GASTON, IND - On a storm-riddled Friday evening, two rivals in Wes-Del (2-3) and Monroe Central (4-1) hit the field to play in the ‘Harvest Helmet Classic’ a contest that has been played since 2011. The conditions pre-game were less than ideal as heavy rain and strong winds persisted throughout the contest. Despite the conditions, the game continued with the Warriors seeking their third straight win.

Last season the Golden Bears and Warriors faced off twice, the most important of the matchups was in sectionals in a contest in which the gold and brown were victorious 43-34. Wes-Del had hopes of getting revenge after the heartbreaking end to their season in 2023. 

“I hear a lot of people asking about this game and this rivalry but to us it’s always just another game,” Wes-Del head coach Matt Nuckols said. “We competed with these guys in sectionals and we had that momentum coming in.”

The road team opened with the ball and unsurprisingly stuck to the ground in their first drive. The Warrior defense was able to force the Golden Bears into a third and long early and was looking strong.

 However, a simple run up the gut from Monroe Central senior running back Jeremiah Ullom busted for a 74-yard score to allow the gold and brown to take an early 6-0 lead.

Wes-Del’s opening drive would end the opposite way as the Warriors got forced into a fourth and fifteen and attempted to put the ball in the air, but failed to convert in opposing territory. 

New Warrior quarterback and ex-wide receiver Tyler Summers is taking on a role he wasn’t anticipating this season and that comes with challenges.

“I told the coaches at the start of the season, ‘if you guys ever need me to do anything I’m here for you,’” Summers said. “It’s a lot though with it being my first year playing but I think we’ll figure it out by the end of the season.

For the Wes-Del defense, long runs became a theme for the home team early on. The Golden Bears were able to break a second burst for 40 yards down to the two-yard line to end the opening quarter which led to a quarterback sneak score to open the second quarter.

The Wes-Del offense continued to sputter and struggled to have positive gains throughout the entirety of the first half. The maroon and black were forced to punt yet again and were backed up against their own end zone. 

However, punter Carter Flynn was unable to grip the ball and dropped it in the end zone which resulted in a safety for the Golden Bears giving them a 16-0 lead that the gold and brown would take into the locker room.

Nuckols met with the team on the field briefly before heading into the locker room.

“I just wanted to remind them of our fight and warrior mentality,” Nuckols said. “Going in the half only down two scores you still have a good opportunity in the second half.”

After a three-and-out from Wes-Del on the opening drive of the second half, Monroe Central put together a methodical drive. On a short run from Golden Bears senior Justus Ullom, the gold and brown were able to push their lead to 22-0.

On the ensuing kickoff return, the Warriors were able to get all the way to their 46-yard line. The effort was all in vain however as the maroon and gray ended up at their 33-yard line by the end of the set of downs with some miscommunications in the backfield.

“It’s really just about reps at practice,” Summers said. “We just have to build it from there and it’ll get better as we go.”

The Golden Bears continued their offensive onslaught on their very next drive. Monroe Central was able to utilize the passing game to get them down the field. The first positive passing play of the game was completed from Lane Wilson to Justus Ullom.

With the big gain to Ullom, Wilson was able to connect with senior Carter Duncan two plays later to increase the Golden Bears lead to 29-0.

After that point, there was no more that could be done by the Warriors as the gold and brown would tack on another score before the conclusion of the game to lead 36-0.

Coming to the end of this game it was hard to find many positives for the home team, and there’s some searching for the next steps offensively for the Warriors.

“We just need more reps,” Nuckols said. “With everything we’re dealing with we just aren’t able to do some of what we want to do. They just need more camraderie as an offense and getting our guys together where those miscues don’t happen.”

Wes-Del will take on Park Tudor in their next contest on Friday, Oct. 4. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Contact David Moore with comments at david.moore@bsu.edu or on X @gingninj63

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