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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 2016
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The Pearl City-Eastland Wildcats football team won Friday’s home conference game against West Carroll by a score of 32-16.
Eastland/Pearl City beats back the Thunder SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
The NUIC Northwest has a few things it needs to worry about and the Eastland-Pearl City Wildcats are one of the biggest worries for those select few, following a 32-16 win over the West Carroll Thunder, EPC moved to 2-0 in the conference and looks to be settling in. Opening the 2016 fall sports season with a win over the defending NUIC Northwest Champion LenaWinslow Panthers, the Wildcats sent a statement to the league. Any talk of conference titles will have to come through Pearl City. The Wildcats scored first in their Friday night win over West Carroll. It took 14 seconds for Jayden Kempel to run 87-yards, carrying the opening kick-off the distance of the field and giving EPC the 6-0 lead. Keegan Schubert’s carry into the end zone, completed the eight point play. West Carroll would have its chances on the drive following score, but it would end with EPC getting the ball back and making the most of it. With just under three minutes to
go in the opening period, the Wildcats followed up their opening score with another, this time on a one-yard run by Schubert. The running back’s number was called again on the successful two-point try. After one quarter of play, EPC’s defense was disallowing the Thunder’s advance. At the same time, the Wildcats were working the ball straight through the West Carroll front and marched to a 16-0 edge. First downs were a regular occurrence for EPC in the opening period, but it was unfamiliar territory for West Carroll, at least early it was. It was a silent second quarter, as each team exchanged attempts, only to give the ball back to the other. At the half, the lead remained in favor of the Wildcats, 16-0. In the third quarter, adjustments made during discussions with Thunder Head Coach Matthew Leitzen during the halftime break proved to be successful. It would take a while, however, for West Carroll to find its pace. With 3:42 to go in the third quarter, a pass play split the EPC defenders and ended three yards deep in
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the end zone. West Carroll was on the board. A pass play into the end zone, cemented the two-point conversion. With time winding down in the third, EPC’s lead was slashed to eight points, 16-8. The Wildcats were not phased, so it seemed, as they took the ensuing kick-off and drove to the West Carroll one-yard line, where Brighton Haverland finished the task with a one-yard run. The two-point conversion was again good, as EPC’s lead jumped back to 16, 24-8. The fourth quarter began, as the third quarter ended, with an EPC strike. At the 9:18 mark in the period, Haverland struck again, this time from one-yard away. Again EPC went for two and again they were successful. The Wildcats had their biggest lead of the game, 32-8. A few replacement players got
their opportunity on the field as time wound down. With 3:08 to go in the game, West Carroll scored for its final time. The one-yard run was followed up with a successful two-point play. With just minutes remaining, the EPC Wildcats had the game in hand 32-16. The contest would run out, as players ran the ball on the field, keeping the clock moving. EPC moved to 2-0 on the season as West Carroll fell to 0-2 on the year. Up next for the Wildcats are the Pecatonica Indians. This Friday night’s match will wrap up the season-opening home stand and will probably wrap up with EPC moving to 3-0 on the year, following completion of the NUIC contest. Pecatonica is winless on the season, having scored seven points total in
its first two games. On Friday night, Lena-Winslow, a recent victim of EPC’s, defeated the Indians 42-0. Week four will be a test for Randy Asche and his Wildcats as EPC travels to Polo for a cross-conference clash. Galena pays a visit to Pearl City in week five. The week six match-up could be very important for EPC, as they will have to face the NUIC Northwest co-leading Dakota Indians, in Dakota, to close the second-third of the season. A match against AmboyLaMoille in week seven will also be played on the road. The NUIC Northwest Title could be up for grabs in the week eight game for EPC, as the Wildcats prepare to invite Forreston in for a spell. The 2016 season closes for EPC on the road in East Dubuque on Friday, Oct. 21.
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