Beloit, OH -- Howland brought its best start since 2014 into Beloit on Friday night. It did not survive the first quarter. The Warriors buried the Tigers 34-0 in front of a home crowd at Clinton Heacock Stadium. Both teams walked in at 3-0. Only one walked out unbeaten, and that was West Branch.
Grady Hirst started it and
Damon Edwards finished it. Hirst had the game decided before the first quarter was over, punching in a 3-yard touchdown on the opening drive and breaking a 22-yard run three minutes later. He finished 16-for-21 through the air for 171 yards, added 89 on the ground, and accounted for three of the five West Branch touchdowns. Edwards took it from there. The Senior back kept the chains moving all night and owned the third quarter, running in scores from seven and 10 yards out inside of four minutes to push the lead to 34. In between, West Branch piled up 428 yards of offense, ran 34 times for 233 yards, and never punted.
First Half
West Branch did not waste any time. Hirst capped the opening possession with a 3-yard run at the 9:25 mark, Cruz Leone added the extra point, and the Warriors were up 7-0. Three minutes later Hirst found the edge and took it 22 yards to the end zone. Leone's kick made it 14-0 with 6:12 still on the first quarter clock.
The scoreboard went quiet through the second quarter, but the game never felt close. With 2:41 left before the break, Hirst hit Drake Stryffeler from six yards out for the only passing touchdown of the night. The extra point sailed wide, and West Branch took a 20-0 lead into halftime.
The defense had already made its point by then. Howland could not run the ball, could not stay on the field, and could not do much with it in the air either.
Second Half
The third quarter belonged to Edwards. He scored from seven yards out at 8:40, Leone's kick made it 27-0, and three minutes later Edwards took another one in from the 10. Leone was good again, and the game hit 34-0 with more than five minutes left in the quarter.
Nobody scored in the fourth. Howland got the ball back a handful of times and got nowhere with it, and the Warriors walked off with the shutout.
Offensive Highlights
- Grady Hirst went 16-for-21 for 171 yards and a touchdown, and added 89 yards and two scores on 11 carries
- Damon Edwards ran eight times for 53 yards and two touchdowns
- JJ Marra carried 10 times for 70 yards and added two catches for 35
- Drake Stryffeler led all receivers with six catches for 50 yards and a touchdown
- Landon Coffee hauled in five passes for 48 yards
- The Warriors rushed 34 times for 233 yards and finished with 428 total, 22 first downs, and zero punts
Defensive Highlights
What's Next: West Branch (4-0) hits the road next Friday to face Marlington (2-2) . Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
