Here We Come Week 13

The Royals Beat Expectations, Advancing to Week 13

By: Taylor Baumberger, “Royal Times” 
Friday, November 14 the Royals took on the Van Buren Black Knights securing their spot in the third round of the state football playoffs. Van Buren started off strong despite the frigid temperatures with the first touchdown of the game early in the second quarter. The Black Knights added the extra point making the score 7-0 with 11:14 left in the half. The Royals did not let Van Buren’s led discourage them. Wynford drove right down the field on its next possession when Keaton Teynor’s one yard run pushed through the Black Knight’s defensive line scoring the first Royal touchdown of the night. Jalon Brown’s attempted extra point failed. The Royals trailed the Black Knights with a score of 7-6. 
The Royals special teams played a huge part in the victory by recovering an onside kick and converting a fake punt. Wynford drove 42 yards in seven plays leading to another touchdown by Teynor. The attempted two point conversion was no good. The Royals led 12-7 going into the second half. 
The energetic atmosphere did not die down as the second half of the game began. The third quarter went scoreless until Hayden Rhoades rushed the ball four yards to earn the Royals their third touchdown of the night with 48 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Brown’s extra point attempt failed giving the Royals the lead to start the fourth quarter,18-7. 
Wynford continued to play off their momentum when Teynor converted on a 9-yard run with 4:17 left in the game to score the final touchdown of the game for the Royals. This gave the Royals a 25-7 lead, but Van Buren did not leave without a fight, rushing 48 yards bringing the score to 25-15 with 3:49 left in the fourth period. The Royals gave the ball up on downs giving the Black Knights another opportunity to score. The Royals defense held Van Buren on the Royals one-yard line as they turned the ball over on downs with only a few seconds remaining in the game. 

The Royals head to a regional championship coming out victorious, 25-15. Wynford’s coach, Gabe Helbert, motivated his team for the next battle by reminding them, “You guys are one of four teams in Wynford’s history to make it to week 13.” Helbert also emphasised, “You have the opportunity to be one of two teams to make it to week 14.” Wynford’s opportunity to be one of two teams happens on Friday, November 21 at 7:30 pm when the Royals take on the Defiance Tinora Rams at Ohio Northern University. The game will be called by Jim Radke and Jeff Roberts live on WQEL and wqel.com.