Young Wolfpack finishes "building year" with loss to Coyotes

 

November 4, 2021

-Chronicle photo

Wolfpack Kason Fortune (6) snagged a pass from Monte Pettichord (not pictured) that had been tipped by his defender, and he broke for daylight, outrunning defenders to the goal line for an 89-yard Dayton-Waitsburg touchdown as the clock ticked to zero ending the first quarter. Undefeated Columbia went on to win 55-14, ending DW's season with its sixth straight loss.

WAITSBURG–The 2021 football season was a building year for the Dayton-Waitsburg Wolfpack and Head Coach Troy Larsen is anticipating next year with plans for plenty of weight-room sessions and the addition of a sizeable eighth grade contingent to boost the program's fortunes in 2022.

Last Friday the DW Wolfpack football lost to league-leading Columbia-Burbank 55-14, ending the season with a 1-6 overall, 0-5 EWAC record.

The young team will lose just three to graduation: kicker/wide receiver/defensive back Hunter Berg, receiver/defensive back Brayden Mohney and 6-1, 235-lb. offensive/defensive lineman Theo Anderson, each of them sidelined with injuries for this final game.

Seven juniors and nine sophomores will move up a click with this season's experiences under their belts, plus a phalanx of eighth graders, players in the Middle School football program, will contribute their football experience and size to Wolfpack football.


"Of the 28 original kids who turned out," Larsen said, "only eight had played for us before. Twenty were new to not only our program, but to football as a game." Larsen said his coaching staff learned that these players didn't have a grasp of basic terms such as zone, man-to-man or line of scrimmage–but they caught on fast.

As the season progressed, the team as a unit developed, but not without some hard knocks. We love to get down in a hole and realize that we can play with the team," Larsen observed. "We've got to build up our confidence."

Going into last Friday's game, DW was at a disadvantage against the league-leading Coyotes. The Wolfpack was missing four starters due to injuries from the previous week, and another starter was injured in pre-game warm-ups, Larsen said.


"Without our two starting defensive ends, Columbia took advantage of the edges and ran to five first-quarter touchdowns," Larsen said.

The offense sparked fans' excitement with an 89-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Monte Pettichord to junior receiver Kason Fortune. The Columbia defender moved in to intercept or block Pettichord's pass, tipped it up as he fell, and Fortune caught the ball and raced to the Coyote end zone as time expired in the first quarter.

"This play showed our young Wolfpack team we can compete with anyone," Larsen noted.

Hudson Reser had 28 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown, and Pettichord made four runs for 26 yards.

Pettichord thre for 227 yards on 8 of 14 passes and the touchdown to Fortune.

Cyson Morris caught three passes for 90 yards and Lucas VanHoose caught two for 21 yards.

"Monte is the focus of every defense," Larsen said, "and nothing has come easy for him this year. DW is very lucky to have a student-athlete like Monte. He is doing everything right to make DW football better, on and off the field."

Larsen praised Morris for his three catches and 90 yards. "What is more important was his leadership on the field, blocking to the whistle and taking over the kickoff return responsibilities," Larsen said.

Columbia 55, DW 14

DW 8 0 6 0-14

CB 34 21 0 0-55

 
 

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