No. 10 WACO routs Baxter in opening round

WAYLAND — WACO kicked off its postseason run right on Friday night as the Warriors routed Baxter 55-20 in the opening round of the 8-Player playoffs.

Baxter scored the first points of the game after putting together an eight-play drive that was capped off with an 11 yard touchdown pass.

However, from that point on it was WACO.

After just one play on their opening drive, the Warriors hit pay dirt when Reece Oswald broke free for a 47-yard touchdown run. After the extra point, WACO led 7-6 and they would never trail.

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The WACO defense made all the difference.

On the next Baxter possession, Hunter Hughes notched his first of two interceptions on the night.

From then on out, Oswald capped off the Warrior’s drive with another touchdown run, this time from two-yards out to make it 14-6 with 2:04 remaining in the first.

Baxter did put some pressure on the Warriors.

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The Bolts ran over 15 plays on their next drive leading into the second quarter and after converting a pair of fourth downs, Baxter scored its second touchdown of the evening on a two-yard touchdown pass.

WACO finished the second half strong as the Warriors scored three times in the second quarter.

Clayton Miller connected with Colton Leichty to put the Warrior’s inside the five before rushing the ball in himself on 4th and one.

WACO then notched back-to-back interceptions on the Bolts next two drives, with Hughes picking up his second and Miller snatching one himself.

Both of those drives ended with Miller touchdown passes, first to Gage Samo and then Louden Huisenga.

At the half, WACO led 34-12.

“Coach told us to come out dominant and show them what we got,” Oswald said. “I felt like we did that.”

The Warrior’s kept their foot on the pedal in the second half.

On the opening kickoff, Huisenga took it all the way to the house to give the Warrior’s a 41-12 lead.

From then on out, Oswald found the end zone for the third time and Huisenga rushed one in as well.

Baxter’s lone touchdown in the second half came with 7:18 left on the clock on a 61-yard touchdown pass.

“The win feels really good,” Oswald said. “If I’m being honest, we’re already onto the next one. The win’s good, but teams only get tougher from here on out.”

Miller went 5-for-10 in the game with 127 yards and two touchdowns.

Reece Oswald ran for 80 yards and three touchdowns. Louden Huisenga ended with 77 yards and one score. Miller finished with 42 yards and one score.

Huisenga had a team-high 47 receiving yards with one touchdown. Gage Samo finished with one receiving touchdown as well.

Joel Meyer led the Warriors with eight total tackles on the night.

Hunter Hughes and Miller both ended with two interceptions a piece on the night. Chase Waterhouse had an interception as well.

“I feel really good about our performance tonight,” WACO head coach Chad Edeker said. “I told the guys this morning if we keep these guys under 20 points we’re in good shape. We’ll be all right. They wanted a shutout. That’s the confidence these kids have. I felt like the kids did really good on both sides of the ball. Now we get ready for next week.”

The Warriors will now travel to take on No. 7 Don Bosco. Don Bosco’s only loss on the season is to No. 6 Gladbrook-Reinbeck.