A dominant first half and season-high point total propelled WACO football to its third-consecutive win Friday night, as the Warriors handled the Tigers 67-8 in New London.

In a game heard on the KCII3 stream, the Tigers opened the contest with a 34-yard pass connection from Gavin Menke-Bailey to Cale Westerbeck on their first play from scrimmage. This would prove to be New London’s longest play of the night. WACO’s defense responded three plays later, forcing a fumble that Louden Huisenga picked up and carried into New London territory. Two Huisenga rushes and 29 yards later, the Warriors cashed in on the takeaway to secure the early lead.

The defensive front for WACO controlled the line of scrimmage all night, and picked up where they left off their next trip onto the field. Heavy pressure led to a Huisenga interception, putting the ball back in the hands of Clayton Miller and the Warrior offense deep in the redzone. This time, one play was all it took for Miller to fire a strike to Isaac Rich in the endzone. Rich, who entered the night with one touchdown, recorded a game-high three scores as he later added two more with legs.

Smelling blood in the water, WACO continued to turn up the heat defensively. Shutting the Tigers out in the first half, the Warriors added a blocked punt, safety, and a Hunter Hughes interception. Efficiency was the name of the game for WACO on the offensive end, needing five plays or fewer to score on all seven first-half possessions. Along with three touchdowns from Rich and a pair from Huisenga, John McLaughlin and Reece Oswald each found the endzone to put the Warriors up 49 heading into halftime.

With a comfortable lead and a running clock, WACO got a look at some of their underclassman in the second half. Despite some new faces, it was still business as usual for the Warriors. The offensive line cleared the way for backs Lerik McCarty and Trey Edeker, the latter earning his first score of the season. Nick West and Hayden Shelman traded snaps under center, with West shoveling a one-yard touchdown pass to Shelman in the game’s final minutes.

The Warriors outgained New London 292-101, holding the Tigers to negative two rushing yards. WACO protected the ball from start to finish, while forcing three Tiger turnovers. For the third time in as many weeks, the Warriors put up 55 or more points and held their opponent to less than 15. They look to ride this momentum into Week 7 and their regular-season finale with English Valleys.