Horak’s late score gives WACO homecoming victory

WAYLAND - WACO and Montezuma traded punches all night on Friday, but in the end it was the Warriors who scored the final blow in the homecoming game. Colton Horak scored a late touchdown to steal back the victory after losing the lead in the fourth.

WACO had to climb out of a double-digit hole early. Horak got things going with a five-yard touchdown run, but Montezuma scored the next 10 points, including a 50-yard pick-six, one of two on the night. The Braves led the Warriors 16-6 after one quarter.

Nik Coble found Horak for a six-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, but Montezuma star Jaedon Probasco put the Braves up by eight with a one-yard touchdown run. At the half, Montezuma led 22-14.

Horak scored his third touchdown of the night early in the third quarter. He punched in a three-yard touchdown rush and then added the two-point conversion on another run to tie the game up at 22-22.

Hunter Donaldson gave the Warriors their second lead of the night with a 23-yard touchdown run later in the third. The PAT put the Warriors up by seven, but another one-yard run by Probasco helped Montezuma cut it to one point, at 29-28.

Trailing by one point in the fourth, Probasco's defensive effort put the Warriors' backs against the wall. Probasco had a 14-yard interception return for a touchdown, the second pick-six of the day for Montezuma, and the Braves took back a 34-29 lead.

Horak had one more score in him, though. The WACO senior capped a scoring drive with a two-yard touchdown run. Coble hit Gabe Reichenback on the two-point conversion and the Warriors moved to 3-2 with a thriling victory.

Horak had another huge game, rushing for 150 yards and three scores, and leading the team in receiving with five catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. He also went 2-3 passing the ball. Coble went 9-36 on the day, throwing for 163 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.

Drew Kissell had three catches for 75 yards in the win. Hunter Donaldson rushed for 32 yards. Elijah McGohan, Jalen Collins and Robert Frazer all caught one pass.

Horak's 9.5 tackles paced the defense. Braden Hammond had 7.5 tackles for second on the team.

The Warriors had four takeaways on the night. Coble had two interceptions. Horak had one INT, and Kade McKinney had one fumble recovery.

WACO moved to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in district play. They'll have a big matchup at Lone Tree on Friday, Sept. 21, at 7 p.m.