With their win over Ash Fork last Friday, the Joseph City Wildcats have closed the gap on the top 12 in the Division VI power rankings for football. Only the top 12 in the division make the state playoffs and the Cats head into the final week of the season ranked 15th. They have won their past two meetings, including last week’s big 56-18 victory over Ash Fork.
The Spartans stayed close in the first period, but three unanswered scores by Joseph City in the second put the game out of reach. Chance Bray had another big night for the Wildcats. His scoring runs of five and 13 yards in the first period put Joseph City on top early.
Following a 30-yard Spartan touchdown run, Bray found the end zone for a third time on his own 30-yard run. Hayden Hendricks scored from three yards out, then Bray picked up his fourth TD of the day on a three-yard run, closing out the first half scoring with the Cats on top 38-6.
Landon Baldwin made a 21-yard scoring run midway through the third period for Joseph City’s only score of the quarter.
Hendricks scored on a four-yard run on the first play of the fourth period, pushing the margin to 50-12. Troy Poudrier put the Wildcats’ final points on the board on a 55-yard run with 6:41 left in the fourth.
Joseph City racked up 446 yards of total offense while the Spartans managed just 216.
Hendricks completed three of seven passes for 58 yards. Matt Fields was good on two of three attempts for 30 yards. Bray had two catches for 57 yards. Baldwin made two receptions for 16 yards. Koby Smith caught one ball for 15 yards.
On the ground, Bray rushed 12 times for 148 yards with four scores. Poudrier carried nine times for 140 yards and a score. Baldwin had five runs for 49 yards with a score. Hendricks carried eight times for 13 yards, scoring twice. Fields had one carry for eight yards.
If the Cats can win tonight’s (Oct. 17) regular season finale against Mayer, they will have to wait to see if they have garnered enough power points to break into the top 12 in the final rankings. If they finish outside the top 12, their season will have come to a close.
