FORT CALHOUN – For the second time this season, the Wayne High football team took to the road for a Class C1 outing.
From Fort Calhoun High School, WHS visited the Pioneers of Fort Calhoun under the lights on Friday.
Fort Calhoun scored on three straight drives in the first half and held onto the 29-14 victory. The Pioneers improved to 2-1 as WHS fell to 0-3.
After Wayne was forced to punt twice early in the game and For Calhoun was held to a turnover on downs, the Pioneers began their scoring streak.
With 1:58 left in the opening quarter, senior quarterback Austin Welchert connected with junior wide receiver Grayson Bouwman from 26 yards where Bouwman fumbled the ball into the endzone and jumped on the ball to score six points. Following the extra-point, Fort Calhoun led 7-0.
Following a third WHS punt, Austin Welchert then found freshman wide out Blake Welchert for a 61-yard touchdown. After the extra point was blocked, Fort Calhoun led 13-0 with 9:08 to play in the opening half.
The Pioneers then recorded an interception later in the quarter which led to an Austin Welchert six-yard rushing touchdown. Fort Calhoun made the PAT to lead 20-0 with 5:05 to play in the second quarter.
WHS answered about 90 seconds later as junior running back Garret Schultz rushed in for a 17-yard score. After junior place kicker Sam Junck knocked through the PAT with 3:38 left in the opening half, Fort Calhoun remained ahead at 20-7 going into the second half.
The Pioneers took a 10+ play drive and nearly six minutes off the clock which led to the only score of the third quarter. Senior place kicker Mason Bliss knocked through a 24-yard field goal with 6:34 left in the quarter to lead 23-7.
Wayne’s first snap of the second half resulted in a fumble but senior Daniel Judd blocked a 29-yard field goal attempt from Bliss.
Following a late third quarter Wayne punt and early turnover on downs in the fourth quarter from Fort Calhoun, Wayne punter Jack Bruckner had a snap go through his hands and was tackled near the five yard line.
Austin Welchert and Bouwman again hooked up on a 14-yard strike. The PAT was denied a second time with under seven minutes to play in the game but favored Fort Calhoun, 29-7.
After both teams had to punt, Wayne High got the ball on their own one-yard line with 3:55 to play in the game. WHS proceeded to get out of their own endzone thanks to a catch and run from senior wide receiver Alex Phelps followed by a 39-yard rushing touchdown from sophomore quarterback Kaden Keller. Junck knocked in the extra point with 50 seconds left in the game.
Final favored Fort Calhoun over Wayne High, 29-14.
The Wayne High football team will next host Raymond Central on Friday, September 16 at 7 p.m. during their homecoming game.
Friday area schedule:
Wakefield 64, Pender 62 – Big Red Country ‘KTCH’ 104.9*
Bloomfield 62, TCNE (Tri County Northeast) 12
Lutheran High Northeast 32, Guardian Angels Central Catholic 26
Elkhorn Valley 28, Hartington-Newcastle 18
Cedar Catholic 35, Yutan 6
Laurel-Concord-Coleridge 48, Plainview 14
Grand Island 20, Norfolk 16
Norfolk Catholic 49, Logan View/Scribner-Snyder (LVSS) 7
Pierce 68, Arlington 14
Tekamah-Herman 20, Ponca 14
Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family 26, Randolph 6
@ Boys Town: West Point-Beemer VS Boys Town
@ Winside: Madison VS Winside
Wisner-Pilger 40, Nebraska Christian 34
