Non-league football: W.F. West 35, Prairie 24

Prairie fell victim to the visiting W. F. West Bearcats on Friday night, 35-24.

While the Falcons defense was in pristine condition in the first quarter, the offense struggled to gain traction.

Prairie forced an interception and a fumble on W.F. West’s first two possessions, reaching the 1-yard line on its third trip down field. The Falcons surrendered their first of three fumbles on the following play, unable to cross the goal line.

After the score was tied 0-0 following the first quarter, the Bearcats charged 91 yards downfield and quarterback Elijah Johnson got the team on the board with a 1-yard run.

W. F. West would score on their next four possessions as well, including two passes from Johnson to Nathan Anglin and an 83 yard run from Austin Emery.

Trailing 35-0, Prairie refused to give in. Alec Gawley, Carson Slagle and quarterback Kevin Aguirre each had rushing touchdowns to cut the deficit to 35-24. But the Bearcats were able to run out the clock and claim the victory.

Aguirre nearly led the team in rushing and found six different receivers for 105 yards.

The Falcons defense held the opposing team’s offense to 56 total yards in the first quarter, but gave up 285 over the next three quarters.

W.F. WEST 35, PRAIRIE 24

W.F. West 0 14 21 0–35

Prairie 0 0 8 16–24

Second Quarter

WFW — Elijah Johnson 1 run (Cory Davis kick)

WFW — Austin Emery 83 run (Davis kick)

Third Quarter

WFW — Tanner Morang 1 run (Davis kick)

WFW — Nathan Anglin 8 pass from Johnson (Davis kick)

WFW — Anglin 50 pass from Johnson (Davis kick)

P — Alec Gawley 5 run (Kody Keyt run)

Fourth Quarter

P — Carson Slagle run (Gawley pass from Keyt)

P — Kevin Aguirre 20 run (Gawley pass from Keyt)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — W.F. West, Emery 8-140, Johnson 10-60, Anglin 7-26, Giovanni Corona 5-20, Ka’imi Henry 1-9, Brenden Spahr 1-2, Nole Wollan 1-2, Camden Bull 2-2, Morang 1-1, Gabe O’Neil 1-1. Prairie, Jacob Maddux 2-53, Aguirre 11-51, Kyle Schulson 4-41, Gawley 8-31, Henry Le 1-27, Slagle 7-21, Tyler Feeney 2-4, Lukas Daniel 4-2.

PASSING — W.F. West, Johnson 6-11-1-81. Prairie, Aguirre 9-14-0-105.

RECEIVING — W.F. West, Anglin 3-58, Garret Yarter 2-12, Hunter Fuchs 1-11. Prairie, Jaelen Stephen 3-44, Feeney 1-19, Schulson 1-17, Reuvim Ponomarenko 2-16, Keyt 1-6, Gawley 1-3.