GUTHRIE CENTER — Woodward-Granger rallied from a 14-13 first half deficit to remain undefeated with a 27-14 win over host AC/GC Friday.
W-G (3-0) has outscored their three foes 118-34 after earning the win, which dropped AC/GC to 1-2 overall.
Quarterback Trevor Simmons had his third consecutive 100-plus yard passing game, a rare feat at run-happy W-G. He was 5-of-13 for 129 yards and touchdown while being picked off once.
The ground game came through when needed, helping control the clock and wear down the Charger defense. Jake Lego had two TDs and 136 yards on 30 carries, with Kade Polich pounding out 78 yards on nine runs while scoring once.
Lego put the guests up, 6-0, with a seven-yard TD early in the contest, but the hosts returned the ensuing kickoff for a score to knot the score at 6-all.
Polich plunged into the end zone from a yard out late in the first frame, with Lego booting the extra point for a 13-6 Hawk lead.
A short run and two-point conversion moved the Chargers in front, 14-13, in the second quarter, but Simmons hooked up with Dane Polich for a 37-yard TD to give the visitors a 19-14 lead at the intermission.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, with a 19-yard Lego dash and a two-point conversion in the fourth period setting the final margin.
Carter Moran (45 yards), Christian Husmann (24 yards), Kolby Fogarty (17 yards), and Dylan McCaulley (6 yards) also had receptions for the Hawks.
Garrett Burkhart was stalwart for the W-G defense, adding a sack and a fumble recovery to 6.5 tackles from his spot on the defensive line.
Simmons had 10 tackles, Borday Nardini eight, Kade Polich seven and Moran five, with Moran also falling on a Charger fumble.
Statistical information for AC/GC was not available.
W-G returns home Friday to host Panorama. The Panthers lost to Class 1A and second-ranked Van Meter, 30-0, Friday. They own a 41-31 win over Clarinda, and opened the season with a 20-14 loss to Class A top-ranked Grundy Center, making their two losses against a pair of 2019 state runner-up teams.
The Hawks opened their season with a 49-6 win over Madrid before besting Ogden, 42-14.
