Woodland Hills routs Kiski Area in nonconference contest

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, October 6, 2018 | 12:24 AM

The Woodland Hills football team has suffered its share of setbacks this season.

But the Wolverines had a vintage performance Friday night. Woodland Hills rolled over Kiski Area, 47-0, for a nonconference win at the Wolvarena.

“The guys came out ready to play,” Woodland Hills coach Tim Bostard said. “We didn’t play our best game, nor did we play a perfect game. We had a couple guys banged up, and I know Kiski had a couple of players out. Neither team was at full strength, and I think that made a difference.”

The Wolverines (2-5, 1-4) marched 57 yards to the Kiski Area 8-yard line on their opening drive, sparked by eight carries and 54 yards from running back Anthony Merideth. But three penalties — a false start, an illegal shift and a hold — pushed Woodland Hills back, and it settled with a 36-yard field goal from Charles Hanchett.

“I have been telling the kids every week that we need to minimize our mistakes,” Bostard said. “It seems every time we get inside the 20-yard line, we make some mistakes. It is a point of emphasis for us.”

Kiski Area’s lone scoring opportunity in the first half was in the second quarter. The Cavaliers drove 49 yards on seven plays to the Wolverine 18. But a 35-yard field goal attempt by Nick Smith was wide right. On the ensuing Woodland Hills drive, Jay Smith scored on a 59-yard sweep to give the Wolverines a 10-0 lead.

Kiski Area forced a Woodland Hills three-and-out late in the second quarter. But the punt slipped out of Tracey Moore’s hands and was recovered by Woodland Hills’ Jaden Edmonds at the Cavaliers’ 20. Four plays later, Gavin Judson connected hit Michael Roman on an 11-yard touchdown pass to expand the lead to 17-0.

“We shot ourselves in the foot over and over,” Kiski Area coach Sam Albert said. “It’s a ballgame in the first quarter. The second quarter we’re playing. But you can’t fumble the ball. You can’t not cover on special teams. Those are mistakes that we have to get better at.”

The Wolverines added a score when Judson tossed a 74-yard touchdown pass to Smith before halftime. Judson led the team with 136 passing yards.

Woodland Hills put the game out of reach in the third quarter as it scored 23 points in a three-minute span. After forcing a fumble deep in Kiski territory, the Wolverines pounded the ball into the end zone on a Merideth 16-yard run. On their next possession, the Cavaliers snapped the ball over their punter’s head and out of the back of the end zone for a safety. Jayden Lucas scored on a 36-yard run on the next Woodland Hills offensive play.

The scoring outburst was capped off by a Taelen Brooks 34-yard interception return.

Kiski Area (3-4, 2-3) sat five starters for the game. Senior Ethan Guercio started at quarterback in place of Ryne Wallace and led the Cavaliers with 97 passing yards.

“You don’t want to play anybody when they’re not 100 percent,” Albert said. “I think (Guercio) did really well. They brought heat, and they are a really quick defense. I think he threw the ball well.”

Nathan Smith is a freelance writer.

Tags: Kiski School, Woodland Hills