Warhawks Take Down Huskies in Round One of State Playoffs

NASHUA - West Fork football continued their historic season with a thrilling 25-23 overtime victory over the Nashua-Plainfield Huskies in the first round of the Class A state playoffs. The win was the seventh win of the season for the Warhawks, the most wins in a season in program history. Warhawks' head coach Daniell Westoff on how big of a win that was for the program.

"It just shows the progress our kids have made mentally to be able to overcome adversity and beat a really good team. "Westhoff said. "To be able to withstand all of the pressure of a playoff environment. I think it's really a testament to their training and preparation. This win was four years in the making. This group of seniors got the crap knocked out of them earlier in their career, and they continued to fight and develop."

The Warhawks had a balances offensive attack, as they threw for 147 yards and ran for 229 yards. Quarterback, junior Zander Hansen was 7-of-11 passing with 140 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Senior Dax Suntken had a big game, as he was the leading rusher for the Warhawks with 134 yards on 29 carries, and he was also the team's leading receiver with four catches for 103 yards and a touchdown. Suntken also threw for a touchdown pass.

The Warhawks led 8-7 at the end of the first quarter, but after getting outscored 10-0 in the second quarter, they went into halftime trailing 17-8. Hansen added a field goal in the third quarter, and after scoring a game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter, the Warhawks missed the extra point, sending the game into overtime tied at 17. The Huskies scored a touchdown, but failed the two-point conversion in overtime, while the Warhawks scored a touchdown and converted their two-point conversion to clinch the 25-23 victory.

The win improves the Warhawks record to 7-2, and they will move on to face Saint Ansgar in the second round of the Class A state playoffs on Friday October 31 at 7 p.m. Despite playing one of the best teams in the state, coach Westhoff said his team expects to compete to win against Saint Ansgar.

"We need to continue to do the things that got us here," he said. "Our mindset is paramount that when we hop on that bus to go up there, we are going to win. We are not just going up there to play the game and be happy we are there."