One week after doing nearly everything right, Walker-Hackesack-Akeley couldn’t do anything right and turned the ball over four times in a 47-6 loss Friday night at Pillager.
The Huskies also blocked a punt for a touchdown, had a 90-yard interception return to set-up another touchdown and had two long returns that were turned into touchdowns.
The Wolves finished with 179 yards of offense with 152 of those coming in the first half with the starters in. The JV players played the second half and finished with 27 yards.
Elijah Cox had the biggest play with a 70-yard run early in the second quarter that set WHA up at the three-yard line. Four plays later Parker Brock found Caleb Crow open in the end zone for the touchdown.
Brock completed 8-13 passes for 90 yards including four to Gavin Oelschlager for 55 yards. Cox rushed for 70 yards on three carries and Easton Brovold had 22 yards on five carries.
On the defensive side, Anthony Fairbanks forced the only Pillager turnover - a second-half fumble - that Daniel Holt recovered.
Walter Reese led WHA with five solo tackles, Joseph Bieloh had four, and both Matthew Koch and Isaac Idstrom finished with two solos.
WHA also lost another starter to injury as senior Bieloh went down in the first half. He joins Karch Frazier, who is out for the season, and Blake Watson, who has missed a couple of games.
WHA took a gamble and decided on an on-side kick to open the game, and Cole Rutten executed it perfectly with TJ Orton recovering the ball, but an official ruled another Wolf touched the ball before it went the necessary 10 yards.
Four plays later Pillager scored on a 29-yard run by quarterback Christian Hooge for a 6-0 lead.
The Wolves were unable to move the ball, but the defense forced Pillager to a three-and-out.
WHA took possession at the 32, and thanks to Brock completing two passes to Oelschlager, one to Cox and a 15-yard roughing-the-passer penalty, WHA marched right down the field inside the 15. On second down, Dru Hutchinson stepped in front of the receiver and took the interception 90 yards to the five-yard line. On the next play Derek Hoglin scored for a 12-0 lead.
A second three-and-out by WHA led to another score by Pillager. The Huskies marched 66 yards in six plays with Grant Grimsley scoring on a 24-yard sweep around the left end.
WHA responded with a 75-yard scoring drive that got started with Cox’s 70-yard scamper to the three-yard line. Four plays later Brock and Crow hooked up for a seven-yard pass play.
Pillager used a long kickoff return to score again, and after a three-and-out by WHA, the Huskies took possession of the ball with a short field. Three plays later Grimsley connected with Justin Anderson on a 13-yard toss to extend the lead to 33-6.
WHA got horrible field position on the ensuing kickoff, and were forced to punt for the fourth time in the half. Hooge was able to bust through and block Rutten’s punt and recovered it in the end zone with 15 seconds left in the half.
The only touchdown scored in the second came late in the third quarter as Pillager capped a 41-yard drive on a six-yard run by Thomas Niggeler.
The Wolves’ JV squad did manage to move the ball inside the 10, thanks to the fumble recovery by Fairbanks at the 30. The drive ended with an interception just outside the goal line.
WHA’s Homecoming game this Friday is against Wadena-Deer Creek with kick-off at 6 p.m.
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