Knights improve to 3-1 with homecoming win over KMS

Sam Peterson

Grant County Herald

After the West Central Area cross country team ran the game ball from Elbow Lake to Barrett for the homecoming game against KMS Sept. 20, the Knights were in control of the Saints for the next four quarters of football. West Central Area made it a great homecoming Friday night with a 24-0 win over KMS to improve to 3-1 on the season.

Tucker McGee opened up the scoring in the game when he broke open a 30-yard touchdown run in the first quarter to make it 6-0. 

In the second quarter of play, the Knights added to their lead when Ben Bye caught a 39 pass from Sam Hanson to make it 12-0 at the halftime break. 

Both defenses had their games going in the third quarter, not allowing either team to score any points. 

The Knights put any hopes of a comeback to bed in the fourth quarter. Bye scored his second touchdown of the game on a 15-yard pass from Owen Gruchow to make it 18-0. Later in the quarter, McGee got into the endzone for the second time on a 20-yard run to make the final score 24-0. 

West Central Area finished the game with 268 yards rushing and 121 yards through the air for 389 yards of total offense. The Knights were solid on third down, going 5 for 11 and were 1 for 3 on fourth down. West Central Area finished the game plus four in the turnover margin, forcing three interceptions and a fumble while never turning the ball over themselves. 

Hunter Gruchow led the team on offense with 18 carries for 107 yards. Owen Gruchow chipped in with nine carries for 75 yards. McGee ended with eight carries for 50 yards and got into the endzone twice. Sam Hanson carried the ball eight times for 36 yards. 

Through the air, Owen Gruchow finished 4 for 7 for 82 yards and a touchdown. Hanson also chipped in going 1 for 1 for 39 yards and a touchdown. Ben Bye caught three of those passes for 49 yards and two touchdowns. Hanson caught one pass for 35 yards, McGee had one catch for 17 yards and Hunter Gruchow hauled in one pass for 10 yards.

The Knights are back on the road this week when they travel to play the Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City Falcons on Friday, Sept. 27.