Western Boone Jr. - Sr. High School

The Western Boone football team racked up its third-straight win on Friday night, improving to 3-2 overall and 3-0 in Monon Athletic Conference play with a 45-32 win over North Montgomery. But the Stars know if they want to reach their goals at the end of the season, they have to clean up some of the sloppy play that plagued them on Friday night. "I have never been besides myself after scoring 45 points in a game," Western Boone head coach Justin Pelley said. "We had six penalties as a team tonight, we put the ball on the ground four times, losing one, and that's not good football." The fumble lost by the Stars on Friday was just the fourth turnover of the year and penalties haven't been a significant issue for the team. Pelley said a lot of the issue right now is the Stars have eight guys going both ways, including both of their quarterbacks, so it is harder to find opportunities to get players rest and refocused on the sidelines. "Offensively we have been doing a good job, but when you are running the triple option and you are playing two quarterbacks and both of them are going both ways, you only have them a quarter of the time during the week," Pelley said. "That's showing right now. I'm learning as a coach to adjust, because this is the first time I haven't had a quarterback every day throughout the year to pick up on some of that stuff." Western Boone got on the board with a 28-yard touchdown reception from Nate Thompson from Quinn Westerfeld on the opening drive of the game. Rolen Shue then made it 14-0 with 3:50 left in the first quarter on a 14-yard run. But the Chargers wouldn't go away, scoring back-to-back touchdowns to make it 14-12 heading to the second quarter. Luke Adkins extended the lead to 21-12, and after an interception by Carson Nicley, the Stars needed just three plays to capitalize with Jack Mallory scoring from seven yards out. Westerfeld and Thompson connected again late in the second quarter, this time from 51 yards to make it a three score game. North Montgomery made it 35-20 before WeBo kicker Benson DeVol made a 30-yard field goal to make it 38-20 at the half. Western Boone capped the scoring on a touchdown run from Westerfeld in the fourth quarter. "We just did what we do," Pelley said of the offensive success. "I thought Quinn Westerfeld did a great job tonight, spreading the ball around. Nate Thompson had some big catches and Jack Mallory ran for 170 yards. That's all our guys up front - Mason Hoskins, Sam Rausch, Wyatt Smith, Dean Bolen and David Puckett - I am really proud of them. We are doing some good things." Westerfeld was 10 of 16 for 144 yards, and added 47 on the ground. Mallory had 168 yards rushing, and Shue had 60. Thompson had three catches for 82 yards. The Stars host Frankfort next week. "We have to figure out who we are," Pelley said. "We know who we are offensively but we have to figure out who we are defensively and get kids more comfortable in their positions." Will Willems is the Sports Editor of the Lebanon Reporter. Follow him on X @Will_Willems.