Wildcats put together complete game in win over Wichita West

Louisburg turned in its most complete performance of the season Friday night, overwhelming Wichita West 49–6 in non-league action and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

The victory gave them their second win of the season as the Wildcats have had to deal with youth and injuries at the same time. Still, Louisburg put on a show in front of its home fans as it scored 28 first quarter points and never looked back.

“We have certainly needed this,” Louisburg coach Drew Harding said. “We have been in a lot of close games this year. Last week we played a really good team and battled and we have been getting better. To have a game where we can show that on the scoreboard is very rewarding.

“We certainly have been young and when you have injuries it certainly magnifies your youth. But it is the next man up and the positive out that situation is you get kids in and see what they can do on a Friday night. Hopefully it will be beneficial for us down the road.

Louisburg’s defense set the tone early, pitching a shutout until the fourth quarter and forcing three turnovers. Cole Heinrich and Lincoln Nielsen each came away with interceptions, while John Guetterman forced a fumble that Mathias Wright recovered.

The Wildcats’ special teams were just as dominant, blocking three punts. Bryce Thompson led the charge with two blocks — one of which Wright scooped up in the end zone for a touchdown — while Will Norton added another block to keep the Pioneers pinned deep in their own territory.

“Defense played with good energy and effort,” Harding said. “We missed a few tackles on a few drives, but all in all we played well on that side of the football.

Louisburg wasted no time getting on the board, racing out to a 28–0 first-quarter lead. Blaise Vohs opened the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run and added another from four yards out.

Quarterback Max Amren connected with Guetterman for a 14-yard touchdown, then hit Bryce Thompson for a two-point conversion. Wright capped the explosive opening quarter with the touchdown on the blocked punt.

“We started fairly well against Eudora last week, but this was the best we have started all year,” Harding said. “We talked about how we wanted to get a 3-and out and block a punt and we were able to do those things right away. It was a fun to see the things that we have worked and emphasized on all week come to fruition and we did a good job.

After a quiet second quarter, the Wildcats erupted again in the third. Amren tossed a 20-yard touchdown to Guetterman, broke free for a 50-yard scoring run, and found Ayden Spradling for a 6-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 49–0.

Wichita West’s Colby Eck-Watkins broke the shutout with an 8-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Louisburg’s offense was efficient all night. Vohs rushed for 98 yards on 12 carries and Amren added 89 yards on just four attempts. Through the air, Amren completed all six of his passes for 53 yards and three touchdowns. Cooper Kilgore added a 38-yard completion in his lone attempt.

Guetterman led the receiving corps with four catches for 45 yards and two touchdowns, while Spradling hauled in two passes for 44 yards and a score.

“We were able to spread the ball around and get it to different playmakers,” Harding said. “They all did a good job with the ball in their hands and none of that is possible without our offensive line playing well. They are getting better and better and had a really good night.”

Defensively, Guetterman also led the way with 11 tackles. Norton added 10, followed by Amren with seven and Wright with six.

Louisburg (2–4) returns home Friday to host Ottawa for Senior Night.

“I think our goal this season was to always be playing our best football at the end of the year, but we know that we have taken some strides and getting better the last few weeks,” Harding said. “We just need to take another step (against Ottawa) and put a good product on the field and compete against a good football team.

LOU       28            0               21            0 – 49

WW        0               0               0               6 – 6

SCORING SUMMARY

First Quarter

L: Blaise Vohs 3 run (Blaise Vohs kick)

L: Vohs 4 run (Max Amren pass to Bryce Thompson)

L: John Guetterman 14 pass from Max Amren (Vohs kick)

L: Mathias Wright 0 run (kick failed)

Third Quarter

L: Guetterman 20 pass from Amren (Vohs kick)

L: Amren 50 run (Vohs kick)

L: Ayden Spradling 6 pass from Amren (Vohs kick)

Fourth Quarter

WW: Colby Eck-Watkins 8 run (kick failed)

STATISTICS

RUSHING – Blaise Vohs 12-98; Max Amren 4-89; Tate McGreer 4-15; Bryce Thompson 1-2

PASSING – Max Amren 6-6-53; Cooper Kilgore 1-1-38

RECEIVING – John Guetterman 4-45; Ayden Spradling 2-44; Blaise Vohs 1-2

TACKLES – John Guetterman 11, Will Norton 10, Max Amren 7, Mathias Wright 6, Bryce Thompson 5, Cole Heinrich 4, Gage Feldkamp 4, Johnny Hendrickson 4, Devin Goeman 3, Braxton Koechner 2, Colin Schleicher 2, Maddox Day 2, Eli Roth 1, Cooper Kilgore 1, Cole Poindexter, Riley Barker 1, Jack Flaming 1, Gavin Manson 1, Lincoln Nielsen 1.

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