Moore sparks Wampus Cats to win over Red Devils
CLARK FORK — If you were expecting one of those sixty-something to forty-something track meets that you often find in eight-man football, then you haven’t been paying attention to the 2015 Clark Fork football team.
With a big and physical front three, the Wampus Cats have been hanging their hat on defense and a power running game, and nothing changed when Noxon came to town for a rare Tuesday night nonleague football game in Clark Fork.
Bryant Moore returned the opening kickoff of the second half 80 yards for a score, then hauled in two touchdown passes from Wade Stevens, as the Wampus Cats (3-0) followed a similar script to last week, dominating the second half in a 26-6 win.
It was a short week for the Cats, who scored a 32-6 win over Tekoa, in a game that was also tied 6-6 at half.
“It was like deja vu. With three days between the games, we came out sluggish, not sharp. We weren’t running the right routes, weren’t sustaining blocks,” said Cats head coach Brian Arthun. “At halftime, we had a talk about taking over the second half, and we were able to control the line of scrimmage.”
For the third straight game, the Cats gave up just six points, almost unheard of in eight man football. Spencer Jeffres was almost un-blockable, blowing up gaps and registering seven tackles for loss. End Jensen Heisel had a pair of sacks and two tackles for loss, and Eich Anderson anchored both lines, in a smashmouth game that was played between the hashes.
Tyler Hammack finished with 105 yards on 23 carries, and freshman Dakota West had 101 on 18 totes, as the Cats moved the chains on the ground.
Wade Stevens continues to show great scrambling ability at quarterback, rumbling 18 yards for the Cats first score. He was also accurate on a lot of passes, which helps keep the defense honest.
Moore accounted for all three touchdowns in the second half, finishing with 115 yards on four catches. His kick return changed the tenor of the game, and he’s one of a host of playmaking underclassmen that represent a bright future for Cats football.
When you can move the chains with ground and pound, and your defense doesn’t give up big plays, no easy task in the eight man game, you’ve got a chance to be in any game.
“I like what we’re doing defensively, we just need to be more consistent offensively for four quarters,” said Arthun, whose team is gaining confidence. “We haven’t been 3-0 in quite a while, the kids are excited. It was a great win. We’ve got a bye this weekend, then a big league game in Lakeside.”
Clark Fork travels to Lakeside on Oct. 2 for a big White Star League tilt.
Noxon 6 0 0 0 — 6
CF 0 6 14 6 — 26
Nox — Jacob Mitchell 30 run (try failed).
CF — Wade Stevens 15 run (try failed).
CF — Bryant Moore 80 kick return (run failed)
CF — Moore 40 catch from Stevens (Stevens run)
CF — Moore 35 catch from Stevens (run failed).