The West Central Trojan football team had their three-game winning streak come to an end in the final regular season game on Thursday, October 22nd. The Trojans lost on the road to the Canton C-Hawks 12-7.
Canton scored on their opening possession of the game that lasted four and a half minutes. Seth Peterson threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Payton Eben with 7:38 to play in the opening quarter. The extra point was no good, and Canton led 6-0.
The Trojans took a small lead in the second quarter. Justin Zirpel scored on a four-yard touchdown run. The extra point was good, and West Central led 7-6. The score remained 7-6 at halftime. Neither team would score in the third quarter as well, and the Trojans maintained a 7-6 lead heading into the final quarter.
The Trojans looked as if they were going to put the game out of reach as they had the ball inside the Canton 10-yard line late in the fourth quarter. Canton’s defense was able to make a goal-line stand and forced a turnover on downs on their own one-yard line with about two minutes to go in the game. The C-Hawks were able to convert on a fourth down on the ensuing offensive drive to keep hopes alive. With :19 to go in the game, Peterson and Eben connected again on a touchdown pass to get the come-from-behind win.
Zirpel was 2-2 passing for 53 yards. Derek Eidsness had both of those catches. Zirpel also had 20 carries for 91 yards and a touchdown. Ryan Healy had 21 carries for 81 yards. Eidsness also had nine carries for 53 yards.
West Central finishes the regular season with a 5-4 record. The Trojans will be the #3 seed in the 11A playoffs and will host the #6 Dell Rapids Quarriers on Thursday, October 29th.