HUMBOLDT — If Humboldt High is to celebrate monumental victories, they will come later in the season — think playoffs — but Friday night’s solid 22-8 conquest of Cherryvale will do for the moment, and does have ramifications.
To wit: The decision in favor of Coach Logan Wyrick and his orange-clad lads was the first after six straight reverses against the team once known as the Fighting Cherries.
Wyrick didn’t hide his pleasure. “It puts us in a good spot,” but, as coaches are wont to do, he cautioned “we have to take them one at a time.” Next up is Neodesha Friday night, the first road test for the Cubs.
Humboldt scored first, after an early Charger fumble gave Humboldt a sterling opportunity at the Chargers’ 19.
Jacob Barker burst through a crease for eight yards before a five-yard procedure penalty moved the Cubs back to the 16. Quarterback Hesston Murrow got the five yards back and Barker, who probably runs hard going from bed to breakfast table, darted to within inches of the goalline.
Murrow then made it 6-0 behind a strong charge of the offensive line.
Two exchanges later Cherryvale threatened to score, but a pass skipped off the hands of a Charger receiver and the was snared by Colin Gillespie, who took off on a 75-yard dash down the sideline.
Gillespie came within a yard of scoring before Murrow took care of that on his next carry.
A consequential point in the game occurred after Humboldt’s kickoff.
The Chargers used two plunges and four consecutive pass completions to set up shop with a first down at the Humboldt 19.
A score just before the half, with attendant momentum, appeared in the offering.
Trevor Raida reeled off a nine-yard gain to the 10 after an incomplete pass. Still, the Chargers undoubtedly liked their chances to crack the scoring column.
Raida’s next carry went for naught and on fourth and one, Cade Addis, the CHS quarterback, was stuffed for a one-yard loss.
THE SECOND half, now and again, gave Cub fans reason for concern.
Cherryvale, with 15 seniors carrying a world of experience into the game, put together its best — and only scoring — drive of the night. Addis capped it with a six-yard ramble; the two-point conversion left Humboldt up by six, 14-8.
