Western cruises past Wellington in opener

WELLINGTON — The Western Reserve football team scored 26 points in the first half and 19 in the second half of a 45-6 win over Wellington on Aug. 22 in the season opener. The Roughriders got on the scoreboard first when Hayden Keith found Brexton Fraelich for a 51-yard touchdown pass for a 6-0 lead. Dom Edwards recovered a fumble for Western on Wellington's first offensive possession, which led to a 1-yard TD run by Landyn Wiegel. Kohler Graves added the extra point for a 13-0 lead. Cooper Roe then intercepted Wellington on the very next play from scrimmage for another defensive stop. On the first play of the second quarter, Wiegel scored on a 12-yard run and the Graves PAT made it 20-0. Later in the quarter, the 'Riders got an 11-yard TD pass from Colton Meagrow to Fraelich, but the kick failed to make it 26-0. Wellington got on the scoreboard for the lone time with a TD pass with 3:18 left in the second quarter for a 26-6 deficit at the break. The Dukes fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half and Graves recovered. That set up Wiegel's third TD, a 4-yard run, to extend the lead to 32-6. Blake Welch then blocked a Western punt, and Wiegel scored TD No. 4 from 21 yards out. Graves added the PAT for a 39-6 lead. Wiegel's big night ended with a 1-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter to close out the scoring. Western entertains Margaretta (0-1) next week at Bachelder Field in Collins. Norwalk 17, Toledo Start 14 TOLEDO — Senior Tommy Vanderpool made a 36-yard field goal in overtime to give the Truckers a thrilling win over the Spartans in Friday's season opener. Kicking from the right hash, Vanderpool was able to line drive the kick through with about two-plus yards to spare for the third straight win over Start dating back to 2023. Vanderpool was battling a muscle strain and did not appear in the game before the game-winning kick. "Defensively we had five takeaways, including four interceptions," Norwalk head coach Keith Mora said. "They did a lot of things well. When the big moments were there, our kids did what they needed to do to keep Start off the field. "We turned it over and struggled at times on offense, but we had our moments," he added. "We made some routine mistakes, but again, at times, we moved it really well. We're right on the cusp and I feel like if we can get those things shored up we can have a good offensive year as well." Norwalk opened the scoring on a 5-yard TD pass from Brady Singer to Cade Evans in the back right corner of the end zone with 56 seconds left in the first quarter. Singer added the first of two PATs in place of Vanderpool. It was 7-6 at halftime, then the Truckers tacked on a score in the third quarter for a 14-6 lead as Gabe Bellamy scored on a 27-yard run. Start tied the game with a touchdown and 2-point conversion on the first play of the fourth quarter, then neither team scored during the rest of regulation. The Truckers intercepted the Spartans on the first possession of overtime, as Bellamy came up with the turnover. Gavin Lepley also had two interceptions and Kaedyn Warner had one earlier in the game. The Truckers then picked up just six yards on their offensive possession. That brought out Vanderpool — a returning All-SBC Lake first team specialist — for the game-winning field goal. It was Norwalk's first overtime game since 2019, a 41-40 win on Oct. 25, 2019 in Week 9 at Clyde. "Just that pressure knowing every play could be the difference, and our kids came up big," Mora said. "We didn't get the ball moving, but we got the ball to where Tommy likes to kick it from. It was really cool to see Tommy be tough there. "And really, it was all three parts of that with the snap from Caiden Wilson, the hold from William Biller, and the kick that Tommy made.If any part of that doesn't go right, it doesn't happen. Just really happy to see the kids be able to celebrate in that moment." Norwalk will host Ontario next Friday in its home opener at Contractors Stadium. New London 28, Millersport 0 MILLERSPORT — The Wildcats made the long trip worth it by doubling up the hosts in their season opener Friday night. Trailing 8-0 in the second quarter, New London scored three straight times for a 22-8 lead. Quarterback Jarrett Mencl found sophomore Jackson Mitchell for a 25-yard TD pass and a 41-yard TDP pass. Running back Hunter Chandley added the 2-point conversion on the first score, while the pass failed on the second TD. Chandley then pushed the lead out to 20-6 on a 1-yard run, then Mencl found Oliver Harrison for the conversion pass and a 22-8 lead. Millersport responded with a short TD run to pull within one possession at 22-14. But Chandley and the 'Cats put the game away on his 2-yard TD run with 4:48 left in the game. Mencl was 10-of-18 passing for 172 yards and the 2 TD passes to Mitchell, who caught three passes for 102 yards. Chandley ran 19 times for 99 yards and the two TDs. Up next for New London is its first-ever game in the new stadium at the high school on Aug. 29 against Zanesville Bishop Rosecrans. Lucas 51, Plymouth 0 LUCAS — The Big Red were overwhelmed from the start in falling behind 37-0 at halftime of Friday's season-opening loss to the Cubs. Plymouth (1-0) visits Willard Thursday in their annual rivalry game with the Crimson Flashes at Terry King Stadium.