Warriors mercy rules Welch in first playoff game, will now travel to Weleetka

WELCH — The Webbers Falls Warriors made sure the 2023 postseason did not end the way it did in 2022 — losing their Class B opening-round playoff game.

There was no chance of that happening as the Warriors routed the host Welch Wildcats 64-14 in a game that reached mercy-rule status with 7:18 left in the game.

The Warriors (9-2) will travel to meet the Weleetka Outlaws at 7 p.m. next Friday in a Class B second-round game. The Outlaws (10-1) blanked Barnsdall 46-0 Friday night at home in their playoff opener.

The ’Cats end the season at 8-3.

It only took 15 seconds for the Warriors to score as Maddux Shelby hit paydirt. Brayden Robinson scored the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead with 11:45 left in the first quarter.

After the Wildcats cut their deficit to 8-6 with 7:34 remaining in the period, Shelby returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown. He also scored the two-point conversion for a 16-6 lead with 7:19 remaining in the quarter.

After the ’Cats cut their deficit to 16-14 with 1:19 left in the period, it only took 17 seconds for the Warriors to respond as Aiden Turley scored on the first play from scrimmage. Shelby’s two-point conversion gave Webbers Falls a 24-14 lead after the first quarter.

After getting a takeaway, the Warriors cashed it in on Shelby’s third TD of the first half to increase the Webbers Falls lead to 30-14 with 9:38 left before halftime.

After stopping Welch at the Webbers Falls 9-yard line with 5:32 remaining in the first half, the Warriors went 91 yards and Robinson hit paydirt to up the Webbers Falls advantage to 36-14.

After Turley’s interception gave the ball back to the Warriors with 1:16 left in the first half, Dylan Young capped the drive with a touchdown with 29 seconds remaining before halftime. Shelby’s two-point conversion gave Webbers Falls a 44-14 halftime lead.

After the Warriors stopped the Wildcats on downs with 7:28 left in the third quarter, Shelby scored his fourth touchdown to put Webbers Falls ahead 50-14 with 6:22 remaining in the period.

After the Warriors stopped the ’Cats on downs on their ensuing drive with 3:33 left in the period, the Warriors cashed in the possession as Shelby took it to paydirt on the next snap for his fifth TD. Gunner Shelby scored the two-point conversion for a 58-14 lead going into the fourth quarter.

The Wildcats fumbled the ball, and Maddux Shelby picked up the loose pigskin and rambled the rest of the way for the game-ending touchdown with 7:18 left to play. It was his sixth touchdown on the night — the second straight week he accomplished that feat as he did so in the regular-season finale Nov. 2 at Quinton.