For the last two years, Baldwyn has been the source of heartbreak for the East Webster Wolverines.
EWHS dropped a 10-7 ball game against the Bearcats in 2021 in double overtime and last year, EWHS fell 45-23 in the regular season. A second trip to Baldwyn that came in the playoffs sensed a change in direction in the series.
A young and banged up Wolverine team gave one of the North’s top teams a fright in a 21-20 loss in the first round. That confidence carried over to 2023 as the Wolverines got their revenge in a big way with one of the largest margins of victory in the series as EWHS went to Baldwyn and rolled last Friday night, 49-0.
Coach Ron Price’s team has been thinking of that game for 10 months. This one was extra sweet.
“We had just not been able to finish against them. We had played good at times, but we hadn’t been able to finish the game. All week, that was our motivation,” Price said. “We told our kids that we were going to find out how much we improved from the playoff game to this point of the season. I never would have imagined that we would have done that.”
EWHS had 335 yards of total offense as they dominated the Bearcats with the ground game and hit some passes when needed as well. Kaleb Warnock was 6-of-11 throwing the ball for 70 yards but he rushed for 100 yards and scored three touchdowns. Dee Bingham had nine carries for 75 yards and a touchdown and RT Moye had five for 55 with a score as well.
Briceton Johnson did is all for the Wolverines. The senior had two punt returns for touchdowns and had 95 yards on those two returns combined. He also had four carries for 35 yards and led the team with three catches for 33 yards. Johnson also had a kick return for 15 yards.
The key for the Wolverines in this game was delivering the first punch. EWHS would drive 70 yards on the opening drive to get one the board first with a touchdown from Warnock to take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. It was all EWHS from there.
The defense followed with a quick stop and Briceton Johnson’s electric ability would strike as he took a punt back 50 yards for the score and a 14-0 lead. Before the quarter ended, Warnock had a 12-yard touchdown run to make it 21-0 and the route was on for the Wolverines.
The scoring got rolling again for the Wolverines in the second half when Bingham broke off a 30-yard run for a score. Warnock scored for the third time in the game as he got in from a yard out and made it 35-0 heading into the fourth.
Johnson managed to get loose again on another punt return as he brought this one back from 42 yards and Moye would finish things off with a 40-yard run to end the ball game with that 49-0 score.
While the 49 points might stand out the most for the Wolverines, it was the defense that was again impressive. The team surrendered just 63 yards of total offense with 26 through the air and 37 on the ground on 22 carries.
Daygan Crowley had a big day with nine tackles and 4.0 tackles for loss. Prentiss Cork finished with four tackles, 3.0 TFL and 2.0 sacks and Mason McCurdy finished with seven tackles and 2.0 TFL.
“It’s a mindset that our kids have bought into. We struggled on that side of the ball last year finding an identity,” Price said. “They’re pursuing the football and for the most part when you play as hard as you can, you’re usually going to be in position to make a play.”
The win was a big one and a mountain that EWHS has been wanting to climb over the last two years. Now there’s another one in front of it this week.
The undefeated Calhoun City Wildcats come to town on Friday night and they have looked as dominant as they have in a few years. After winning just eight games the last two seasons, the Wildcats have outscored the first four teams 159-26.
CCHS has defeated the Wolverines 13 of the last 14 times, including 12-straight losses from 2010-2020. Most of those games weren’t competitive until the Wolverines had a 22-8 triumph two seasons ago. Last year, EWHS had chances to win back-to-back for the first time in 15 years but fell short 30-24. They have a chance at redemption and get them at home again this year.
“Every year we’ve had a slogan to motivate them against Calhoun City and this year it’s up to them to be able to take steps in the right direction,” Price said. “Last year we had a chance to win back-to-back games against them for the first time in a long time and we couldn’t do it. It really devastated our season. I want our kids to be hungry. Our seniors have a chance to have two wins over Calhoun City and that would be a big deal.”
