No. 9 Wilton runs over banged up Hawks

DONNELLSON — Crutches and walking boots were quite popular on Central Lee’s sideline Friday night.
The Hawks, battered and bruised with injuries, are limping into the final week of the season after Friday’s 43-13 loss to No. 9 Wilton in a Class 2A District 6 game.
“When you’ve got a lot of injuries, we have to just make sure we’re still working hard and guys are stepping up when they get the chance to play,” Central Lee coach Doug Dodds said.
The Hawks (2-5 overall, 0-4 district) were chasing Wilton (5-2, 3-1) almost from the start of the game, and that’s not a good thing against a team that is one of the best in the state.
“They’re very strong up front, and they’re tough to defend,” Dodds said. “They pass the ball well, but they run the ball so well. It’s almost like you have to pick your poison.”
Wilton scored on its first six possessions of the game, forcing a running clock for most of the second half.
Beavers quarterback Gunner Edwards threw four touchdowns while playing in just the first half.
Edwards threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Bryer Putman on the fourth play of the game to give Wilton a 7-0 lead.
Central Lee went three-and-out on its first possession, then Noah Gray put Wilton up 14-0 with a 4-yard touchdown run.

A fumble on the Hawks’ next possession gave Wilton the ball at the Central Lee 17-yard line, and Edwards immediately capitalized with a touchdown pass for Gray. Wilton led 21-0 with 5:36 remaining in the first quarter.
Gray had a 2-yard touchdown run for a 27-0 lead, then Edwards hit Putman for a 46-yard touchdown pass, and Wilton led 33-0.
Another Edwards-to-Putman touchdown pass, this one from 34 yards, gave Wilton a 40-0 lead with 3:30 left in the first half.
Central Lee then mounted its best drive of the first half, getting to the Wilton 16-yard line in the closing seconds before Brett Cook threw an interception in the end zone to end the half.
Edwards was 10-of-13 passing for 186 yards in the half, and added 54 rushing yards.
“He’s really developed into a good passer,” Dodds said. “Plus he runs the ball well.”
Central Lee finally got points in the second half. Cook threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Kellen Weber to cut the lead to 40-6.
Wilton’s Quincy Sawvell kicked a 28-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, then Cook closed the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run in the closing minute.
Central Lee closes the season at home next Friday against Mediapolis.
“That’s the message — it’s the last game,” Dodds said. “That’s what we’re going to be emphasizing, that it’s the last chance for us to play well and try to get a win.”