DOVER — It wasn’t the start they wanted, and it wasn’t the end result they wanted either.
Southmont watched their season come to a close at the hands of a fast start by Western Boone in a 35-7 loss to open up IHSAA Sectional play on Friday night.
After the Mounties (3-7) botched a punt on the opening drive, the Stars (9-1) took advantage of a short field when Spencer Wright hooked up with Connor Hole for a 17-yard score.
The Western Boone defense forced two more Southmont three and outs, and turned both stops into points. Caleb Irion scampered in from 38-yards out, and Wright hooked up with Luke Marsh for a 27-yard score to make it 20-0 midway through the first quarter.
“I think they wanted to go in and really overwhelm the line of scrimmage to start the game,” Southmont coach Desson Hannum said. “It’s really what their key is, especially in the two games this season. To go in and really overwhelm us at the point of contact and we knew it was going to be tough going into tonight. We knew we were going to have to play our best.”
The Stars dominated in the trenches — running the ball 26 times for 274 yards — and out-gaining the Mounties 318-111 overall. Southmont had just 77 rushing yards on 34 carries, 57 of which came on Dillan Lauy’s second half score to give the Mounties their only points.
Finally, on their third drive the Mounties started to pick up the pace offensively by marching down the field and picking up five first downs in the process. Unfortunately it was too little too late, not to mention the drive stalled when Giles was sacked on fourth and goal.
“The game plan was to just keep the chains moving,” Hannum said. “We had to be in manageable situations where we could convert on third down, move the chains, and keep the clock moving. Unfortunately the first couple drives it didn’t work out in our favor.”
Southmont had just nine first downs for the game.
Western Boone added a score just before the half on a Wright 32-yard run, and the senior added another long touchdown run to start the second half. Wright ran the ball four times for 99 yards, added 44 passing yards, and accounted for four of the five Western Boone touchdowns.
Lauy was the top ball carrier for the Mounties with 70 yards on four attempts. Evan Lowe caught four passes for 22 yards in the passing game.
While Southmont’s season comes to an end, Western Boone is one step closer to returning to Lucas Oil Stadium and defending their Class 2A state title. The Stars will travel to North Putnam next Friday after the Cougars defeated Speedway 31-14 to improve to 8-2 on the season.
Western Boone 35, Southmont 7
Southmont 0 0 7 0 — 7
Western Boone 20 7 8 0 — 35
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
WB – Spencer Wright 17-yard pass to Connor Hole (Jacob Taylor kick), 9:16
WB – Caleb Orion 38-yard run (kick failed), 6:46
WB – Wright 27-yard pass to Luke Marsh (Taylor kick), 3:08
Second Quarter
WB – Wright 32-yard run (Taylor kick), 3:32
Third Quarter
WB – Wright 58-yard run (Robby Taylor run), 11:39
SM – Dillan Lauy 57-yard run (Evan Lowe kick), 2:12
Team Stats
SM WB
First Downs 9 12
Rushes-Yards 34-77 26-274
Passing Yards 34 44
Comp-Att-Int 2-5-0 6-11-1
Total Yards 111 318
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0
Penalties-Yards 1-5 1-15
Punts-Ave 2-39. 52-22.5
Individual Stats
RUSHING: Southmont – Giles 14-1, Welliever 12-12, McMaster 2-12, Lauy 4-70, Team 2-(minus 18); Western Boone – Wright 4-99, Pitcher 3-16, R.Taylor 5-52, Stoudemire 1-9, Irion 1-38, Baird 1-1, Ro.Durbin 2-(minus 2), Stachowicz 6-31, Bailey 1-7, Hole 2-23
PASSING: Southmont – Giles 6-11-1 34: Western Boone – Wright 2-4-0 44, Ro. Durbin 0-1-0 0
RECEIVING: Southmont – Lowe 4-22, France 2-12; Western Boone – Hole 1-21, Marsh 1-27
