Donning a No. 30 decal on each of their helmets in the memory of 2019 West graduate, 2019 West salutatorian and multi-sport letterwinner Josh Berry, who passed away Sunday, the West Senators' football program only needed 19 offensive plays to help the Senators put up 42 points as Anthony Bishop, Westyn Ratcliff and Wyatt Keyser combined to run for 231 yards and four touchdowns on just 13 carries while West senior wide receiver and kick returner Gunnar Shonkwiler took an 87-yard kick return back for a touchdown in West's 42-6 victory over the Oak Hill Oaks' football program Friday evening in Oak Hill.
West (8-1, 5-0 SOC II) churned out an average of 13.9 yards per play on Friday evening with Ratcliff, Bishop and Keyser each scoring from 33 yards or more away.
Ratcliff led the Senators with 99 yards and a touchdown on three carries while Bishop posted 72 yards on four carries and a scoring tote. Keyser, seeing extended action in the backfield with West up by a 33-0 margin with over seven minutes to play in the second quarter, ran for 60 yards and a score on five carries.
Shonkwiler's 87-yard touchdown return on the opening kickoff started the scoring while West senior quarterback Carter Keyser's lone pass went for six as the Senator signal-caller found West senior wide receiver Braden Adkins for a 12-yard touchdown pass.
Defensively, 23 different West players notched a tackle in the contest.
Each of West's four leading tacklers in its Week 9 victory over Oak Hill were all freshmen, as Dean Rapp led the way with nine tackles and a pass deflections followed by seven wrapups from Bradley Bishop. Eli Pendleton, who also ran for 20 yards on five carries offensively in the game, made six stops with a sack and a pass deflection while Emmit Morgan had five tackles as the four freshmen showcased a bright future for the Senators on defense.
West senior Zane Evans had five tackles and a sack while Senator junior Caid Cantrell also made five tackles.
Along with Pendleton and Dean Rapp, Adkins, Shonkwiler, Wyatt Keyser and Maximus Rosario each had a pass deflection in the game.
West and Wheelersburg (6-3, 5-0 SOC II) will play in their annual Week 10 clash on Friday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. at The Rock in West Portsmouth. The winner of that contest wins the SOC II Championship outright.
Both teams have already clinched playoff berths in their respective divisions as the Senators are the No. 3 team in the OHSAA Division VI, Region 24 rankings while the Pirates are No. 8 in the OHSAA Division V, Region 19 standings. West has already clinched at least one home playoff game regardless of Friday's result and, with a win, gets an opening round bye and a home playoff game. A Wheelersburg win moves the Pirates up to fifth place in the rankings.
ADDITIONAL SCORES
Wheelersburg 39, Minford 0
Waverly 55, Northwest 0
Symmes Valley 47, Notre Dame 0