Daily Newsletters
Account
Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
Wolves blitz Warriors in top five clash
No. 2 Winfield-Mt. Union stays perfect with SEISC North victory over No. 5 WACO
WINFIELD — Winfield-Mt. Union backed up its No. 2 ranking on Friday night in one of the most anticipated 8-player matchups of the season.
The Wolves handled Southeast Iowa Super Conference North rival and District 6 opponent No. 5 WACO 34-8.
Winfield-Mt. Union coupled a heavy dose of senior standout Cam Buffington on the ground, while stifling an otherwise efficient WACO offense.
Buffington would finish with 165 yards rushing with three touchdowns on the night and added 44 yards through a pair of receptions.
The Wolves set the tone early.
After recovering an onside kick — the Wolves onside kicked every kickoff — to begin the district bout, WMU powdered the WACO defense with runs from Buffington, Cole Milks and Abram Edwards.
Edwards capped off the opening drive with a four-yard rush to give the Wolves a 6-0 lead — one of which they would always retain.
WACO attempted to get the run game going with Louden Huisenga, but the WMU defensive line controlled the trenches.
“We just played our football,” Buffington said. “We try to play our way on both sides of the ball. Just hard-nosed football. Our defensive line is playing incredible. I love it.”
After the Wolves and Warriors traded turnover on downs, WMU stunted WACO on another fourth down and Buffington took over.
On the Wolves’ ensuing drive, Buffington took it to the house from 24 yards out for his first touchdown of the night, giving WMU a 12-0 advantage.
The score held through the end of the quarter, but WACO had a momentous opportunity to cut into the deficit.
After forcing and recovering a fumble in WMU territory, WACO got the ball all the way down to the Wolves’ seven.
However, the WMU defense stood its ground to keep the Warriors off the board.
The two squads went stagnant on offense for the rest of the second quarter until Buffington broke free once again.
WMU got the ball back in the final minutes of the frame after Carter Loyd picked off a pass.
After moving the ball onto WACO’s side of the field, Buffington juked and jived his way into the end zone with just four seconds left to give the Wolves a cool 18-point lead heading into the half.
“I thought our line controlled the line of scrimmage very well,” Winfield-Mt. Union head coach Scott McCarty said. “When those guys are playing physical and eating blocks, it allows Buffington to run free and when he can run free he can do some special things.”
Out of the break, Buffington continued to produce.
On the first play of the half, Buffington burst down the sideline 41 yards to the house. After the two-point conversion, WMU led 26-0.
WACO found some success throughout the game off the arm of Clayton Miller, who threw for 90 yards on the night, but the Warriors couldn’t find a breakthrough.
With just over eight minutes to go in the third, the Warriors found themselves with the ball at the Wolves’ 27-yard line.
With plenty of time remaining on the clock, the Warriors needed to score.
WMU’s Milks had other plans though.
With some tight defensive coverage at corner, Milks lept into the air and snagged the Warriors’ pass attempt with one hand. He followed that with a nice return to the Warrior 13-yard line.
Before long, Abram Edwards finished the last of the scoring for the Wolves with a one-yard rushing touchdown to push their lead to 34-0.
WACO found the end zone with 43 seconds to go in the third when Clayton Miller hit Louden Huisenga for the 14-yard score. After the two-point conversion, that marked the end of the scoring.
“I’m feeling pure joy right now,” Buffington said. “It’s been a long time coming. I couldn’t be happier getting this win with my guys. I love it, nothing better.”
It was a statement win for the Wolves, but McCarty said rankings don’t mean anything.
“Our group is a one game at a time type of team,” McCarty said. “They know that if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. I continue to tell our team that rankings are meaningless at this time of the year.”
For WACO, a team that lost most of its 2022 state runners-up squad, the loss is about building the kids back up and working out the inexperience.
“Our senior kids last year took the brunt of the leadership,” WACO head coach Chad Edeker said. “The kids that came back looked to those kids as well. I think our inexperience showed a little bit tonight. We made a lot of mistakes that we don’t normally do. We really struggled in certain situations.”
“Despite that we’re only down 12-0 in the final seconds of the half against a really good ballclub,” Edeker said. “All we got to do is get a stop. I have no doubt these guys will come ready to go on Monday and we’ll be back on Friday against HLV and see how it goes.”
For WMU Jake Edwards threw for 80 yards.
Along with Buffington’s 165 yards, Cole Milks rushed for 33 yards. Abram Edwards had two touchdowns.
Receiving wise, Cole Milks and Buffington ended with a pair of catches. Abram Edwards and Kael Johnson each caught passes as well.
Defensively, Buffington had 12.5 tackles and Cooper Buffington ended with nine.
For WACO, Clayton Miller threw for 90 yards and a touchdown.
Louden Huisenga ran for 44 yards. He also had 27 yards receiving and Colton Leichty finished with 52 yards and the touchdown catch.
Leichty and Joel Meyer each had seven tackles as well.
