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For the first time in three tries the Winfield-Mt. Union football team has Henry County bragging rights over WACO, as the Wolves defended their home turf in a 42-28 win over the Warriors to close the regular season on Friday. 

Both teams traded blows early with WMU striking first on a 34-yard touchdown run from Cam Buffington, but WACO answered right back with a Jon Rice one-yard score. The difference came in the second when the Wolves reached the end zone three times on a pair of scores from Buffington to open a 30-14 lead at the break and kept the Warriors at arm’s length the rest of the way. Buffington was a Swiss-army-knife for the Wolves’ offense, as the freshman ran for three touchdowns on 126 yards, went two for four through the air for 74 yards and a score, and caught a pass from 29 yards out to reach pay dirt. For the first time all year the passing game eclipsed the 100-yard barrier with Buffington, Abram Edwards, and Andrew Brady combining to go five of seven for 132 yards. Chance Malone was a beast defensively with 16 tackles and Edwards picked off two passes.

WMU Head Coach Scott McCarty tells KCII Sports it all started with the big boys upfront. “They did a really nice job. WACO presented problems for us by changing fronts and moving guys around, but our kids communicated and made adjustments well. We were able to play eight different linemen and every guy did their job so I applaud them for that. They were able to push some guys around.”

Rice led the Warriors with three rushing scores on 13 carries for 52 yards and Simeon Reichenbach hauled in six passes for 50 yards. Will Edeker completed 11 of 24 passes for 102 yards. 

WMU finishes the regular season 4-3 and they host Lone Tree in the first round of the 8-player playoffs on Friday. WACO drops to 3-4 and they travel to New London.

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