KINNIKINNICK — Zane Trace controlled the ball in the second half on the way to a 20-7 win over visiting Westfall Friday night.
The Pioneers (5-1, 3-0) trailed 7-0 to start the second half, got the ball and began to run the ball down the field.
Seven running plays moved the Pioneers down to Westfall’s 27. An incomplete pass on second down was followed by a short gain to set up fourth-and-two. ZT’s Gunnar McCullough then connected with Mason Hartley for a 24-yard touchdown and Preston Lane’s kick tied the score.
Westfall’s first play of the next possession was a 17-yard run from Joey Wright and was Westfall’s only first down of the second half until the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
The Pioneers limited Westfall’s opportunities by possessing the ball for nearly 17 of the half’s 24 minutes.
ZT took the lead two minutes into the fourth quarter on a 29-yard run from Jayden Higgins and then capped its next possession with a 24-yard halfback pass from Higgins to Hartley.
Westfall grabbed the early lead when Quinn Eberly connected with Landen Sparks for a 38-yard touchdown with 3:31 left in the first quarter.
ZT hurt itself in the first half losing two fumbles and turning the ball over on downs inside the red zone.
A run-heavy second half helped the Pioneers to 261 yards on the ground – led by Brice Johnson who had 193 on 27 carries.
Westfall came into Friday’s contest averaging 298 yards on the ground, but ZT held the Mustangs to just 98 Friday. Eberly had 57 yards on 18 attempts.
Westfall (4-2, 2-1) returns home next week to host Adena (3-3, 2-1), which is coming off a 45-0 loss to Unioto.
Zane Trace 20, Westfall 7
By Quarters 1 2 3 4 F
Westfall 7 0 0 0 7
Zane Trace 0 0 7 13 20
First Quarter
WF — Landen Sparks 38 pass from Quinn Eberly (Carson Deskins kick), 3:31.
Third Quarter
ZT — Mason Hartley 24 pass from Gunnar McCullough (Preston Lane kick), 7:06.
Fourth Quarter
ZT — Jayden Higgins 29 run (Preston Lane kick), 10:06.
ZT — Mason Hartley 24 pass from Jayden Higgins (kick failed), 2:41.
TEAM STATISTICS
WF ZT
First downs 7 17
Rushing yards 30-98 48-261
Passing yards 65 55
Comp.-Att.-Int 5-13-1 3-7-0
Total yards 163 316
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 3-2
Penalties-Yards 5-40 5-70
Punts-Ave 3-38 1-27
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – Westfall — Joey Wright 10-38, Quinn Eberly 18-57, Eli Wright 1-13. Zane Trace — Gunnar McCullough 8-11, Brice Johnson 27-193, Hudson Williams 2-(-6), Mason Hartley 1-2, Jayden Higgins 10-61.
PASSING – Westfall — Quinn Eberly 5-13-1-65. Zane Trace — Gunnar McCullough 2-6-0-31, Jayden Higgins 1-1-0-24.
RECEIVING – Westfall — Joey Wright 1-3, Landen Sparks 2-42, Ayden Daniels 2-20. Zane Trace — Mason Hartley 2-24, Grady Stewart 1-7.
