Oct. 27, 2017

WARDSVILLE, Mo. --- The Wright City Wildcats came to Wardsville with a bit of a chippy attitude.

They wanted to make it one of those games, it was clear.

Well, this was not a good idea. Or, call it a Wrong move by the folks from the City of Wright.

Because these Blair Oaks Falcons reflect the attitude of their head coach, Terry Walker. Who happens to a 22-year Air Force veteran, retiring with a rank of Lt. Colonel.

So it was no surprise that the Falcons were happy to go toe-to-toe and nose-to-nose with the Wildcats.

In a physical game with several borderline late hits --- and some that crossed the border --- Nolan Hair threw for 367 yards and four touchdowns as the Falcons knocked out the Wildcats 72-26 in the Class 3 District 6 semifinals Friday night at the Falcon Athletic Complex.

This is not to say the Wildcats (6-5) didn't land their share of body blows in this bout, because they did. Just not nearly enough of them.

The 26 points ties the highest total the second-ranked Falcons (11-0) have allowed this season, and it's 17 points above their season average of points allowed.

Having said that, the outcome was never in doubt, because this was a season-high in points scored by Blair Oaks --- not surprisingly --- and 40 points above its season average.

Blair Oaks --- now 34-0 in regular season and district games in three years under Walker --- led 24-12 after one quarter and 40-12 at the half, when the Falcons held a 335-180 edge in total yards. Of those 180 yards for Wright City, 112 came on pair of long touchdown passes by Sean McDonald.

The margin was 48-26 entering the fourth quarter, which featured a running clock --- high school football's version of a technical knockout --- in the final 9 minutes, 42 seconds.

McDonald finished with 298 yards through the air and four touchdowns, two of those going to Devon Holmes. But in the end, all it did was keep the Wildcats within 46  points.

For the Falcons, who will host the Mexico Bulldogs (8-3) for the district championship at 7 p.m. next Friday:

^ Ben Thomas pulled in touchdowns tosses of 11, 32 and 12 yards;

^ Marcus Edler had a 25-yard scoring reception;

^ Brayden Pritchett rushed for 88 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown scamper;

^ Carson Prenger returned an interception 35 yards for a score, which was the final score of the night;

^ and Hair backed up his big passing night (he completed 26-of-36)  by rushing for three touchdowns, all on one-yard runs. That means the multi-talented junior quarterback accounted for a staggering seven touchdowns on the night.

Next up on the Blair Oaks "fight" card is a date with the Bulldogs, who advanced with a 33-31 win over Southern Boone. Earlier this season, the Falcons beat the Eagles 30-7.

Will the Bulldogs come out swinging?

We'll see.

Blair Oaks junior running back Brayden Pritchett looks for running room during the second quarter of Friday night's game with Wright City at the Falcon Athletic Complex.

Loeffler's Link

Behind big night from Hair,

Blair Oaks knocks out Wright City