The top two scoring teams in Class A District 6 found themselves in a defensive battle Friday for the league championship. As heard on FM 106.1 and KCIIRadio.com, the Winfield-Mount Union Wolves (9-0 overall; 7-0 Class A District 6) played their final regular season football game, hosting the Pekin Panthers for the district championship. After jumping out to a 16-0 first half lead, the Wolves overcame three second half turnovers to hold off the Panthers, 16-12.

The Wolves’ first offensive drive of the game took up over half the first quarter clock. W-MU finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown run by senior Darren Hunter. A successful two point conversion made the score 8-0 with 5:40 remaining in the first quarter. W-MU’s final score came midway through the second quarter. Senior Kolt Rossister found senior Garrett Baker along the near sideline and he outran the Panther defense for a 48-yard scamper, extending the Wolves lead to 16-0 with 7:04 remaining in the second quarter.

The score carried over into the second half. Pekin found the endzone twice in the third quarter on short touchdown runs. Junior Trevor Northup took a quarterback bootleg in for a three-yard touchdown, but the Wolves spoil Pekin’s two point conversion attempt to make the score 16-6. After the Wolves fumbled the ball on the next possession, Pekin took the turnover and cashed into a touchdown. Senior Keaton Winn took a misdirection running play five yards for a touchdown, cutting the deficit to 16-12.

The two teams played a scoreless fourth quarter with the Wolves defensive making fourth down stop with less than a minute left in the game, bringing the final score to 16-12.

Rossiter finished the game completing seven of his 10 passes for 111 yards and one touchdown. Hunter led the Wolves rushing attack with 82 yards on 19 carries, scoring one touchdown. Junior Bryce Robinson caught six passes for 63 yards. Baker had a single reception for 48 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, seniors Sam Jennings and Matthew Niebuhr each had 10 total tackles, seven solo, while junior Jared Hudson came away with two sacks in the victory.

The Wolves end the regular season undefeated and are a No. 1 seed in the Class A playoffs. W-MU is set to host the North Linn Lynxs (4-5 overall) in Wednesday’s postseason opener.