Wapak runs over Cougars, wins 61-20

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Wapakoneta Redskins showed why they’re one of the best teams in the Western Buckeye League as the Redskins literally ran over the Van Wert Cougars, 61-20, on Senior Night Friday in Eggerss Stadium.

With only a handful of senior on the team, the young Cougars were no match for Wapak, which rolled up 501 yards of total offense, with 473 of those yards and eight touchdowns coming on the ground. Van Wert had 307 yards of offense, 148 on the ground and 159 through the air.

The Redskins’ first-quarter offensive production was enough to win the game, with three touchdowns on runs of 18-, 1- and 5 yards. Keaton Metz scored the first and third TDs, while quarterback Aaron Huffman ran the ball in from the one on the middle touchdown. Bailey Hinegardner hit all but one of nine PAT tries, and all three in the first quarter, and Wapak was up 21-0 at the end of the opening quarter.

Van Wert opened the second quarter with a score as Cougar quarterback Colin Smith found Michael Smelser for a 21-yard touchdown pass with 10:41 left in the period. Gavin Gardner missed the PAT, and it was 21-6, Redskins.

Wapak scored then scored twice in the quarter, the first on a 29-yard run by Metz and the second on a 28-yard pass from Huffman to Metz, and the Redskins led 34-6 at the half.

Wapakoneta scored first in second half as well when Zach Schmerge ran 61 yards for a touchdown with 11:42 left in the stanza. Hinegardner booted the PAT and it was 41-6, Redskins.

The Cougars scored the second of their three TDs with 10:05 remaining in the third quarter when Smith again hit Smelser, this time for a 44-yard touchdown. Gardner kicked the point-after and Van Wert trailed 41-13.

The Redskins added another touchdown in the third period when Logan Martin bulled into the end zone from the 1 with 26 seconds remaining in the quarter.

Van Wert again responded with a 24-yard scoring strike from Smith to Nick Krugh with 10 minutes even remaining in the game; however, Wapak scored the final two touchdowns, the first on a 24-yard run by Jared Cockerell and the second coming with Cort Merricle ran to paydirt from the Cougars’ 20-yard line with just 1:45 left in the game.

Smith was 10 of 19 passing for 159 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, while Huffman threw just twice, hitting both for 38 yards and one TD.

The Cougars had three other turnovers when they lost three of five fumbles, while Wapakoneta had two fumbles and lost one.

Schmerge was the game’s leading rusher with 186 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, while teammate Metz had 104 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries.

Terrance Branson rushed for 71 yards on eight carries to lead Van Wert, while Smith had 68 yards on 18 carries.

Smelser was the game’s top receiver with 82 yards and two TDs on three catches, while Branson caught two passes for 51 yards. Metz had one catch for 28 yards and a touchdown.

Wapakoneta remains in second place in the WBL with a league record of 7-1 and is 8-1 overall. The Cougars remain winless at 0-9 overall and 0-8 in the WBL.

Van Wert will get its final chance for a win this season when it travels to St. Marys this coming Friday to take on the equally winless Roughriders.