The West Central Trojan football team had a 20-7 lead in the fourth quarter, but the Lennox Orioles scored two times converting both extra points to steal a 21-20 victory from West Central in Lennox on Friday, August 27th.
The Trojans scored two times in the first quarter. Justin Zirpel had a 33-yard touchdown run just 57 seconds into the game, but the extra point attempt was no good. The second score came on a 55-yard interception return for a touchdown by Owen Heath with 3:29 to go in the quarter. The two-point conversion was good, and West Central led 14-0 after the first quarter.
Lennox got a score late in the second quarter on a 75-yard touchdown reception by Steven Christion from Braeden Wulf with 2:58 in the half. The extra point was good by Ethan Eli. That was the only score of the second quarter, and West Central held a 14-7 lead at halftime.
After a scoreless third quarter, the fourth quarter was full of excitement. Zirpel found the endzone for the second time in the game after a six-yard run with 6:14 to play in the game. The extra point was no good, but the Trojans led 20-6. Wulf connected with Jackson Arlt on a 19-yard pass for a touchdown, and Eli made the extra point to cut the lead to 20-14 with 2:29 to play. Lennox forced West Central to punt and got the ball back with 1:56 left in the game. Lennox got the ball to their own 48-yard line, and then Wulf and Christion connected again for 52 yards for a touchdown with just :39 left in the game. Eli made another extra point, proving to be the game winner. The Trojans had a couple of chances to win the game from the 50-yard line, but the final pass play was incomplete.
West Central finished with 218 yards of total offense, 131 passing yards and 87 rushing yards. Zirpel had 23 carries for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Gavin Koch was 10-20 passing for 131 yards and an interception. Braden Dierickx had four catches for 76 yards.
The Trojans (0-1) will host Belle Fourche on Friday, September 3rd.