The Wayland Wildcats entered the 2022 season with a ten-game losing streak. They had also lost four straight to rival Hopkins, as their last win in the series was in 1970. Both of those streaks came to a halt on Friday night, as the Wayland offense exploded in a 42-25 victory.
Dustin Loomans got things started for the Wildcats with a 57-yard touchdown sprint. Wayland would double their lead on a Maverick Daley two-yard touchdown plunge. Miles Gibson would lead a touchdown answer for Hopkins, as the full-time signal caller paired up with Zander Hitzler on a 74-yard deep ball. This brought the count after the first quarter to 14-7 in favor of Wayland.
The second quarter saw a similar pattern as the first. Wayland scored the first two touchdowns, before a Hopkins answer. On the Wildcats’ attack, they got a two-yard touchdown from Maverick Daley, and a 39-yard touchdown pass from Dustin Loomans to Peyton Moore. Before the half, Miles Gibson found Pedington on a quick strike. At the halftime, break Wayland led 28-13.
Hopkins began to mount a comeback in the third quarter, as they flipped the script. The Vikings attacked first, as Tristen Perry scored on the defensive side of the ball, a 23-yard return. Jayden Prather, who had been quiet up until this point, broke free on a 58-yard touchdown sprint. All of the sudden, Hopkins trailed by just three points, 28-25.
Needing to respond, Wayland posted 14 straight points to put this game away. On two different drives, Loomans used his legs to find the end zone. Late in the third quarter, it was a two-yard scamper. In the final frame, he carried it across the goal line from five yards out.
The 42 points from Wayland was their most since September 2018. Dustin Loomans was phenomenal for the victors. He was 5/9 passing for 78 yards, but his bigger impact was on the ground. On 19 carries, Loomans finished with 164 yards and three touchdowns.
Hopkins’ Miles Gibson finished 6/15 passing, racking up 143 yards. Jayden Prather was the Vikings’ leading rusher with 96 yards on 10 carries.
Next week, Wayland will take on Holland Christian. Hopkins, meanwhile, will take on another rival, Allendale.
