By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Nothing came easy for Topeka West in Friday night's home United Kansas Conference matchup with Kansas City-Turner, but Charger coach Trey Parker wouldn't have expected anything different.
Topeka West celebrates its first win of the 2024 season, a 32-20 decision over Kansas City-Turner Friday night at Hummer Sports Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson]
And although the game between two teams who were looking for their first win of the season was still in doubt until the final two and a half minutes, Parker's Chargers found a way to crack into the victory column, riding a big night from sophomore running back Damon Webb to take a 32-20 victory at Hummer Sports Park.
Now 1-5 overall and in the UKC, Topeka West had to overcome some missteps along the way, including having a touchdown called back and just under 100 yards in penalties, but the Chargers persevered for the breakthrough win.
"We're just grateful for it, but I was just saying a minute ago, it's the epitome of Topeka West,'' Parker said. "We've got good stuff going and then we take five steps back.
"And that's on and off the field, but I hope this is a precursor of what's to come for us down the road, that we fight through adversity and we know how to fight and finish and win.''
Parker said it made him feel good to be able to see the Chargers celebrate after a win.
"Like I said before, this is what we do it for,'' he said. "Obviously you want to win, but when these guys put in so much work I'm just happy that they get to see the fruits of their labor at the end of the day.
"It's been a rough season to this point and we know it's not over, but this brings that joy back to get us through the rest of the year.''
Topeka West coach Trey Parker congratulates Damon Webb (left) and Emmanuel Newman after Friday's 32-20 UKC win over KC-Turner. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Webb was catalyst for the Chargers, finishing his career-best night with 192 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries while freshman quarterback Josiah Wilke threw for 107 yards and a touchdown.
Both teams moved the ball in the first half, but the score remained scoreless until Wilke found senior Alesecio Batson for a 28-yard touchdown strike at the 1:33 mark of the second quarter.
The Chargers were pushed back 15 yards for their extra-point attempt after being whistled for a dead-ball personal foul after the score and missed the extra point, but West went to halftime with the 6-0 advantage.
West had a 24-yard Treyvion Barr touchdown run wiped out by a penalty early in the thrid quarter and ended up turning the ball over on downs.
But the Chargers forced a turnover by Turner (0-6, 0-5) off a sack by senior Eadrian Cooper and returned the ball to the Bears' 32-yard-line, setting up Webb's first TD of the night on a 4-yard run with 3:53 left in the third quarter (run failed) to give West a 12-0 advantage.
"I was trying to get (Webb) to play football last year and he finally came out this year and I told him, 'Kid, you're a stud,' and he's finally starting to come into his own,'' Parker said. "We're just proud of the progression he's making in his first year playing high school football and we don't know what's to come for him.''
Parker also had praise for Wilke, who has taken over as West's full-time quarterback.
"That's the thing we love about him, he keeps his composure under any circumstances,'' Parker said. "When guys in the huddle are saying this is going on and that they look to him and he's 15 years old and he tells them, 'Hey, calm down, relax.' ''
Turner fought back to get within 12-6, 18-14 and 24-20 with 5:03 remaining but Topeka West finally put the Bears away with a 17-yard Webb run and Barr 2-point conversion with just 2:37 remaining.
Turner senior George Erickson rushed for 114 yards on 11 carries, including a 62-yard touchdown run.
Topeka West will return to action next Friday with a UKC road game at Leavenworth.
TOPEKA WEST 32, KC-TURNER 20
Turner (0-6, 0-5) 0 0 6 14 -- 20
Topeka West (1-5, 1-5) 0 6 6 20 -- 32
Topeka West -- Batson 28 pass from Wilke (kick failed)
Topeka West -- Webb 4 run (run failed)
Turner -- Sanchez 30 run (run failed)
Topeka West -- Barr 27 run (pass failed)
Turner -- Byrd Jr. 2 run (Castillo run)
Topeka West -- Webb 8 run (pass failed)
Turner -- Erickson 62 run (run failed)
Topeka West -- Webb 17 run (Barr run)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing -- Turner: Erickson 11-114, Byrd Jr. 13-68, Estes 12-46, Sanchez 4-48, Castillo 4-30, Crawford 1-(minus)-3. Topeka West: Webb 17-192, Cosey 8-74, Barr 3-45, Berg 2-16, Newman 1-(minus)-1, Wilke 2-(minus)-9, Munganga 1-(minus)-1, Team 2-(minus)-2.
Passing -- Turner: Castillo 3-5-0, 43 yards. Topeka West: Wilke 10-18-1, 107.
Receiving -- Turner: Crawford 2-27, Erickson 1-16. Topeka West: Batson 3-47, Munganga 3-31, Berg 2-24, Barr 2-5.
Punting -- Turner: Adams 1-3.0.
