By: Joe Shouse, Sports Writer
Last Friday Wayne Trace managed to hit the win column with a convincing 50-6 shellacking of Hicksville. After dropping their first three nonconference match-ups the Raiders opened Green Meadows Conference competition with the lopsided win and the career first for Head Coach Matt Holden.
The Raiders opened up their scoring early in the first quarter when sophomore Nate Osborn intercepted a Hicksville pass and the Raiders began their scoring march from the Ace’s 42-yard line. A six-play drive ended when quarterback Cooper Wenzlick teamed up with Dylan Hildebrand for an eight-yard TD strike to get thee Raiders on the board. A Wenzlick extra point had the Raiders leading 7-0 midway through the first quarter.
On their next possession, the red, white, and blue began their second consecutive scoring drive at their own 44-yard line. The Raiders needed less than three minutes to widen their advantage when Wenzlick snuck through the Ace’s defense for an 11-yard touchdown run. The quarter closed out with Wayne Trace on top 13-0.
Following a Hicksville punt the Raiders began their first drive in the second quarter needing just four plays to find pay dirt. This time Wenzlick connected with Tucker Antoine on a one-yard toss to widen the Raider’s margin 20-0 with just over 10-minutes remaining in the first half. Hicksville would dent the scoreboard for their only points of the contest when Aaron Klima hooked up with Jackson Bergman on a 31-yard pass play.
However, the Hicksville score did not slow the Raiders down as Wayne Trace responded with two additional touchdowns before the break. The first score came on the ground with Kyle Slade sneaking in from nine-yards out with just under three-minutes remaining in the first half and WT in control 27-6. Just prior to halftime Wenzlick thrilled the homecoming crowd with a 29-yard field goal and a commanding 30-6 halftime lead.
Wayne Trace managed one more score in the third frame when Jared Pierce delivered on a scoring run covering 12-yards of real estate. The Raiders would enter the fourth quarter on top 36-6.
In the final period Martin Alejo put together a solid 32-yard scoring run to spark the Raiders while Trenton Thomas, a freshman, got in the scoring book on a one-yard score to seal the deal for the victorious Raiders. Cole Morehead, a freshman, capped off the scoring with the extra-point following both fourth quarter touchdowns.
Wenzlick finished the night with 130 yards passing on 12-25 while adding 56 rushing yards on three carries. Slade finished with 52 yards on the ground on 11 totes. Leading receivers for the Raiders were Antoine with seven receptions covering 71 yards and Hildebrand with three grabs for 26 yards. For Hicksville Aaron Klima threw for 165 yards on 13-34 while Jackson Bergman totaled 115 yards on seven receptions.
