WOLSEY - The third-ranked Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds defeated the Class “9A” top-ranked Gregory Gorillas Friday 48-32 at Wolsey

The Warbirds took the ball to open the game and were facing 4th and 7 before Caleb Richmond connected with Tate French for a 43-yard gain. Caleb Richmond would find Moshe Richmond three plays later for an 8-yard touchdown and French ran in the conversion for an 8-0 lead.

Gregory leaned on their senior running back, Gannon Thomas, in the first drive. A pass interference got Gregory deep into Warbird territory, and Thomas finished things off with a 4-yard scoring run. Rylan Peck found Colt Keiser for the conversion pass.

The Warbirds fumbled on the next drive, and the Gorillas brought out the passing game for the first time, with Peck connecting with Luke Stukel for a 37-yard score to make it 14-8 at the end of the first quarter.

The Warbirds stalled at midfield before a face mask penalty gave them a first down, and two plays later, Caleb Richmond found Colin Hughes for a 46-yard touchdown to tie the game at 14.

The Warbirds forced a punt, then used a 21-yard pass from Caleb Richmond to Moshe Richmond to set up a 35-yard scoring scamper by French and take a 20-14 lead.

Gregory simply handed the ball to Thomas four times, the final rush a 15-yard touchdown run to even the score at 20.

The Warbirds then put together their longest drive of the game, finishing with Moshe Richmond taking the direct snap and running for a 2-yard score. He also ran in the conversion to make it 28-20 at half.

The Warbirds’ Austin Wyant sacked Peck and forced a fumble to open the second half. Three plays later, Gabriel Case took the ball in the end zone to make the score 34-20 Warbirds.

After a Gregory punt, Caleb Richmond was featured on the next series, running for 33 yards and passing for 27 yards in the series, the final pass a 15-yard touchdown toss to Peyton Rainford. French ran the conversion in to make it 42-20.

On the first play of the next series, Thomas was injured and would not return to the game, changing Gregory’s offensive attack significantly. The teams traded turnovers and then punts before backup Gregory quarterback Lincoln Juracek ran the ball in from 13 yards out to bring the Gorillas within 42-26 at the end of the third.

The teams traded punts again, before a big 31-yard French run set up a Wyant 3-yard scoring run to give the home team a 48-26 lead.

After tradiing punts, Gregory went to the air with less than a minute left in the game, with Juracek finally hitting Colt Keiser for a 47-yard touchdown with no time on the clock to make it 48-32.

The Warbirds (2-0) were led by Caleb Richmond, who went 14-17 passing with 246 yards, two touchdowns, and a conversion pass. He also ran for 88 yards. Brother Moshe Richmond caught seven balls for 101 yards and a score while running for 20 yards and another score.

Tate French had 64 yards on the ground and 46 yards receiving, with a touchdown and a pair of conversions.

Gabriel Case ran 15 times for 48 yards while Peyton Rainford grabbed four balls for 53 yards.

The Gorillas were led by Thomas with 93 yards and two touchdowns, all in the first half. Peck went 4-8 passing for 50 yards and a score and also ran for 51 yards.

The Warbirds will host Parkston Sept. 1 in Wolsey.

Gregory         14 6 6 6 — 32
Wolsey-Wessington 8 20 14 6 — 48

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter
WW - Caleb Richmond 8-yard TD pass to Moshe Richmond (Tate French 2-pt run)
G - Gannon Thomas 4-yard TD run (Rylan Peck to Colt Keiser pass)
G - Peck 37-yard TD pass to Kade Braun (2-pt no good)

2nd quarter
WW - CRichmond 46-yard TD pass to Colin Hughes (2-pt no good)
WW - French 35-yard TD run (2-pt no good)
G - Thomas 15-yard TD run (2-pt no good)
WW - MRichmond 2-yard TD run (MRichmond 2-pt run)

Third quarter
WW - Gabriel Case 10-yard TD run (2-pt no good)

Fourth quarter
WW - Austin Wyant 3-yard TD run (2-pt no good)
G - Juracek 47-yard TD pass to Keiser (no conversion attempt)

Area scores

Detailed information on the following games was not received by press time, but will appear Monday, provided information is provided to the Plainsman.

Clark/Willow Lake 6, Webster 0
Stanley County 38, De Smet 30
Faulkton 40, Hitchcock-Tulare 0
Freeman Academy/Marion 50, Iroquois/Lake Preston Co-op 0
Mt. Vernon/Plankinton 52, Miller/Highmore-Harrold 19
Groton Area 56, Redfield 6
Jones County 56, Sunshine Bible Academy 6
Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central 59, Scotland 13