The Wright City Wildcats scored five first half touchdowns in their convincing win over Louisiana last week. 

With the win, Wright City (6-3, 5-2 EMO) earned their most regular season wins since 2019. The Wildcats’ 5-2 conference record is also their best mark in four years. Wright City won a combined 10 regular season games the past two years after winning one game in coach Tyler Rickard’s first year at the helm of the program two years ago. 

“I just said, thank you to the seniors for believing in me, our coaching staff, one another and this team and staying the course,” Rickard said. “There didn’t appear to be a lot of light at the end of the tunnel that season (2021), but they saw the glimmer and they kept moving us forward. And last year as juniors, we took a big step and then this year, I think we took another big step forward.”

After Wright City built a 14-0 lead on rushing touchdowns from quarterback Joey Gendron in the first quarter and running back Denzel Dowdy in the second quarter, the Wildcats leaned on their passing attack later in the half to build a 33-0 halftime lead. Gendron threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Jersiah Higgins and two touchdowns to Kayden Allison to give Wright City the 33-point lead. 

“We knew that we had an advantage passing,” Gendron said. “I think we were waiting to capitalize on it all game. It didn’t really happen on purpose, but sometimes you’ve just got to extend the play and keep your eyes down field and I did… Some things just kind of happen, you know, when you get out of the pocket, you find somebody, throw it.” 

Rickard said their plan early in the game was to establish the run. After Louisiana started to load the box, the Wildcats switched to a spread offense to create mismatches on the edge. 

“Our guys did a good job of adjusting to what they gave us,” Rickard said. “And so it’s nice to be able to bounce from a three back set into a five wide set and be effective at both. And so that’s just the tip of the cap to our guys, our linemen and our receivers and quarterback being able to execute either one effectively.” 

Wright City scored three more times in the second half, all on the ground. Duan McRoberts scored on touchdowns runs of 54 and 35 yards. Carle’on Jones had a 6-yard touchdown run. 

The Wildcats held Louisiana scoreless through the first half and the first 9:31 of the third quarter. They built a 39-0 lead before Louisiana scored their first touchdown. 

“It just seemed like out of the gate, we came out hitting. And it just seemed like they were the more timid team,” Gendron said. “So we kind of smelled that in the air and we kind of went after them. And all game, I don’t think they were ready for four quarters of it.”

In his second game back after not playing multiple games earlier in the season, Gendron went 12-15 passing for 163 yards and three touchdowns. McRoberts rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Dowdy rushed for 65 yards and one touchdown on a team-leading 13 carries. Kayden Allison hauled in four catches for 62 yards and two touchdowns. Jones also had four receptions and finished with 56 yards receiving. 

Gavin McCord led the Wildcat defense with six solo tackles. Devin Myers had five solo tackles and three tackles for loss. McRoberts logged one interception. 

Wildcats open districts at Southern Boone 

Wright City earned the No. 5 seed in the Class 3, District 4 playoffs. They will travel to Ashland to take on Southern Boone (7-2) in the first round of the district playoffs. If the Wildcats beat Southern Boone, they will play at Blair Oaks (8-1) next week in the district semifinals. 

“We’re in a tough district,” Wright City football coach Tyler Rickard said. “Four of  the top 10 teams in the state are ahead of us. So as I told the boys, we’ve got to be ready to go. And I don’t have any doubt in my mind they will. I think they’re going to relish the challenge to step in and prove that we belong. And if we play, like we did the majority of the game tonight (last Friday), I think we’re going to prove we belong with any of those teams.”

Kickoff for Friday night’s district quarterfinal at Southern Boone is slated for 7 p.m.