Wallace played host to Wauneta-Palisade on Friday afternoon for a very intriguing matchup in the D6-4 District. Wauneta-Palisade came into this matchup as an underdog some may say at 2-4, facing the 5-1 Wildcats, but that didn't phase them. The Broncos won by a final score of 49-22.
Wauneta-Palisade had the opening possession and it took just four plays and Kreyton Wiese found the endzone on a 20-yard run. The extra point kick was good and it was 8-0. Wallace countered with a really strong drive of their own: eight plays, capped off by an eight-yard touchdown run by Ashtin Johns. About halfway through the first it was 8-8 after the extra point.
The Broncos again ran the ball well on their next drive as a mix of Grayden Sutherland and Wiese moved the ball for Wauneta-Palisade. It was Wiese punching it in again from two yards away. The extra point was no good and it was 14-8 late in the first.
The Broncos defense bowed up in the second period. They did not allow a single point while scoring a pair of touchdowns on offense. Wiese scored again this time on a seven-yard run with 5:03 to go in the half, and then guess who? Wiese again on a 57-yard run with 40 seconds to go before the half.
Going into the intermission, it was 27-8 in favor of Wauneta-Palisade.
In the second half, we had a lightning delay for a while. But that didn't phase the athletes, both teams played a great second half.
Wallace had possession of the ball to start the half, fumbled it, and gave it away to the Broncos as Wiese recovered and ran it in from 16 yards away. It was 35-8 after the two-point conversion with 8:36 remaining in the third.
It looked daunting for Wallace, but they never gave up. On their next possession, Ivan Aceves found the endzone on a 17-yard run to make it 35-14 with 7:26 remaining in the third. This score came just two plays after the lightning delay.
The Wallace defense got a big stop on the next possession forcing the Broncos to punt. Wallace didn't waste it, scoring on a six-play drive as Aceves scored again on an eight-yard run. The two-point conversion was good and it was 35-22 with 2:22 to go.
The Broncos carried that lead into the fourth quarter.
Wauneta-Palisade did a good job of closing the door on a comeback in the fourth quarter. They had timely stops, forced a turnover, and had touchdowns by Casey Walker to grow the lead and hang onto the win.
Wallace was led by the rushing tandem of Asthin Johns with 188 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown, and Ivan Aceves had 16 carries for 115 yards and two scores. Colt Franklin was 4-12 passing with 26 yards. Receiving, Conner Kennicutt had a catch for 13 yards, Aceves had two catches for 13 yards, Masen Messersmith had one catch for eight yards, and Johns had one catch for eight yards. They had 304 yards rushing as a team.
Kennicutt led the defense with 13 tackles and Johns and Jorge Valadez each had 12 tackles. Tyson Sullivan had 72 yards on five kick returns.
For Wauneta-Palisade, they had zero passing yards with only one attempt. They had the ground game going with 258 yards as a team. Kreyton Wiese had 190 yards rushing and four touchdowns. Case Walker added 29 yards and two scores. Grayden Sutherland had 31 yards on the ground.
Aden Acton was all over the field on defense with 21 tackles, 13 of those solo. Impressive. David Bryner and Sutherland each had 13 tackles, and Nathan Blackman and Casey Walker each had 12 tackles. Bryner and Wiese each had sacks.
Wauneta Palisade also had a fumble recovery from Wiese for a touchdown and Grayden Sutherland had an interception.
Wallace falls to 5-2 and will play at home against top-5 SEM at 6:00 P.M. CT on Thursday.
Wauneta-Palisade makes it now 3-4 and will play at Medicine Valley on Friday at 6:00 P.M. MT.
We caught up with Nathan Blackman after the game and got his thoughts. Postgame interviews are brought to you by Acme Printing Company.
Check out the highlights from the game brought to you by Praire Gilr Candle Company.
