Carter's highlight reel catch leads Wildcats over Stallions

Washington now 6-1 in run-up to playoffs

Oct 22, 2024

Washington receiver Nick Carter snared a pass at the goal line to earn the Wildcats their first score of the night on the way to a 20-6 win over Schlagle.

The Washington Wildcats celebrated homecoming with a 20-6 win over the rival Schlagle Stallions on Friday night. The win is Washington's sixth for the 2024 season, matching the mark set in 2019, the first year under head coach Camron Smith.

The play of the night was a 35-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Savion Stone to sophomore receiver Nick Carter as the first quarter drew to a close.

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Carter, initially boxed out by the defensive back as they leaped for the pass, reached around the defender's helmet to pull back the football into his left hand, then secured it against his body as the pair fell to the ground in the end zone.

The Wildcats tacked on a defensive score in the second quarter when Zayvion Hayslett and Xavier Groves converged on Schlagle quarterback Cincere Lewis to force a fumble. Justin Jackson scooped up the bouncing ball and returned it 55 yards to the end zone.

Washington carried the 13-0 lead to halftime, when the large maroon-clad crowd celebrated the crowning of the homecoming king and queen Roman Couch and Kimorah Jackson.

As the senior back left the field, a friend shouted, "Roman, I knew you were going to win!" to which he replied, "Me too!"

Alumni of the dance and cheer squads also performed with their respective groups in keeping with the theme "Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat."

Washington held the Stallions to three-and-out in the first possession after halftime, and starting just on their own side of midfield, the Wildcats put together a drive with long runs by Couch and Cam'ron Fields, capped by a 12-yard touchdown run from Fields.

The Stallions avoided the shutout with a fourth quarter scoring drive starting at their own 25. The drive was almost snuffed out when Hayslett stuffed Lewis for no gain on a third-and-five run play, but Dymyn Evans made a fourth-down catch at the sticks to keep it going.

Two short plays later, Bre'naj Price outstripped the Washington secondary to reel in a 38-yard touchdown pass to complete the drive.

The Wildcats, at 6-1 overall and 5-1 in league play, have a tough match-up this week at Highland Park, which have not yet been scored on in four games against USD 500 schools. Beating the Scots would give Washington its first seven-win since 2004 under coach Darwin Franklin.

The Washington-Highland Park game will be played Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. at Topeka's Hummer Sports Complex.

Schlagle drops to 2-5 and will host winless Bonner Springs on Friday, looking to avenge last year's 36-6 drubbing at Braves' Field.