Cam Eveland grabs a wide open touchdown for Plymouth during a 66-7 Rockies victory over Wawasee. (Photos by Nick Goralczyk)

PLYMOUTH – The good news is that it’s over. The bad news is that it ever happened in the first place.

Northern Lakes Conference foes Wawasee and Plymouth met in the opening round of sectionals Friday night and it was ugly. The Rockies held nothing back and then threw a little extra on top on their way to a 66-7 win over the visiting Warriors.

It started like a normal game as Plymouth stalled on its opening drive, giving the Warriors the ball. Wawasee fumbled on the ensuing possession thanks to errant pitch on a sweep play, Plymouth recovered and scored a play later.

The Rockies would score three more times in the opening frame and once more in the second quarter to build up a 36-0 lead. Wawasee’s lone score came in the closing minute of the first half. Tyler Smith, Wawasee’s quarterback, took matters into his own hands with several big runs to set himself up for a four-yard scoring run.

The scoring didn’t stop in the second half as Plymouth continued to show why it is a legitimate threat to win its first sectional since 2001. The game started to get chippy after the Rockies attempted three onside kicks after their first three scores of the second half, but players on both sides played smart and no serious injuries developed.

Plymouth capped its statement victory with a throwing score from its starting offense with just 11 seconds remaining in the game. Following the two-point try, the Rockies would leave the field satisfied with the 66-7 final score.

Plymouth quarterback Jack Barron threw 13 times for 265 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Barron also scored once on the ground and added an additional 75 rushing yards. Cam Eveland was the biggest weapon Plymouth had against Wawasee as he scored three times and hauled in 230 receiving yards.

Smith led Wawasee’s offensive effort with 39 rushing yards and the score. Noah Wadkins added 29 yards on the ground for the Warriors. Jeremiah Dilley led Wawasee’s defense with 10 tackles. Andy Holdeman, Michael Katzer and Jeff Bartman all had a sack. Michael Semon led Wawasee in kick return yards with 18.

“There’s a lot of things to learn from every game,” Wawasee head coach Josh Ekovich said after the game. “When it all comes down to it, I can say whatever I want about this game but right now I just feel bad for our seniors. This was their last game, they gave it their all. I don’t want to make it about the game, I just wanted the team to honor the seniors. They were the survivors, they were the ones that stuck it out for four years.”

Wawasee finishes the season at 3-7.

Head coach John Barron was asked about his team’s intent to score so many points in Friday’s contest.

“Ask Wawasee’s coach,” Barron said when asked about the relentless attack from his team. “He (Ekovich) onside kicked against us to start the game after what our players went through.”

Barron was referring to his team’s first game on the field following the death of Plymouth player David Bacon.

“(Wawasee assistant coach) Chris Cotton and David’s dad were very close,” said Ekovich. “At the funeral they talked about how David would want to come out and kick our butt and how he’d want us to give it our all. At the time Plymouth was ranked No. 2 in state and we wanted to do everything we could to go out there and beat them. It was a football play, it wasn’t cheap, it wasn’t unsportsmanlike. It was an onside kick and we moved on.”

Plymouth (8-2) will travel to DeKalb (5-5) next Friday. DeKalb was a 39-13 winner over Angola.

“We have to have a great week of practice, that’s the bottom line,” Barron said when asked what his team’s key to continued success was. “I was proud of our kids and how hard they played and the way they played. You know, hey, we move on.”