WILDCATS ROLL PAST ELL-SALINE

249 YARDS FOR HECOX – 3 SCORES FOR MODDELMOG

By Staff

BROOKVILLE – What a dynamic way to start the new Tyler O’Connor era for the Moundridge High football team as they went on the road and used a strong first half performance to score a 32-6 season opening win over Ell-Saline.

In the first quarter, the Wildcats put three scores on the board with Paul Grill opening up the rain of points on a 20-yard scoring run followed by a seven-yard scamper to the endo zone for junior quarterback Henry Hecox. Hecox finished up the early deluge of points by connecting with tight end Barrett Moddelmog, also a junior, for a 36-yard scoring pass play giving Moundridge a sizable 20-0 first quarter advantage.

When the second quarter played out, Hecox and Moddelmog connected two more times on scoring passes covering 11 and 24 yards. With Ell-Saline managing an offensive drive to get a one-yard score plunge in between the Wildcat scores, the teams went to the halftime break with Moundridge up 32-6.

For the game, Moundridge snapped the ball on offense 59 times and rang up 311 yards of which Hecox accounted for 249 with 148 yards passing and another 101 yards running the ball. The Wildcats made good on five of nine third-down conversions and had but one turnover.

Besides Hecox, other Wildcat offensive highlights came from Moddelmog who covered 103 yards on six pass receptions, Paul Grill ran for 40 yards on eight carries and Joaquin Huff ran for another 22 yards on four totes of the ball.

Defensively, Moundridge held Ell-Saline to 186 yards on 52 plays or just 3.5 per snap. Gill and Hecox led the Wildcats with a combined 16 tackles. Moddelmog recorded a pair of quarterback sacks with Braden DenHartog and Huff each getting one as well.

The Wildcats will look to continue winning next Friday when they make their 2023 season home debut against Bennington. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

MOUNDRIDGE WILDCAT FOOTBALL at Ell-Saline

SCORING: WILDCATS > 20-12-0-0 = 32; Ell-Saline > 0-6-0-0 = 6.

1st Quarter >

WILDCATS = Paul Grill on a 20-yard run (2-Point Conversion Failed) 6-0

WILDCATS = Henry Hecox on a 7-yard run (2-Point Conversion Good) 14-0

WILDCATS = Barrett Moddelmog on a 36-yard pass from Henry Hecox (2-Point Conversion Failed) 20-0

2nd Quarter >

WILDCATS = Barrett Moddelmog on an 11-yard pass from Henry Hecox (2-Point Conversion Failed) 26-0

Ell-Saline = Scored on a 1-yard run (2-Point Conversion Failed) 26-6

WILDCATS = Barrett Moddelmog on a 24-yard pass from Henry Hecox (2-Point Conversion Failed) 32-6

3rd Quarter >

No Points Scored

4th Quarter >

No Points Scored

TEAM STATS:

WILDCATS Ell-Saline

1st Downs 14 11

Plays/Yards 59/311 52/186

Passing Yards 148 39

Rushing Yards 163 147

3rd Downs Made 5/9 2/10

Total Turnovers 1 4

Fumbles Lost 0 4

Interceptions 1 0

Penalties/Yards 10/41 2/15

WILDCATS INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS:

Passing > Henry Hecox = 11/21 for 148, 3 tds, 1 interception.

Rushing > Henry Hecox = 19 for 101, 1 td; Paul Grill = 8 for 40, 1 td; Joaquin Huff = 4 for 22; Lane Durst = 1 for 0. Team Totals = 32 for 163 yards, 2 tds.

Receiving > Barrett Moddelmog = 6 for 103, 3 tds; Kaizer Kanitz = 4 for 33; Layton Schmidt = 1 for 12. Team Totals = 11 for 148, 3 tds.

Defense (tackles/Solo/Asst/Sack/For Loss) > Paul Grill = 9/1/8/0/1; Henry Hecox = 7/7/0/0/1; Layton Schmidt = 5/4/1/0/1; Kaizer Kanitz = 4/2/2/0/0; Fynn Burge = 3/3/0/0/0; Ben DenHartog 3/2/1/1/2; Barrett Moddelmog = 2/2/0/2/1; Joaquin Huff = 2/1/1/1/2; Lane Durst = 2/1/1/0/0; Keaton Anderson = 1/1/0/0/0.

(Staff covering events for the MAC AREA SPORTS NEW can be reached by email at macks.people.places@gmail.com )