Despite some great defensive plays in the first half, Wichita Collegiate would win 35-8. (Eric Rinehart photo).

by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — The good news is, Wellington has probably completed its toughest two game stretch of the season. The bad news is Wellington has been outscored 81-8 in the past two ball games and went almost eight quarters without scoring.

Wellington would lose to Wichita Collegiate 35-8 on homecoming night. The Crusaders, 3-3, will now embark on the most important part of the season when they battle Rose Hill next week to start district play.

“They were the most physical team we’ve played this season,” said Tyler Ryan, Wellington head football coach. “But I’m not a moral victory kind of guy.”

This effort was better than the week before, but Wellington’s propensity to give up the big play has been a problem.

Offensively, Wellington could not sustain a drive.

Wellington played a good first half, giving up just two touchdowns, one of them coming off a trick play. But for the second straight game, the Crusaders fell apart to start the third quarter.

Before Wellington fans could settle into their seats, the special teams, who have been abysmal all season, opened the half with a fumble on what seemed to be a reverse. That turned a 13-0 lead into a 20-0 contest. After Wellington went three and out, Spartan Austin Waddell would scamper 56 yards for a touchdown and at the 9:43 mark of the third quarter, this game was pretty much over with Collegiate leading 28-0.

Collegiate would score thereafter on a Waddell to Nathan Burgoyne 81-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

The Crusaders broke a seven-quarter scoreless streak when Logan Jones scored on a 1-yard plunge with six seconds in the game.

Collegiate opened the game using chicanery when tailback Nathan Burgoyne threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Cody McNerney.

The Spartans would score on the next drive starting from the Wellington 31 and scoring thereafter on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Waddell to Cooper Root. If Wellington had one solace in this game, Collegiate never had a sustained drive. But giving up big plays are killing this team.

Connor Phelps had 84 yards on 23 carries.

For photo gallery of the football game of pictures by Eric Rinehart click here.

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