Western Boone Jr. - Sr. High School

DOVER - The Western Boone football team is finding its stride. After dropping the first two games of the season to former conference foes Tri-West and Lebanon, the Stars have won five straight, and improved to 5-2 with a 35-0 homecoming victory over Southmont. "We played well tonight," Western Boone head coach Justin Pelley said. "Our offensive line has been great and they did a great job of today opening holes against a good Southmont team." Southmont came into the game allowing just 13.3 points a game, which was 45th best in the state. But the Stars offensive was clicking on all cylinders early. They took the opening kickoff and went 80 yards in 11 plays, capping it off with a 1-yard touchdown run by Rolen Shue. After a 3-and-out, the offense went right back to work, going 66 yards in seven plays, scoring on a Jack Mallory 3-yard rush. The two Western Boone running backs didn't have their heaviest workload of the year, but combined for 15 carries and 100 yards, averaging 6.6 yards a carry. "They both have been doing a fantastic job," Pelley said. "We ask a lot of Jack, and Rolen has really come along to give us two really good running backs. A lot of credit to our offensive line too, because they were created big openings for them to run through." Southmont was also forced to punt on its next three possessions, running only 11 plays on the three drives. Western Boone put the game away on the three ensuing drives, scoring on two 5-yard runs by Carson Nicley and a 30-yard pass from Quinn Westerfeld to Beau Sawyer. Westerfeld was 6-of-8 for 130 yards, with Sawyer catching three passes for 72 yards. Nicley had six carries for 64 yards. "He had a nice game," Pelley said of Nicley. "We are putting him in a lot of different positions and roles and he doing a great job with that." From there the only question was whether or not the defense could pitch their second-straight shutout. They were able to do it for the first time since 2024 and just the third time in Pelley's tenure. The defense forced three turnovers, and held the Mounties offense to just 59 yards of offense. Nineteen different players registered a tackle for the Stars, with David Puckett, Eli Ballentine and Noah Baird recovering fumbles. "They have really come along the last couple of weeks," Pelley said of his defensive unit. "Guys are stepping up and doing a good job. And again our JV guys got out there for an entire half, and do a good job, forced a couple of turnovers and kept a 0 against a varsity offense." Western Boone hosts North Putnam on senior night next week. Will Willems is the Sports Editor of the Lebanon Reporter. Follow him on X @Will_Willems.