It would be touted as one of their toughest meetings of the season when discussing Wetmore versus Waverly in district competition, and it did not disappoint. The Cardinals met the Waverly Bulldogs in week six on the road, Friday, Oct. 7, with huge ramifications in the six-man divisional play on the line for both teams. The Bulldogs were 5-0 on the season, but Wetmore was ready to play the spoiler.

The Cardinals filed the first points of the game when senior quarterback Dierk Hanzlicek punched into the end zone from six yards out to make the score 6-0. Waverly answered in the frame with an eight-yard burst to paydirt and tie the score at 6-6 at the end of the first.

Wetmore gave up a pick six in the second quarter to give the Bulldogs the slight advantage, but senior receiver Jacob Carls hauled in a 10-yard reception for a score from fellow senior Kyler Wommack in the frame, with a Wommack PAT, to cinch up the gap and give Wetmore the advantage. Carls had a second touchdown reception before the half, and the Bulldogs scored again before the break on a long pass play. The score at halftime stood at Wetmore 20, Waverly 18.

The third quarter was a defensive showdown, but the Bulldogs were able to capture the lead in the period with a nine-yard pass reception touchdown to make the score 26-20.

Carls had his third score of the night in the fourth period when he jumped the route and rambled into the end zone to tie the score at 26 apiece. Waverly regained the lead once again with rushing touchdown and led 32-26 over the guests late in the game. Hanzlicek helped the Cardinals tie the score with a one-yard plunge to knot everything at 32.

However, Bulldogs had the possession towards the end of the night and managed to seal the victory with an 11-yard receiving touchdown in the closing ticks of the contest. Wetmore fell to their hosts 38-34 on the road to mark their first District loss of the season.

“It was a well fought battle against a good team,” said Head Coach Miles Hanzlicek. “We had too many mental mistakes [penalties] that cost us. Our passing game looked good with Wommack and Carls connecting for a lot of yards. We need to keep working on our pass defense.”

The Cardinals will suit up again and focus on their next opponent in the District One playoffs when they host the 3-1, 3-3 overall, Lost Springs-Centre Cougars on Friday, Oct. 14.