The Hive Sports

by James Tate

The first round of the 2023 UHSAA Mountain America 5A State Championship playoffs saw the Woods Cross Wildcats use a powerful defense and running attack to beat the Taylorville Warriors 52-13. Leading the way for the Wildcats was senior running back Isaac Johnson. Johnson rushed for 91 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

Wildcats open the game with a touchdown

Wildcats’ senior Carter Freestone took the opening kickoff back 68 yards for a touchdown score first in the game. The Wildcats would not look back from this point as the defense would hold the Warriors to negative plays throughout the quarter. After a short Warrior punt, the Wildcats would score a touchdown on their first offensive drive.

Senior running back Ben Smith-Mecham would finish the drive with a 20-yard touchdown run. After the Smith-Mecham touchdown and successful two-point conversion, the score stood at 15-0 in favor of the Wildcats. The Warriors’ next possession would see a roughing the kicker penalty against the Wildcats. The penalty resulted in a Warrior first down, but the Wildcats’ defense would hold strong and force another punt attempt.

The next punt attempt by the Warriors was muffed and rolled out of the end zone for a safety. With 4:47 left in the first quarter, the Wildcats led 17-0. After the free kick, the Wildcats scored on their next possession, a 45-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Lock Smoot to junior running back Krew Fornelius. With 4:39 on the clock, the Wildcats grew the lead to 24-0.

The Wildcats would close out the first scoring with a one-yard touchdown run by senior running back Cash Henderson. Henderson’s score put the Wildcats up 31-0 with .34 remaining in the first quarter. Seniors Clarence Pututau, Jonah Suliafu, Charles Bytuqi, and juniors Tino Sa and Mosiah Matagi led the Wildcats in the first quarter with big tackles for loss.

Warriors respond

The Wildcats scored the first points of the second quarter on a one-yard touchdown run by senior running back Charlie Coats. Coats scored with 8:56 left on the clock in the second quarter. The Wildcats controlled the line of scrimmage on the touchdown drive. The offensive line of Pututau, Suliafu, junior Hadden Rotz, and sophomore Braken Borders helped make the score 38-0 with 8:56 remaining in the second quarter.

The Warriors would score their first touchdown of the game on a 10-yard touchdown run by senior quarterback Cole Kramer. The touchdown made the score 38-7 with 6:06 left in the second quarter. Key plays on the drive were a pass interference against the Wildcats and a first-down pass completion from Kramer to junior receiver Kobe Allen.

The second quarter would end on a touchdown run by a 76-yard touchdown run by Johnson. The halftime score had the Wildcats ahead 45-7 over the Warriors.

Wildcats quarterback Lock Smoot

Second half

With the game well in hand, the Wildcats used the second half to get opportunities for other players to see the field. Junior quarterback Jackson Workman led the offense on a touchdown drive that ended with Johnson scoring on a 9-yard run.

The Wildcats now stood in front with a 52-7 lead with 7:43 left in the third quarter. Kramer would score his second rushing touchdown of the game on a 17-yard run in the fourth quarter to make the final score 52-14.

Outstanding performances

Excellent overall team performance for the Wildcats saw six players score at least a touchdown, led by Johnson’s two. Smith-Mecham also scored six points on extra-point kicks for the Wildcats.

Kramer made key passing plays. Junior wide receiver Karsan Kirkman was on the receiving end of two of the longest plays in the game. Kirkman came into the game as the team’s leading receiver and will return next season as a key player for the Warriors. The offensive line and defensive line for the Warriors consisting of seniors Manny Gustman, Leland Ako, MalaKhai Peterson, Cholo Faleola, juniors Jacob Lee and Elijah Rix, and sophomore Wes Hall gave great efforts in the contest.

The Wildcats’ move to the second round and travel to the number eight seed Brighton Bengals on October 27, 2023. The Warriors end their season with a 1-10 record.

photos courtesy James Tate