Clint McKnight
The Edmond North Huskies were looking to gain some momentum going into the playoffs next week and they got it in a big way Friday night, crushing the Westmoore Jaguars 43-0 at Wantland stadium on Senior night.
“I think this sends a message to the rest of the state, we’re not going to be pushed around by anybody,” senior defensive back Mitch Bertrem whose third quarter interception helped seal the victory, said of the Husky win.
The North offense had it rolling all night, Joe Aska had four of the Huskies touchdowns and ran for a total of 129 yards on the night and went over 1,000 yards for the season. Jared Benway added 46 more ground yards and also had a touchdown.
“You could really tell a difference in our offense tonight, Tyler Goodrich came back from injury and it really showed because our offensive line opened up some holes for us,” head coach Jeremy Dombek said.
Shutouts don’t occur without having stout defensive performances and North turned in one of their best defensive efforts of the season. In the first quarter a Camden Bohnert’s 65-yard punt backed the Jaguars up to their own goal line and the Huskies led by Colton Byford stood up Jaguar running back Brian Self for a safety that gave the North a 9-0 lead in the first.
The second quarter featured more defensive dominance and a nifty touchdown pass by the Huskies. With 4:52 remaining till the half quarterback Travis Townsend faked the hand off and rolled left and found a wide open Blake Gatewood who would take the ball the rest of the way for a 19-yard score. The Huskies led 15-0 at half.
The third quarter was a complete annihilation of Westmoore. The Huskies would score three touchdowns, all coming on Aska runs and it could have been more. Linebacker Virgil Walker would recover fumble with just seconds remaining in the third and return the ball all the way to the Jaguar 1. The following play the Huskies would cough up the ball on a fumble but the rout was already on as the Huskies were up big 36-0.
North’s final score was a beauty, in the fourth North got the ball on the Jaguar 38-yard line after a poor Westmoore punt. On the first play of the series Benway would take the handoff to the right and shake of three defenders before shaking free and racing down the sidelines for the score. The final stood at 43-0. Townsend would finish the game with 179 passing yards and one touchdown.
“We know whoever we play next week is going to be a huge challenge, that district over there is incredibly tough but we are feeling pretty good about ourselves, 8-2 is not bad,” Dombek said.
The playoffs start next week for the Huskies and they will travel to Lawton to take on the Wolverines.
