The Wayne Pioneers scored 22 unanswered points in the second half to knock off the 15th ranked Nitro Wildcats, 36-17, in Nitro.
Nitro (2-3) jumped on top right away when Michael Wines returned the opening kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
Wayne (2-3) fired back on a 2-yard run from Braylon Gilliam. The kick was blocked, though, as Nitro held a 7-6 lead.
The Wildcats punched in their second score when Michael Toscano trotted in from 5 yards out for a 14-6 advantage in the first period.
The Pioneers tied the score in the second quarter when Jaxson Damron rumbled in from 5 yards out. Joshua Dingers then hit Rylen Murdock for the 2-point conversion pass for a 14-14 score.
The Wildcats took their last lead when Maddox Cole connected on a 31-yard field goal for a 17-14 lead at the half.
Damron put Wayne up on a 7-yard run. Murdock scored on the conversion run for a 22-17 advantage after three quarters.
Murdock caught a Dingess pass and then found the end zone. The Pioneers added the conversion to make it a 30-17 lead. Damron then put it away with a 1-yard run and the 36-17 final score.
Gilliam led Wayne in rushing with 96 yards and a touchdown on 9 carries. Damron added 22 carries for 95 yards and 3 touchdowns. Murdock finished with 5 carries for 37 yards and 1 reception for 25 yards and a receiving touchdown. Colton Mathis had 3 attempts for 24 yards. Ronnie Staley III recorded 14 yards on 1 carry. Fisher Fry had 10 yards on 1 attempt. Harry Sowards had 1 carry for 4 yards. Dingers had 5 carries for 2 yards.
Dingess also completed 1-of-2 passes for 25 yards.
Wayne will return home on Friday to take on Lincoln County. The opening kick is set for 7 pm.
Photo Courtesy of Steve Stapleton
