West Central strikes early in win over PHHS

By Editor | October 14, 2025 |

West Central’s #9, Eli Crane blocks for #4 Rykor Ford. Meanwhile the Pleasant Hill and West Central lines battle it out. #51 Brock Lowe, #13 Brady Lowe and Tyn Burdick try to get to the runner. West Central won the game, 22-6 at Winchester Friday night. Pleasant Hill will be at North Greene on Friday, Oct. 10, and West Central will take on Greenfield the same evening. (Doug Pool/River County News)

By KENT COULTAS

West Central scored two touchdowns in the second quarter and beat Pleasant Hill 22-6 in football on Friday, Oct. 3, at Winchester.
The Cougars (3-3, 2-2 in WIVC) will play at Greenfield-Northwestern (3-3, 2-2) Friday at 7:30 p.m. The game will be at Greenfield.
Neither team scored in the first quarter before West Central scored early in the second.
Ryker Ford intercepted a pass and returned it 50 yards to the Pleasant Hill 12-yard line. Three plays later West Central faced fourth down at the 9-yard line.
Luke Kunz caught a nine-yard from Ryker Ford, and the Cougars led 6-0 with 11:54 remaining in the second quarter.
Kunz recovered a fumble on Pleasant Hill’s next possession. West Central needed just six plays to go 46 yards and increase the lead.
Tucker Arnold scored on a 6-yard run and cap off the drive. Ryker Ford ran for the conversion, and the Cougars led 14-0 with 8:38 remaining in the quarter. Ford had a six yard run as West Central converted on a third down earlier in the drive.
Pleasant Hill scored on a 12-yard pass with 31 seconds remaining and trailed 14-6 at halftime.
West Central drove 55 yards on its first possession of the second half for its third touchdowns of the game.
Eli Crain scored on an 8-yard run, and Ford scored on the conversion. West Central led 22-6 with 6:32 remaining in the third quarter. Crain caught a 23-yard pass from Ford in the drive.
Pleasant Hill finished with 247 yards and 10 first downs in the game. They rushed for 85 yards on 25 attempts and gained 162 passing. The Wolves committed five turnovers; four interceptions and one lost fumble, in the game.
West Central had 243 yards and finished with 12 first downs. They rushed for 211 yards on 39 attempts.
Ford rushed for 92 yards on 15 attempts. Crain rushed for 80 yards on 12 attempts. Arnold rushed for 22 yards on five attempts.
Ford completed two of 12 passes for 32 yards. Crain caught one pass for 23 yards, and Kunz caught one pass for nine yards.
Ozly Walker had nine tackles, including two for losses, to lead the defense. Crain had eight tackles, including three for losses. Carter Edlen and Cooper Eddinger each had a tackle for loss.
Arnold and Ford each intercepted two passes. Kunz recovered a fumble.