Dukes end losing streak with 55-14 win

by DALE SHEFFIELD

Enterprise reporter

The Wellington Dukes football team brought an end to their stormy losing streak when they blew away the Brooklyn Hurricanes with a 55-14 win on Friday night.

The Dukes' Jerry Herman scored the first touchdown on a four yard run when the clock read 7:41 in the first quarter. Austin Gray and Steve Simonson had good runs on the drive. Anthony Ermino kicked for the extra point.

The Hurricanes then went three and out, which the Dukes followed with a 46 yard touchdown run by Simonson. An extra point by Ermino brought the score to 14-0.

A touchdown by the Hurricanes seemed imminent when they had moved the ball to the 1 yard line, but a fumble allowed the Dukes to take over the ball. The Dukes began the second quarter with a 99-yard drive that included a 17-yard gain by Gray and a 34-yard pass to Charlie Coleman. Jerry Herman scored on a 5 yard run and the score was 21-0.

With 5:36 remaining on the clock in the second quarter, the Hurricanes scored their first touchdown to bring the score to 21-7. The Dukes moved the ball quickly with good runs again by Gray and Simonson. Another touchdown by Herman brought the score at halftime to 28-7.

Coleman returned a second half kickoff for a touchdown. The Hurricanes fumbled on their first play from scrimmage with Clay Wright recovering. Jerry Herman had a 22-yard run and fumbled with a recovery for a touchdown. Both touchdowns were scored in the first 48 seconds of the second half. The Dukes were then leading by an impressive 41-7.

On the Hurricane's next possession, Wright intercepted a pass and had a good return to Brooklyn's 35. That drive ended with a touchdown pass to Coleman. On the Dukes' next possession, Gray had a 40 yard run and Simonson scored on a 19 yard run. The second team and younger players got chance to play.

The Hurricanes were only able to score once more and the final reading on the scoreboard was 55-14.

The strong offensive performance throughout the game was made possible by the offensive line including Ken Wulfhoop, Brandon Kania, Greg Knapp, Aaron Grimmet, Neil Switzer, and Todd Hardoby. Ermino was 7 out of 8 on extra point kicks.

This Friday, the Dukes are hoping for another win in a home game against Buckeye.

The junior varsity team also won against Brooklyn, 26 - 20. The freshman team had a 34-0 win against Northwestern.