A successful two-point conversion late in the ball game was the difference for the WACO football team on Friday night, as they edged past HLV 33-32 in the season opener. 

The barnburner was neck and neck all night with no team having more than a one possession lead at any point. WACO led 12-6 at the break, but found themselves down 32-25 late in the fourth. First-year quarterback Will Edeker calmly marched his troops right down the field capped off by a 43-yard touchdown run from the senior with less than two minutes in the game. Down one, they decided to roll the dice and go for two where Edeker called his number again by barreling into the end zone that proved to be the difference.

Head Coach Chad Edeker tells KCII Sports how a past experience help influence their decision to go for the high risk, high reward play. “We had the same situation against New London last year where we could kick the PAT to tie or go for two to win. That game ended in a loss and this time we decided we want to go for it. Will was able to get in for the score. We had not beat HLV since we went to 8-man so this is a big win for us. I thought we were the more physical team and I was really impressed with how we played.”

Will Edeker had a monstrous debut with 101 yards on the ground and four touchdowns while adding 124 through the air with one score to Zach Schmitz from 54 yards out. Simeon Reichenbach was everywhere defensively with 12 tackles.

WACO starts up the season 1-0 and stay on the road Friday at New London.