Prep Grid Round-up ... Week 8: 'Cats fall to Westran, 47-22

[Order this photo]

SLATER -- The Slater football team has shoes filled with self-inflicted bullet holes following Friday's 47-22 Lewis and Clark Conference loss to visiting Westran.

Turnovers, ill-timed penalties and slipshod tackling combined to do in the Wildcats in their Class 1, District 9 opener. The opening kickoff was an example of the last error, senior Jared Hunt shaking off four defenders before he got started en route to a 75-yard touchdown return for the Hornets.

Slater answered with a nine-play, 71-yard drive that ended with a fumble at its opponent's 2-yard line, the first of three turnovers during the first period.

The 'Cats put the ball on the ground on their next possession, Westran taking over only 20 yards from pay dirt and covering that on the first snap, a pass from sophomore Tyler Hunt to sophomore Matt George.

Senior Jeremy Fizer's 31-yard dash set up his 5-yard touchdown run to put Slater on the board, but failure to convert a pair of fourth-down attempts late in the half allowed the Hornets to score twice during the final two minutes -- on 1-yard runs by junior Bryce Enyard and Tyler Hunt -- for a 27-7 lead.

Junior Cody Skinner connected with junior Chris Scott with a 51-yard toss on the 'Cats' opening drive of the second half, senior Derek Ballowe going in from 2 yards out, but George caught a 33-yard pass and Tyler Hunt found Jared Hunt in the end zone from the 6 to make it 33-14.

A 20-yard catch and 5-yard run by Enyard and Jared Hunt's 37-yard breakaway capped the scoring for Westran (6-2, 2-1 L&C, 1-0 District 9), which was led by Tyler Hunt's 199 passing yards.

Slater (3-5, 0-3, 0-1) tacked on its final points late in the game, Fizer's 22-yard run leading to Ballowe's 2-yard plunge across the goal line.

Skinner ran for 115 yards and passed for another 110 for the 'Cats, who play Friday at seventh-ranked Fayette -- which was upset by Salisbury, 27-16.

Sweet Springs 51, Northwest 0

SWEET SPRINGS -- Sweet Springs' unrelenting ground attack and suffocating defense were too much for winless Northwest of Hughesville, the Greyhounds chugging out 299 rushing yards Friday to win their Class 1, District 8 opener, 51-0.

Junior Tyler Armstrong began the onslaught with a 65-yard punt return three minutes into the game and senior Blake Vogelsmeier finished an eight-play, 52-yard drive with a 2-yard dive. Short fields allowed Sweet Springs to score on a 4-yard run by junior Aaron Schlatweiler and 12-yard rambles by junior Tyler Dohrman and senior Tyler Rennison before the first half ended.

Armstrong broke off a 65-yard run early in the second half, with senior lineman Nick McKeage getting a rare carry for a 1-yard TD.

The Mustangs (0-7, 0-1 District 8) were limited to one first down and lost yardage on 21 of 31 rushing attempts for a net of minus-11 yards.

Five different ball carriers gained 40 or more yards for Sweet Springs (5-3, 1-0), which travels to No. 2 Tipton on Friday.

Wellington 36, Santa Fe 0

ALMA -- Junior Cody Banner scored three touchdowns Friday as Wellington-Napoleon won a 36-0 I-70 Conference shutout over Santa Fe in the Class 1, District 10 premiere.

After a safety on a bad punt snap put the Tigers ahead two minutes into the game, Banner scored on a 1-yard run. Junior Caleb Kropp threw a pair of touchdown passes, 49 yards to sophomore Blake Seitz and 17 yards to Banner, with a 63-yard punt return by junior Christian Nixdorf in between.

Banner's 16-yard run was the only scoring of the second half.

Kropp completed nine of 12 passes for 167 yards to pace Wellington (6-2, 4-1 I-70, 1-0 District 10).

The Chiefs only gained 113 yards in total offense, sophomore Ross Tieman passing for 47 yards. He also led the defense with 10 tackles, nine solo.

Santa Fe (2-6, 1-4, 0-1) will be on the road Friday to take on I-70 rival Concordia.