By Terri Cox

Mother Nature tried to derail the final home JFL Saturday for the Casey-Westfield Braves, as rain and lightning ultimately ended the 5th/6th grade game after three quarters of play.

Despite the chaotic weather, it was a successful day at Sinclair-Vidoni Field. The event began with a 22-12 Rookie victory before the 5th/6th grade squad earned its weather-shortened 31-0 win over Paris.

CW 31, Paris 0

5/6 Grade

The Casey-Westfield 5/6 Braves left no doubt on Saturday evening as they scored first, and often, in their 31-0 divisional win over Paris at Sinclair-Vidoni Field.

It didn’t take long for the Braves to find the end zone as Rhett Athey took the opening handoff from Greyson Pearce around the far sideline and blazed 65 yards for the score. Tobias Erickson added the point after for a quick 7-0 lead.

Paris started their first drive from their own 30-yard line and got short gains on their first two rushing attempts with stops by Branson Cribelar and Mason Spittler.

On their third play from scrimmage, the Tigers’ quarterback dropped back and looked downfield for an open receiver; however, it was CW’s Kash Davidson who came up with the ball for the interception.

Davidson then got a 13-yard gain on the ground before Pearce found him from 21 yards out along the near sideline for the second Braves score of the game. The point after was missed, but CW upped their lead to 13-0.

The Tigers moved the chains on a 26-yard passing completion, but three plays later, the Braves got another interception, this time by Rhett Athey, who returned the ball 19 yards. Two plays later. Pearce hit Wyatt Stinson in stride for a 24-yard touchdown completion and a 19-0 lead to wrap up the first quarter.

On CW’s first possession of the second quarter, Lane Livvix moved the ball deep into Paris territory with three consecutive rushes. Pearce hit Athey on 2-and-4 for a 14-yard touchdown strike. However, the PAT was unsuccessful. The Braves held a 25-0 lead that lasted to the intermission.

When play resumed in the third, the CW defense forced the Tigers to turn the ball over on downs, and after Pearce scrambled for a 14-yard gain to move the chains, he then connected with Stinson again, this time from 30 yards out, for what proved to be the final points of the game.

The Braves held a 31-0 lead, and the continuous clock had been invoked when the lightning delay occurred. After the coaches and referees conferred, it was agreed to stop the game at that point, resulting in a 31-0 CW win.

The Braves will travel to Marshall on Saturday evening for their final regular-season game. The squad is in the hunt to advance to the Championship game against the South division winners on October 5th in Marshall.

The Braves’ Rhett Athey running to the outside for a touchdown. —photo by Terri Cox

Game Summary: CW vs. Paris (5th/6th Grade)

Score by Quarters

Scoring Drives

1st Quarter

• CW: Rhett Athey 65-yard run (Tobias Erickson kick)

• CW: Kash Davidson 21-yard pass from Greyson Pearce (kick failed)

• CW: Wyatt Stinson 24-yard pass from Pearce (kick failed)

2nd Quarter

• CW: Rhett Athey 14-yard pass from Pearce (conversion failed)

3rd Quarter

• CW: Wyatt Stinson 30-yard pass from Pearce (conversion failed)

Individual Statistics

RUSHING:

• Rhett Athey: 1 carry, 65 yards, 1 TD

• Kash Davidson: 2 carries, 45 yards

• Lane Livvix: 4 carries, 35 yards

• Greyson Pearce: 1 carry, 14 yards

• Jalen Gillespie: 2 carries, 5 yards

PASSING:

• Greyson Pearce: 5-for-6, 119 yards, 4 TDs

RECEIVING:

• Wyatt Stinson: 2 receptions, 54 yards, 2 TDs

• Rhett Athey: 2 receptions, 44 yards, 1 TD

• Kash Davidson: 1 reception, 21 yards, 1 TD

DEFENSE:

• Wyatt Stinson: 4 tackles

• Rhett Athey: 3 tackles, 1 INT (19-yard return)

• Branson Cribelar: 3 tackles

• Lane Livvix: 2 tackles

• Kash Davidson: 1 tackle, 1 INT (16-yard return)

• Bobby Cecil: 1 tackle

• Greyson Pearce: 1 tackle

• Luke Haumesser: 1 tackle

• Mason Spittler: 1 tackle

• Jalen Gillespie: 1 tackle

The Braves’ Kash Davidson with the interception. —photo by Terri Cox