WOODWARD — Admittedly slim, what postseason hopes Woodward-Granger entertained at 7 p.m. Friday vanished in the following two-and-a-half hours, as Pleasantville romped to a 46-14 win in Class 1A District 5 play.
W-G (3-5, 3-3) needed to defeat Pleasantville (7-1, 5-1) and then pull a major upset this week with a win over second-ranked Pella Christian in order to secure a position in the post season. The Trojans made sure none of that would come into play by nearly doubling the total offense (451-234) and by scoring twice on interception returns.
Brendan Bird was 7-16-3 for 51 yards passing for W-G, with Payton Tague completing his lone pass for 47 yards. Josh Saak (6-37) and J.P. Nixon (2-61) had the eight Hawk receptions.
The hosts ran 38 times for 136 yards, with Tanner Vermaas held to 80 yards on 20 carries. The senior scored twice — once from 16-yards out — with Austin Scharlau adding one two-point conversion to account for the W-G scoring.
Scharlau’s 11 tackles led the defense, with Vermaas making 6.5 tackles and Devan Kirkman six. Matt Buch had a sack and five tackles, with Vermaas recovering two fumbles and Logan Canova one.
Owen Worthington completed 6-of-10 passes for 139 yards and two TDs for the Trojans, with Hunter Tyree completing one pass, a connection with Guage Van Haalen (3-153, 3 TDs) that went for a touchdown. Devon Dursky (1-17), Sawyer Phillips (1-8) and Tyree (2 for a loss of one yard) also caught Trojan aerials.
Phillips ran 30 times for 199 yards and a score, with Worthington adding a short TD run while Tyree totaled 51 yards on six carries.
Tyree intercepted two passes for 63 yards, including a 58-yard TD, with Van Haalen returning a theft 72 yards for a score.
Phillips led the defense with 11 tackles, with Tyree adding six stops while Will Anthony recovered a Hawk fumble.
W-G will visit Pella Christian (8-0, 6-0) at 7 p.m. Friday in their final game of the season. The contest will be the final prep grid appearance for Hawk seniors John Stucker and Vermaas, who needs 26 yards to top the 3,000 yard career rushing mark.
