The Polk County Wolverines continued to steamroll through the non-conference portion of their schedule Friday, Sept. 2, downing visiting R-S Central High School 25-7. The victory improves Polk’s record to 3-0 on the young season.
Unlike the first two games of the season, in which the Wolverines easily cruised to victory, it was clear from the outset that this would be no walk in the park for Polk. The Hilltoppers came out of the box strong, as senior quarterback Taylor Ledbetter connected with Johnny Hunt for an 8-yard touchdown pass that capped a 75-yard opening drive, putting Central in front by seven midway through the first quarter.
According to Polk head coach Bruce Ollis, the quick start by the Hilltoppers was just the sort of wake-up call the Wolverines needed.
“I told our team that we needed a game like this – a game where we were challenged,” Ollis said. “The first two games, we… pretty much had our way – it wasn’t that way tonight.”
The Wolverines answered on their next possession, as Cary Littlejohn scored from 1 yard out to cap a 71-yard Polk County drive, shaving the R-S Central lead to 7-6. Then, with the Hilltoppers back in possession and grinding downfield, Polk defensive back Anthony Carson picked off a Ledbetter pass intended for Devante Austin and returned it 63 yards to the Central 2-yard line.
Two plays later, sophomore quarterback Reece Schlabach, filling in again for injured starter Alec Philpott, dove into the end zone for the first of his two rushing touchdowns, giving Polk the 12-7 lead going into the half.
The Wolverine defense picked off two more Ledbetter passes while holding the Hilltoppers to just one first down and no points. The Wolverines added two more touchdowns on runs by Jay Sutton (11 carries for 45 yards) and Schlabach (16 carries for 31 yards and two TDs).
Polk’s Joel Booker led all rushers with 68 yards on seven carries and added another 82 yards on four pass receptions. Littlejohn finished the evening with 15 carries for 66 yards.
“Our defensive front really played well – we really nullified their running game after the first score,” commented Ollis. “We had some great returns on interceptions, so we had a lot of yards that don’t show up in stats – interceptions that give you great field position but don’t show up as rushing or passing yards.”
Ollis also praised the gritty performance of Schlabach, who took a late hit in the third quarter.
“Reece showed a lot of guts playing with a shoulder that was bothering him some,” noted Ollis. “When the game was on the line, he delivered the ball, he ran the offense well, and read the midline, so I was pleased with that.”
This Friday, Sept. 9, the Wolverines are back on the road, heading south to Landrum to square off against an undefeated Cardinals squad in the annual battle for border bragging rights.