NEW MARKET — It was all Stars in a 49-0 Western Boone win over Southmont in Sagamore Conference football action.
WeBo, ranked 12th in the 3A AP poll and 8th in the coaches poll, put TDs up in all four quarters, scoring four touchdowns after four Mounties turnovers, as they move to 5-2 on the season and 3-1 in the conference.
South, ranked 12th in both 2A polls, couldn’t overcome the turnovers especially, as they fall to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the league.
“We gave them multiple opportunities with the turnovers,” Mounties coach Desson Hannum said. “We had them in third and long situations and didn’t get the stops. We didn’t win third-downs. Big plays and the turnovers led to the big deficit, and you cannot give a good team like WeBo anything like that. They are so efficient, so unselfish. They are willing blockers and execute from the first play to last. They took advantage of everything.”
The hole that the Mounties fell into opened quickly and got deep.
The Stars took the opening kickoff the length of the field and scored.
They intercepted a pass on South’s fifth play, and scored, forced a punt and scored, and were up 21-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Recovering three more fumbles throughout the game, they scored after each, and never looked back.
They converted on third and long four times, including two TDs. They converted on fourth down twice, scoring later on both drives.
“Tonight was a good measuring stick,” Stars coach Justin Pelley said. “We did what we had to do defensively. We had some guys make some good plays and we protected well. We got a little ragged and we need to be more assignment sound going forward if we want to be a contender.”
The Stars also kept an eye on Wyatt Woodall.
The sophomore was leading the conference in rushing coming in, and WeBo made him earn every one of his 44 yards. They also worked away from him when he was on defense.
“Woodall is a heck of a player,” Pelley said. “We wanted to limit him on both sides of the ball.”
Averaging a league-best 219 yards per game on the ground, South was held to 98. Carson Chadd picked up 32 on six carries.
The Stars finished with 160 rushing yards, also below their over-200 average, but they threw the ball for 220 yards and three TDS while South could complete only two passes for 18 yards.
Senior quarterback Elliott Young was 9-of-13 for those 220 yards, and had three TDs. He also ran for two, accounting for all five first-half scores.
Cassey Baird hauled in five passes for 116 yards and a score, while Garrett Morton caught two passes for 66 yards and two more.
“We just have to go back to work,” Hannum said. “We have to be able to put points on the board and get the stops against the better teams. Credit WeBo - they are a very good team, but we are still disappointed.”
The Mounties are back in action next Friday with a conference game at Lebanon. The Stars are also on the road, traveling to league-leading Danville.
