A smothering defense that lived in the West Fork backfield and held the Tigers to negative 45 yards led the Bearcats to a 45-0 pounding of West Fork at Tiger Stadium last night.
West Fork actually gained nine yards on their first play of the night but had only two more plays of positive yardage in the first half and was at minus 57 yards at halftime.
Figuring into the setbacks were a couple of issues in punt formation that saw big losses with fumble recoveries that twice gave the Bearcats (5-0, 2-0 Conference 3A-1) the ball inside the Tiger 5-yard line.
There were also seven sacks by the Bearcats, resulting in 52 yards in losses. Getting in on the sack parade were Xander Miller with two, Zaine Penny with 1.5, Clayton Green with one, and Hunter Warren, Triton Halpain, Brody Chambers, Raygon Harger, and Carson Miller with 0.5 each.
After the Tigers were forced to punt on their first possession, a penalty on the return pushed the Bearcats back to their 36-yard line for their first possession.
It would be the worst starting field position of the night.
Three carries by Warren later it was 8-0. Warren got the touchdown on a run of 35 yards and Rhett Nietert kept for the two-point conversion.
Seth Wilson (64, shown) recovered a fumble with the Tigers in punt formation and the Bearcats were only 4 yards away from more points.
A false start pushed them back but seven yards from Nietert and a 2-yard Warren score made it 16-0.
Conner Lentz ran for the two-point conversion.
Conner Droemer’s only carry of the night went for 54 yards and a touchdown with 6:00 to play in the first half and Warren ran for a two-point conversion to make it 24-0.
Green’s first sack forced another Tiger punt formation, which was a disaster for the Tigers resulting in another Wilson recovery of a loose football at the West Fork 1.
Chase Shelton ran for a touchdown the next play and Lentz ran for the two-point conversion and it was 32-0.
Lentz ran 44 yards for a touchdown 39 seconds into the second half and Oliver Loaeza came on to try the extra point.
The try was wide left but Loaeza was true on his second attempt on what would be the final play of the third quarter to make it 45-0.
The try came after Loaeza also ran 2 yards for a touchdown, which was set up by Green recovering a fumble.
The Bearcats will be home next week hosting Greenland. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be
streamed live on www.boonevillebearcats.com.
