FREDONIA — When Coach Logan Wyrick waded into a huddle of his players at game’s end Friday night, several mistakes they had made had him a bit frustrated.
Then, “I thought, we just won 36-7,” and it wasn’t time to dwell on miscues.
The Cubs’ defeat of the Yellowjackets was thorough, and, as often is the case in high school football, it could have been worse.
Example: Third down and six at the Fredonia 40 early in the second period.
Humboldt already led 14-0, and was on the verge — which it did later — of blowing the game open.
Hesston Murrow, back in harness after missing two games with a knee injury, was at his familiar slot calling signals. He took the ball, juked a step or two to his left, cut through a crease and then, as he has several times this year, set sail for 37 yards to the three-yard line.
The Cub sideline erupted, but then a yellow flag fluttering in a strong breeze that bathed the field throughout the game, wiped out Murrow’s sterling effort. A penalty moved the back back to near midfield and after an incomplete pass, Tucker Hurst boomed a high punt that left the Yellowjackets set up on their own 20.
With the way Humboldt’s defense played, far from an an anomaly this season, Fredonia’s chances of putting together a sustained drive were minuscule. Soon, the Cubs had the ball back.
A few minutes later Jacob Barker, who rushed 16 times for 102 yards, turned in his best effort of the evening, going 26 yards through the heart of Fredonia’s defense for a TD and a 20-0 Humboldt lead.
While a few hiccups did try Wyrick’s patience, there were several highlights, other than Baker’s mad dash to the end zone.
Humboldt’s first touchdown came on a 17-yard pass to the corner of the end zone, from Murrow to Colin Gillespie. A few minutes later Murrow darted in for the second Cub TD from four yards out.
At 20-0 Fredonia’s chances of coming back had all but evaporated, and if there was a question two quick touchdowns in the third period put the game on ice, and compelled the timekeeper to run the clock the remainder of the game.
The first of those TDs came on a laser from Kyler Allen, who filled in for Murrow during his injury and shared duties at quarterback Friday night, to Wyatt Seufert. It covered 31 yards.
Seven minutes later on a fake punt, at fourth and five, Dagen Goodner took a short pass from center, gave some indication of running a sweep but instead southpawed a nice pass to Brent Yost, who completed the 50-yard play with his feet flying.
THE VICTORY improved Humboldt’s record to 5-1 with three district games coming up, the first at Erie Friday night. Fredonia fell to 3-3.
Humboldt’s defense, which has been steady and often spectacular, befuddled Fredonia from the first minutes on.
