Seneca East overwhelms Western

COLLINS — Visiting Seneca East overwhelmed host Western Reserve from the start in a 56-20 win in a Division VI Region 22 first-round playoff game on Nov. 1 at Bachelder Field. The Tigers (7-4) scored three touchdowns in the first quarter and led 30-0 in the second quarter and were never threatened. Seneca East totaled 481 yards on 53 plays (226 yards passing/255 yards rushing). "Seneca East was eight points from being an 8-2 football team in a tough conference," Western head coach Ty Stevenson said. "They proved to be the better team tonight, and we tip our cap to them. "Our goal this offseason is get to the point where we can battle with top-notch programs like that." Western Reserve (7-4) got a 65-yard touchdown run from Landyn Wiegel in the second quarter, but still trailed 37-6 at halftime. In the third quarter, Hayden Keith threw a 29-yard TD to Brexton Fraelich, and a 47-yard TD to Hayden Dobias. On the second score, Wiegel caught the 2-point conversion from Keith, who was 12-of-23 passing for 164 yards with 2 TDs and two interceptions. Western ran 17 times for 81 yards on the ground. "I'm really proud of the way our kids battled all season," Stevenson said. "I felt like our kids learned a lot about varsity football and had a very good year. We are looking forward to the challenges ahead of us." For Seneca East, quarterback Nicholas Parks was 10-of-11 passing for 197 yards and 2 TDs and ran 12 times for 59 yards and another score. Taylor Young caught eight passes for 144 yards and a TD, while Jackson Gayheart ran 14 times for 85 yards and 2 TDs. Seneca East was also 4-of-5 on third downs, while Western was 1-of-8 on third downs and 1-of-3 on fourth downs. The Tigers advanced to visit top-seeded Hopewell-Loudon (10-0) in a second-round game on Nov. 8 in Bascom. The Chieftains finished No. 3 in the final Div. VI Associated Press state poll. Western Reserve was making its sixth straight playoff appearance and a ninth overall. The Roughriders are 3-9 all-tie in the postseason. The Roughriders had just one senior this season in Jared Hipp. "The ending of a season is always hard, but especially for your seniors who make Friday nights in the fall special, not only on the field, but the cheerleaders and marching band members," Stevenson said. "We give thanks to Jared for playing this season and giving us a spark and some big-play abilities." Seneca East 22 15 7 12 — 56 W. Reserve 0 6 14 0 — 20 SE — Nicholas Parks 3 run (Taylor Young run) SE — Justin Reiter 37 pass fro Parks (Aiden Bame kick) SE — Parks 29 pass from Young (Bame kick) SE — Jackson Gayheart 1 run (Justin Reiter run) WR — Landyn Wiegel 65 run (run failed) SE — Young 63 pass from Parks (Bame kick) WR — Brexton Fraelich 29 pass from Hayden Keith (run failed) SE — Gayheart 1 run (Bame kick) WR — Hayden Dobias 47 pass fro Keith (Wiegel pass from Keith) SE — Reiter 38 run (kick failed) SE — 5 run (kick failed)