Wellington rolls to 46-24 victory over Labette, Bannister ties school-record for touchdowns in a game
Skylar Branam scored on a 25-yard touchdown pass in the first half. He had two of them Friday. (Photos by Eric Rinehart)
By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — The Wellington football team made it six straight against the Labette County Grizzlies 46-24 in its first home game of the season.
Dusty Bannister
Wellington quarterback Dusty Bannister tied a school record for most touchdown passes in a game. He threw for five, tying Trevor Nance’s record against Clearwater in 2014. In an interesting twist, Nance was taking the game stats tonight for the Crusaders.
Wellington, which improved to 2-2, accumulated 494 yards in total offense, almost doubling its opponents’ offensive output of 251.
The Crusaders never trailed and had this game pretty much in control throughout the second half. There were 13 players who got their hands on the ball for the Crusaders. Wellington had no turnovers.
Yet, for all that went right for Wellington on Friday, enough went wrong to make any Crusader fan cringe.
Wellington remains a penalty magnet, getting more than 100 yards for the second consecutive game. Also, the Crusaders have the propensity to give up the big play. Wellington gave up touchdowns of 13, 59, 37, and 43.
The Crusaders broke out the pewter gray uniforms to go with their red helmets. Whether it was a good move away from old uniforms is in the eyes of the beholder.
Carter Burnett with the game-opening touchdown reception.
Wellington wasted no time getting on the board with Bannister connecting Carter Burnett on a 26-yard corner route on the third offensive play of the night.
Labette roared back with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Kendall Holtzmann to Barrett Hestand to make it 7-6. Labette scored four times but could never get a point after.
Wellington again drove the length of the field, and Nick Giefer, who finished with 155 yards, scored on a 6-yard run. It looked like one of those games where the score could get into the 50s.
The Crusaders added two touchdown pass receptions to its repertoire – a Burnett 18-yard and Skylar Branam 25 TD score.
Labette narrowed the margin to a touchdown when speedy sophomore back Jamall Jackson scrambled for 59 yards.
Nick Giefer gets another 100-plus-yard game.
After Wellington’s first punt, Labette was looking to tie the game when Holtzman threw right into the numbers of defender Axl Norris, who took it in for a 17-yard pick 6. It was 32-18 at the half.
Crusaders took the second-half opening drive to paydirt, culminated by Branam’s second touchdown of the night, this one for 33 yards.
Jackson then kept the Crusaders into the ball game with a 43-yard run.
The game’s final score came on a 67-yard touchdown pass from Bannister to Burnett at the 5:22 mark of the third.
It was a hot, muggy night, and it seemed both teams were overcome with fatigue going into the fourth. For 70 cumulative points, none were scored in the fourth.
Wellington will now host El Dorado on homecoming night next Friday.
