Westran breaks one streak while keeping another in big win over Marceline

Entering last week’s game versus Marceline, the Westran Hornets recently had accomplished feats such as knocking off #1 ranked Valle Catholic, and become the #1 ranked team in Class 1 football in the same week. Neither accomplishment would fully prepare the Hornets for the immense pressure that had built up since October 7, 1988. That date marks the last time that a Westran football team left the field with a victory over Marceline. With a losing streak that started before they were born, the Westran Hornets of today, and the Huntsville alumni watching,

knew it was long overdue to come to an end. The shadow cast by the Tigers didn’t appear under the lights last Friday at Marceline High School as the Hornets brought the 22-year-old streak to a screeching halt in a convincing 29-6 victory.

Westran’s first drive of the game ended at the Marceline goal line when a rare fumble by the Hornet offense prevented their first score. From that point the offense took a while to get going again but finally with 1:52 left in the second quarter running back Nick Eagan ran the ball in from 10 yards out. Followed by a Tyler Aulber extra point, Westran went into halftime with a 7-0 lead.

Marceline came out in the third and drove down the field and scored on a 33-yard run by Matthew Shoop. After the failed 2-point conversion the Westran lead remained 7-6. With most of the third quarter gone and only a one point lead, it seemed as though the 22-year-old streak had intimidated the Westran Hornet team and temporarily paralyzed them from performing like the number 1 ranked team in Missouri. Shortly after that, on Marceline’s next possession, the Hornets regained control when Tyler Aulber intercepted Marceline quarterback Austin Bruner’s pass and returned it to the Tiger’s 20 yard line. A few plays later Tyler Hunt ran the ball into the endzone from 13 yards out extending the lead 15-6. Westran would get another score in before the third quarter ended via a 15-yard pass to Matt George giving Westran a more comfortable 22-6 lead with 0:34 seconds remaining.

The final score of the game would come midway through the fourth quarter when Matt George struck again this time on an 11-yard rush putting the final nail in the coffin on anyone’s hopes for a Marceline comeback. With 0:17 remaining, the Westran offense was able to take a knee and claim victory over the Marceline Tigers and remain undefeated and move to a perfect 7-0 record.

Quarterback Tyler Hunt threw the ball 10 times completing 5 passes for 107 yards and 1 touchdown. Hunt also ran the ball 16 times for 97 yards. Nick Eagan racked up 94 yards on 6 rushing attempts while Matt George had 65 yards and a touchdown on his 6 carries, George also had 2 receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown and also had an interception on defense. Tyler Aulber was successful on all three of his PAT attempts and also intercepted a pass on defense.

Westran Head Coach Curtis Jasper said, “They came out in an offensive set. Not that we haven’t seen it but just that we didn’t practice against it because they had been all double tight and power-I formations. They still ran their same plays only a lot more option than we have seen. Marceline is a good team. They did a really good job scouting us. Danny Nagel, their defensive coordinator, does an outstanding job. We were able to move the ball. We just didn’t play as crisp as we normally do. Probably a lot of that has to do with the pressure we put on ourselves. As soon as [Tyler Aulber] picked that ball off and then we scored off on that possession, it was then that everyone got excited and kinda said okay lets get back to doing what we normally do. After that we kinda just clicked and played the way we should have and scored on our next few possessions.”

Jasper also attributed a lot of the teams success to the play of Matt George. Jasper commented on Matt saying “He’s got great instincts. He’s the guy that watches film and knows what’s going to come and gets everybody lined up on every play. He’s just really tough and hard-nosed. He sets the intensity level for our defense.”

Matt leads the team this year in interceptions with 4 and in forced fumbles with 3. The Hornet defense has been outstanding all year long especially against the rush only giving up 328 yards on 214 carries which boils down to 1.53 yards per carry. Total the defense has given up 822 yards and 6 touchdowns in seven games this season.

Westran (7-0) is still ranked #1 in Class 1 football and will remain on the road as they set their sights on the Slater Wildcats (2-5) this Friday.