The Wayne Pioneers gave up 21 points in the first quarter and then fell short in a comeback bid in a 27-14 loss to the visiting 10th-ranked Winfield Generals on Friday.
Winfield (3-1) came out blazing in the first period. Brycen Brown started out the scoring with a 1-yard run. Aiden Hernandez’s kick made the score 7-0. Brayton Boggs scored on a run from 10 yards out to increase the lead to 14-0. Brown then completed a 34-yard pass to Tanner Laughery to increase the Generals’ advantage to 21-0. Neither team would score the second frame, and Winfield went into the locker room with a commanding advantage.
The Pioneers refused to quit, though. Jaxson Damron got Wayne on the scoreboard with a touchdown from 1 yard out to cut Winfield’s lead to 21-6 in the third quarter. The Pioneers cut into the lead further when James Spradlin connected with Rylen Murdock on a 7-yard touchdown pass in the fourth period. Spradlin then hit Kade Estep on a conversion to make it a 21-14 game.
Winfield then put the game out of reach on a 40-yard touchdown scamper from Boggs to escape Wayne with the win.
Wayne was led offensively by Spradlin who had 85 yards and a touchdown on 13-of-15 passing with a touchdown. The signal caller also finished with 26 yards rushing on 6 carries.
Braylon Gilliam had 8 carries for 37 yards for the Pioneers. Damron finished with 35 yards on 11 attempts and a touchdown. Murdock added 16 yards on 6 carries. Colton Mathis had 7 yards on 2 carries.
Nathan Hammer led all Wayne receivers with 37 yards on 2 catches. Cooper Adkins had 28 yards on 5 catches. Murdock finished with 19 yards and a touchdown on 5 receptions. Damron had 14 yards on 2 receptions. Gilliam added a catch for 6 yards.
Wayne next hits the field on Friday when it travels to Nitro to face the home standing Wildcats. The opening kick is set for 7 pm.
