McKitrick, Wenger rumble for 300+ yards in 48-7 win

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No one wants to lose the homecoming game. There are dozens of former players and school alumni in the stands. The homecoming king and queen stroll onto the field at halftime. There is both pomp and circumstance.

It was only fitting, then, that the Western Panthers mauled the visiting Tipton Blue Devils on Sept. 12, ensuring a 48-7 win and sending the home crowd home happy.

The game was put out of reach almost before it began. Western drove down the field on its first possession, scoring on a 25-yard run from senior tailback Matt McKitrick.

Tipton answered with its only points of the evening by executing an end-around that had junior wideout Dakota Garmon hurling the ball downfield to a waiting Izayah Mahaney. The senior receiver found the endzone at the end of the trick play for a 70-yard TD.

After that, it was all Western, all the time. McKitrick took a handoff from senior quarterback Levi Shoemaker for a 35-yard score on the next possession.

Tipton immediately surrendered the ball with a fumble on its next drive, setting up Shoemaker with an easy four-yard scoring run. The quarterback scored again on Western's next possession, this time with a two-yard push.

The score was 28-7, and the hot dogs at the concession stand weren't even warmed up yet.

With no reason to take risks, Western stayed on the ground for the balance of the game. In fact, Shoemaker only put the ball in the air once the entire evening, connecting with McKitrick for 19 yards.

But playing one-dimensional football didn't hurt the Panthers in the least. McKitrick ate 169 yards on 19 carries, but often gave way to junior Eli Wenger, who was every bit as successful against a battered Blue Devil defense. Wenger finished with 149 yards on 12 carries, including a 93-yard blaze downfield late in the game.

Wenger and senior rusher Brennin Walters each scored on short runs for the Panthers during the game to account for the balance of the scoring.

Tipton absorbed the homecoming punishment as best as it could. Sophomore quarterback Quinn Tolle managed to complete 10 of 18 passes for 117 yards. But there was no room to run for the Blue Devils, who managed just 46 yards on the ground.

In addition to Mahaney's trick play reception, Garmon hauled in five receptions for 72 yards.

There were a couple bright spots within the Tipton defense crew, as senior Chace Hussey recorded 11 tackles, and sophomore managed 10 tackles.

With the loss, Tipton falls to 2-2 on the season and looks to re-enter the win column on the road against Rensselaer Central (3-1) on Fri., Sept. 19. Western improved to 3-1 and hosts Hamilton Heights (1-3) on Friday.

See additional photos from this contest, including galleries for each team, courtesy of Adam Hartsough, on the Lantern's Facebook page or group.