BELOIT − Jeremiah Thomas threw five touchdown passes and rushed for one Friday while Boston Mulinix ran for 141 yards and two scores as West Branch rolled to a 64-0 victory over Minerva.
Anchoring both lines that helped lead to the Warriors’ first shutout of the season were seniors Dom Slimon and Cam Summers.
The two-year starters are 15-1 in regular-season contests.
“It’s a great feeling [but] our goals … are league and we’re looking to go farther into the playoffs,” said Slimon, who plays left tackle on offense.
Also triggering the offense were senior Brock Boyle at left guard, senior Hayden Martin at center, junior Gavin Hang at right guard and senior Jax Brooks at right guard.
Coach Tim Cooper said senior Zack Gorby, who’s has been recovering from an early injury, is the first substitute at tackle. Senior Gavin Heavener also sees action.
“They are always together,” Cooper said. “That’s a group that puts a lot of work in during the offseason. It’s all about cohesiveness, and they’ve been playing together a long time. They’re tough kids. They don’t always get the glory, but without them, we wouldn’t be as successful as we’ve been.”
Summers was a two-way starter as a junior. Cooper says the Warriors are blessed with talent, enabling them to use Summers only on defense to keep him fresh.
Summers admits it was “hard giving up offense, at first. But its [given me] a fresh, new start on defense.”
Slimon said it’s “a really good feeling” for the line when teammates break school records. Mulinix (touchdowns) and Joey Jackson (career receptions and receiving yards) did so earlier this season.
“Lots of people really don’t understand how we on the O-Line help out,” Slimon said. “It’s really good when [teammates] come up to you and say they couldn’t do it without you.”
The Warriors (6-0, 1-0 Eastern Buckeye) scored five touchdowns in the first quarter. Anthony Perry caught two scoring passes, Mulinix scored from the 16, and Joey Jackson and Cooper Anderson caught scoring passes.
The Lions (1-5, 0-1) lost quarterback Juian Dunbar to injury on their third offensive play. Timothy Kirkpatrick rushed for 39 yards on 14 carries while Ethan Weaver gained 29 yards on 11 tries.
Summers called the winning streak (15 consecutive regular-season games) “amazing."
"The atmosphere we have is just great," he said. "Even traveling, we have the community right behind us cheering us on.”
Summers said he’s always been on the line, while Slimon once spent time in the backfield. In middle school, Slimon said he “used to play quarterback and then I went to fullback.”
He became a lineman in junior high, admitting it was tough to give up a skill position.
“But it was one of those things where I was getting bigger, and the guys in my class were better than me. Once I got down there and started playing, I felt this is where I belong, with all the contact.”
Slimon says he and Summers click on defense.
“I can always look down the line and just give him a head nod, and if we have to [produce], either knows we can get it done,” Slimon said, “If a big play is needed, I know [he’s] the guy I know I can go to.”
Summers said he “loves the hitting, just being in the trenches."
“Not many people like to experience what we do on the line,” he said.
Summers said the linemen didn't care about the steady rain that fell during Friday’s first half.
“We love getting muddy − it’s amazing,” Summers said. ”We all just love being able to slide on the field.”
With a 57-point lead by halftime, most starters left the game in the second quarter. Slimon said it’s fun playing, but he doesn’t mind watching younger teammates.
“It’s honestly fun to watch the other kids go at it,” he said, “to see what they have to show.”
This article originally appeared on The Repository: OHSAA football scores | West Branch wins big again, remains unbeaten after EBC rout
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