By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Hayden kept its undefeated season and Class 3A district championship hopes alive with a 38-0 shutout win over Royal Valley Friday night at Hayden, controlling every aspect of the game.
On offense, the Wildcats punished Royal Valley through the air and on the ground. Defensively, its core group forced turnovers and managed to keep Royal Valley out of its territory more times than not. On special teams, Hayden didn’t allow any big plays to give the Panthers momentum.
Hayden sophomore standouts Jett Wahlmeier (7) and Jensen Schrickel (9) hooked up for four touchdown passes in Friday's 38-0 Wildcat win over Royal Valley. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Speci
Hayden junior Finn Dunshee breaks away for a long touchown run in the Wildcats' 38-0 district win over Royal Valley. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
“I thought we came out and executed well,” Hayden coach Bill Arnold said. “We were cleaner than we were last week. We tried to address some of the things we needed to fix this week in practice. I thought the kids brought the corrections from practice and brought it out to the field tonight.”
The Wildcats had a lot to play for on their Senior Night. With a win over Royal Valley, Hayden now faces Holton for the district championship next Friday at Holton.
“With the district championship on the line, we didn’t need much inspiration this week,” Arnold said. “We don’t have to do much to wake up for a Holton and Hayden district championship game.”
Before Hayden’s district championship date with Holton, the Wildcats had business to take care of against Royal Valley.
Hayden has historically picked apart Royal Valley in its gridiron contests. In the nine meetings between the two schools, Hayden has won all nine. The Wildcats have outscored Royal Valley, 380-52.
It was evident early on that the Wildcats were going to have their way again with Royal Valley on both sides of the ball.
It took Hayden approximately 1:11 to put the first points on the board. Hayden sophomore quarterback Jett Wahlmeier connected with sophomore Jensen Schrickel for the first touchdown of the game on a 26-yard dart to the end zone.
To add a little whipped cream on top, the 6-foot-5 280-pound Notre Dame commit, Joe Otting, ran it in for the 2-point conversion on a gigantic end-around sweep.
When the Wildcats earned the ball back, their offense capitalized quickly again. Schrickel would take a 61-yard run all the way to the Royal Valley 2-yard line. On the next play, Schrickel would receive a 2-yard pass from Wahlmeier.
Before the Panthers could look up, they were trailing a dominant Hayden squad, 14-0, with 6:37 remaining in the first quarter.
Royal Valley’s defense would come through for the first time of the night, forcing Hayden to punt near the beginning of the second. Hayden wouldn’t lose its confidence and stride, though.
The stellar defense from the Wildcats kept Royal Valley from scoring at its own 20-yard line after a big fourth-down stop from the Hayden secondary.
Hayden's standout running back Finn Dunshee would make quick work of the Panther defense. Dunshee would take it 64 yards to the house on a flashy run play. Hayden would have a 3-score advantage with 5:46 to go in the second quarter.
The Wildcats would put up its last touchdown of the first half with 2:22 left on the clock. Wahlmeier would find Schrickel one more time for a 78-yard touchdown pass on a quick-out.
“Jett (Wahlmeier) and Jensen (Schrickel) have made progress every week,” Arnold said. “They keep getting more comfortable out on the field. Jett’s been better now than he was earlier this season. (Jett)’s teammates have confidence in him. At the same time, he has the confidence in himself to step up and make the right reads.”
Hayden would lead 30-0 going into the halftime break.
Royal Valley would play a much improved third qua keeping Hayden scoreless.
The Panthers would come out with an 88-yard 6:28 drive to start out the third quarter. The drive would end at the 5-yard line, where Jude Konrade would strip the ball away from the Panthers.
Royal Valley would repay the favor by stripping the ball back from Hayden, creating a little bit of frustration for the Wildcats.
Konrade would make another sensational defensive play at the beginning of the fourth quarter with a strip sack to put the Wildcat offense in a solid spot.
Wahlmeier would allow Hayden to coast to the victory with his fourth touchdown pass to Schrickel from 25 yards out in the fourth quarter.
Next Friday, Hayden (6-0, 3-0) will travel to Holton (5-1, 3-0).
HAYDEN 38, ROYAL VALLEY 0
Royal Valley (1-5, 0-2) 0 0 0 0 – 0
Hayden (6-0, 3-0) 14 16 0 8 – 38
Hayden – Schrickel 26 pass from Wahlmeier (Otting 2-pt run is good)
Hayden – Schrickel 2 pass from Wahlmeier (2-pt conversion failed)
Hayden – Dunshee 64 run (Ridley 2-pt run is good)
Hayden – Schrickel 78 pass from Wahlmeier (Ridley 2-pt run is good)
Hayden – Schrickel 25 pass from Wahlmeier (Wahlmeier 2-pt run is good)
Individual statistics
Passing: Hayden – Wahlmeier, 10-12, 189 yards. Royal Valley – McKinsey, 3-4, 49.
Rushing: Hayden – Dunshee 6-103, Cummings 3-24, Schrickel 2-76, Rose 2-11, Desch 1-10, Wahlmeier 1-5, Colboch 1-3. Royal Valley – Shane 23-112, Stevens 7-6, Murata 6-17, Parks 6-5, King 3–0, McKinsey 2-(minus)-3.
Receiving: Hayden – Schrickel 5-147, Heinen 1-19, Rose 1-10, McGibboney 1-9, Colboch 1-3, Dunshee 1-1. Royal Valley – Bausch 1-24, Stevens 1-18, Geiger 1-7.
