You just had a feeling that the Webster County Trojans might have had October 28 circled on their schedule after what happened against the Fort Campbell Falcons last season. Whether they did or not is up for question, but either way, the Trojans made sure that history did not repeat itself Friday night in Dixon.
Webster County scored 22 unanswered points to end the first half and take control of their game with the Falcons on their way to a 42-22 Homecoming and Senior Night win for the Trojans. The Trojans were dominant on the ground, racking up 421 yards on 61 carries.
The win ended a nine-game losing streak to Fort Campbell for Webster County, including avenging last season’s 36-34 win by the Falcons, which was their only win of the season in their last game of the season against the Trojans at Fryar Stadium.
The night started off on the wrong foot for Fort Campbell. The Falcons took the opening kickoff and were moving down the field when Darin Frederick was picked off at the Webster County 18-yard line.
The Trojans took the ball and drove 82 yards down the field, capping off the drive with a four-yard touchdown run from Trent Lieske that gave Webster County a 7-0 lead with 5:53 to go in the opening quarter.
The Falcons responded with a long drive of their own on the ensuing possession. Starting on their own 40, the Falcons took nearly seven minutes to go sixty yards. Keshawn Dixon scored on a one-yard run on fourth down and, with the two-point conversion, Fort Campbell was up 8-7 with 11:08 to go in the half.
Then lightning struck for the Trojans. Webster County entered the game with five kickoff returns for touchdowns, and now that number is six. Sylas Gunn took the kickoff after the Falcon score and ran it back 70 yards to quickly put Webster County back in the lead at 15-7. It almost came completely undone for Fort Campbell moments later as the Trojans recovered an onside kick. However, the Falcons were able to stem the tide temporarily as Webster County fumbled the ball right back to the Falcons.
After a Falcon punt, the Trojans went on a 68-yard drive that included a big fake punt and was finished off with a 13-yard touchdown run from Jackson Edens. The score extended the Webster lead to 22-8 with 4:54 til half.
Webster County got the ball back just over two minutes later and quickly moved down the field on a 60-yard drive. Aden Young finished it off with a five-yard score to send the Trojans into the break with a 29-8 lead.
Gunn and Lieske each added a one-yard touchdown run in the first ten minutes of the second half to run the lead out to 42-8.
But give the Falcons their due. Just when they could have packed it up and headed home, they avoided the running-clock rule with two big plays. Amari Waddy caught a 61-yard touchdown pass from Darin Frederick and Maurice Moore returned a punt 84-yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to 42-22 with 3:11 to go, but that would be as close as the Falcons could get.
Fort Campbell finished the night with 237 total yards, 72 rushing and 165 passing. Webster County had 430 total yards, 421 of it on the ground. The Trojans had 24 first downs to the Falcons’ 8.
Darin Frederick was the leading rusher for Fort Campbell with 4 carries for 41 yards. Frederick was 12-23 through the air for 165 yards and a touchdown. He was picked off twice. Amari Waddy was the leading Fort Campbell receiver with three catches for 72-yard and a score.
The Trojans had a three-headed ground attack. Jackson Edens had 105 yards and a touchdown. Aden Young had 103 yards and a touchdown. Trent Lieske finished with 94 yards and two scores.
Fort Campbell finishes the regular season at 4-6. The Falcons head to Owensboro next Friday night to open the Class 2A playoffs against Owensboro Catholic.
Webster County also ends the regular season at 4-6. The Trojans open the Class 3A playoffs next Friday on the road at Casey County.
