Western Boone Jr. - Sr. High School

Early in the third quarter on Friday night, it looked like the Western Boone football team was destined to have a down-to-the-wire battle with visiting North Putnam. The Cougars tied the game with a 27-yard field goal on the opening possession of the third quarter, and had all the momentum. Then in the blink of an eye, the Stars found their groove. Western Boone scored 35 unanswered points in a barely more than a quarter, and cruised to a 45-10 victory. "It was a dogfight in the first half and we kind of figured it would be," Western Boone head coach Justin Pelley said. "They are physical, and I think we matched their intensity. The score doesn't indicate how close that game really was. We had some big plays in the second half." After North Putnam tied the game, Western Boone needed just 43 seconds to reclaim the lead, getting a 50-yard touchdown run from Jack Mallory. The Stars' defense forced a punt, and the Stars pushed the lead to 14 on a 1-yard run by Carson Nicley. "They were playing nine in the box and making use do things we didn't want to do," Pelley said. "We had to throw it over the top a little bit, then Jack just broke free on his long run. That's all we really prepared for." Then it was time for the Western Boone defense to get going. On the very next play, Nicley had a pick-6 to make it a three-score game. Three plays into the next drive, Maddox Amich forced a fumble that was recovered by Connor Palmer, who then ran it back 50 yards for a score. "They are settling into their roles and that's what we have been trying to do for the past month," Pelley said of the defense. "The game was won up front. I thought our kids up front played really well. Mason Foster, Maddox Amich at linebacker, Sam Rausch and David Puckett at defensive tackle, Josiah Williamson and Connor Palmer on the outside, those are the guys that made the game what it was." Nate Thompson added another touchdown on a 45-yard touchdown run by Nate Thompson. Mallory rushed for a 115 yards. Before the game, the Stars recognized their seniors. "They have hung with it as a group," Pelley said. "They are a small class, we only had 11 of them and just playing by themselves was tough on them in junior high. They stuck together, kept playing and that is the important part. They are all team guys, I think they are WeBo kids and played different roles. That says a lot about their character too. The Stars travel to Cascade next Friday in a game that will decide the Monon Athletic Conference title. Will Willems is the Sports Editor of the Lebanon Reporter. Follow him on X @Will_Willems.