Waynesfield-Goshen claims NWCC championship

WAYNESFIELD — Waynesfield-Goshen won the outright Northwest Central Conference for the fourth time with a 72-30 win over Ridgemont on Friday.

The last time the Tigers won the NWCC was 2009.

Waynesfield-Goshen turned a 22-22 tie in the first half into a route behind an offense that could not be slowed.

“The only thing that stops the offense is ourselves,” Waynesfield-Goshen coach Gary Spencer said. “We did it with a lot of different kids. The offense is based on what the defense gives us.”

The Golden Gophers (2-8, 1-4 NWCC) got on the scoreboard first. After a Waynesfield-Goshen onside kick started the game, Ridgemont drove 48 yards on nine plays. Junior quarterback Tyler Tillman dove in from one yard out for the score. A pass from Tillman to C.J. Castle for the conversion made the score 8-0.

The Tigers (7-3, 5-0 NWCC) answered with their first possession when Gabe Hennon scored from 4 yards out. The drive went 55 yards on 10 plays. Hennon tied the score at 8-8 when he converted the 2-point conversion.

The Tigers made it 14-8 on a nine-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Garret Miller to Eli Oleary. The 55-yard drive took five plays.

The Golden Gophers answered on their next play. After a penalty moved them back to the 40-yard line, Tillman connected with Castle for a 60-yard pass. Tillman dodged heavy pressure before finding a wide-open Castle, who sprinted down the sideline. The missed PAT tied the score at 14-14.

The Tigers struck back quickly on their next possession. After Hennon’s 35-yard run took the ball to the 15-yard line, Colton Miller finished the job with a 15-yard run around the left side. Miller’s PAT run made the score 22-14 at the end of the first quarter.

The Golden Gophers evened the score at 22-22 with 4:28 left in the first half. The 16-play, 86-yard drive culminated in a 12-yard run around the right side by senior Davante Ratleff.

The Tigers answered 1:43 later with a 20-yard pitch around the right side to Colton Miller. The sophomore went untouched to make the score 30-22 at the half.

“The coaches did a nice job of getting the kids understanding and moving people around,” Spencer said of the halftime adjustments.

Like a video game, the Tigers offense could do no wrong in the second half. They scored on six-straight possessions.

Waynesfield-Goshen struck on the second play of the second half on a 68-yard touchdown run by Miller. The signal-caller weaved his way through the Ridgemont defense on way to the end zone.

The Tigers extended the lead to 46-22 with 6:37 left in the third quarter after Hennon went in from three yards out. The six-play drive covered 32 yards.

Waynesfield-Goshen went with the big play on their next possession. Miller connected with Oleary for a 73-yard pass to put the Tigers up 54-22 and seal the NWCC championship.

“That’s (winning the conference) been the goal all along,” Spencer said. “Things worked out and we should be proud.”

Hennon scored his third touchdown and ran the score to 60-22 with 1:22 left in the third quarter on a four-yard run over the right side.

Senior Nathan Turner added his name to the scorebook with a four-yard run with 7:16 left in the game. Turner popped through the left side to make the score 66-22.

Turner is one of 10 seniors who finishes his regular season with the big win.

“They are a rare group,” Spencer said. “They like each other. They are a special group and I hate to lose them.”

Ridgemont cut the score to 66-30 with 6:56 left in the game on a 62-yard pass from Tillman to Castle who stiff armed his defender en route to the end zone.

On the ensuing kickoff senior Cody Baker returned the kick 78 yards to make it 72-30 with 6:41.

The Tigers started the night eighth in Division VI, region 24 and will await the OHSAA’s official announcement Sunday to see if they will keep their spot in the postseason.