yard line with 4 minutes remaining in the second quarter. Tyson Brown made an interception to end the Routt threat.Moore scored on a 2-yard run on the Cougars’ first drive of the third quarter. He started the drive a 21-yard run. Moore’s touchdown gave West Central a 15-6 lead with 6:46 remaining in the quarter.
The Rockets reached the West Central 8-yard line before the Cougars’ defense turned them away. Moore and Eli Brown both had quarterback sacks, and an incomplete pass on fourth down gave the ball back to West Central.
Lathan Barnett scored on 2-yard run on the West Central drive as the Cougars extended their lead to 21-6 with 7:40 remained in the game. Moore had a 24-yard run during the drive.Brown scored on a 2-yard run with 4:11 remaining in the game to cap of the scoring.Routt finished with 150 yards of offense and nine first downs in the game. The Rockets rushed for just 24 yards on 21 attempts and completed 14 of 29 passes for 129 yards.The Cougars rushed for 243 yards on 47 attempts and gained 10 yards through the air. They finished with 15 first downs.
Moore rushed for 111 yards on 16 attempts. Barnett rushed for 88 yards on 17 attempts, and Little rushed for 51 yards on six attempts.Brown completed two of six pass attempts. Parker Hoots caught one pass for eight yards, and Landon Barnett caught one pass for two yards.
Lathan Barnett had eight tackles, including three for losses, to lead the defense.
Moore had seven tackles, including one for a loss. Hoots had seven tackles.
Eli Brown had six tackles, including one for a loss.
Landon Barnett had five tackles, including three for losses. Brown intercepted a pass, and Mason Berry recovered a fumble.
