Polar Bears shut out Western

CASTALIA — Weekly adjustments can make all the difference in high school football. Margaretta made those adjustments and it showed on the field in a 21-0 win over Western Reserve on Friday. In a game that featured the Roughriders playing without three-year starting quarterback Hayden Keith, the Polar Bears made it tough on Western Reserve. In addition to playing without Keith, Margaretta kept Landyn Wiegel in check after he exploded in Week 1 with 27 carries for 185 yards and five touchdowns. "That is a good, hard-hitting football team," Margaretta coach Gary Quisno said. "Their quarterback was not playing, but it kinda evens out because last year we were all beat up and this year they were without their best player." After busting out of the gate on the ground last week in their week 1 loss, senior quarterback Jake Bouy had another massive game for the Polar Bears (1-1). In the first quarter after forcing Margaretta to go three-and-out, it looked like the 'Riders (1-1) were going to have another big offensive performance. Wiegel took an inside handoff on Western's first play from scrimmage 60 yards. After that, the theme for the game was missed scoring chances. That drive stalled as the Polar Bears forced a turnover on downs. Bouy made them pay as he hit Carter Luzader on a 42-yard pass, which set up his first big run of the night. His first of three touchdowns came from 36 yards. After marching down the field again, Western Reserve once again turned it over on downs. After a quarter of play, it was 7-0. Bouy hit on another long pass, this time to Kale Bailey for 50 yards. The Polar Bears cashed it in from two yards out for a 13-0 lead. After getting a stop, Bouy capped off the hat trick of rushing TDs, this time from 46 yards. In a game that featured Margaretta using their skill players, it was the lineman that Bouy credited the most. After scoring 21 first-half points, both defenses went to work as no offense had any long sustained drive until deep into the fourth quarter when the game was already decided. W. Reserve 0 0 0 0 — 0Margaretta 7 14 0 0 — 21 M — Jake Bouy 36 run (Bouy kick)M — Bouy 2 run (kick failed)M — Bouy 46 run (Bouy kick)