Wolves make a statement

MARTENSDALE — The Winfield-Mount Union football team certainly looked promising heading into the 2022 season. The Wolves have a plethora of growing talent and earned statewide recognition before the year even started. On Saturday in Martensdale, WMU proved they were worth the hype.

Although Audubon sports the nickname, ‘Wheelers,’ it was WMU that proved to be a wagon in the second half, exploding for 46 second-half points in a 68-36 victory over last year’s state semifinalists.

Junior star Cam Buffington proved he was up to the Week 0 challenge early and often. Before the Wolves even touched the ball on offense, he was in the end zone. Buffington stepped in front of an Audubon pass and raced 53-yards passed the Wheelers for a pick-six to open the game.

That was the first in an incredible seven-touchdown performance for the Iowa commit. Five of those came on the ground, as he transitioned back into a running back roll after spending the entire 2021 season at quarterback.

“I love it,” Buffington said. “Quarterbacking was super new to me, and I just didn’t like it. It’s just a totally different mentality.”

Buffington scored two more times in the first half, but it was Audubon that held a 24-22 advantage at the break. In the second half, WMU turned it on.

“Coming out of halftime, we knew that we couldn't be the team to break,” said senior Caleb Giese. “We knew that we had to keep pounding.”

The Wolves took a 30-24 lead on a five-yard touchdown run by Abram Edwards that kicked off scoring in the third. Buffington would score the next two, scampering in from 26 out and 24 out. By the start of the fourth, WMU led 38-24.

Audubon cut the lead back to one possession at the start of the fourth quarter, as the Wolves held a 38-30 advantage after a Wheeler score. Quarterback Cole Milks responded with a 51-yard touchdown pass to Edwards, who had dropped a sure touchdown the period before. This time, he hauled it in over two defenders and turned it upfield for a score.

“It felt good to get that one, especially after I missed the first one,” Edwards said. “I shouldn't drop any passes.”

Audubon scored once more, but the Wheeler momentum didn’t last long. Buffington stole the inside kick attempt from a group of Audubon players and ran the ball 38 yards back for a wacky kick-return touchdown.

“I'm not going to lie, I did that once at practice,” Buffington said. “I saw it, and it was coming straight to me, and they were so far apart, so I just grabbed it and took it.”

Buffington’s seventh touchdown came on a 60-yard scamper later in the fourth. The Wolves put the exclamation point on when Giese blocked a punt that turned into a safety as the final minute counted down.

“I was watching the ball ready for the snap the whole time, and I wanted it bad,” Giese said. “I wanted to put an exclamation on it all.”

Buffington finished with 273 yards on the ground and 43 through the air to go along with his six-touchdown game. He also led the defense with 11 tackles. Edwards finished with 67 through the air and 44 on the ground.

Milks finished the night 8-for-13 with 110 yards and a touchdown passing and 50 yards rushing. Eli Miller had 21 yards rushing. Cam and Cooper Buffington each had one interception.

“You're always happy when your kids play well,” said WMU head coach Scott McCarty. “Audubon is a great program, and we have a team that we think can be pretty good. In order to be that team, you have to play teams like Audubon.”

The Wolves (1-0) will play at Moravia (1-0) next week.