The Jeff Lofton era at West Plains officially has its first win, and the Wolves made sure it was a memorable one.
Playing at home for the first time under their new head coach, West Plains shook off a lightning delay and an early mistake before rolling past Frenship Memorial 48-14. For a program only in its fourth season, the Wolves looked every bit like a team that has already learned how to win.
That had to feel especially good after last week’s frustrating 42-35 loss at defending Class 3A Division II state champion Wall.
West Plains is now 1-1, and there was plenty for Wolves fans to like Friday night.
At the top of the list was senior Slade Russell.
Russell was an absolute handful for Memorial, rushing for 209 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries while adding 81 receiving yards and another score. He finished with 290 yards from scrimmage and has now topped 200 rushing yards in each of West Plains’ first two games.
His biggest play came at the perfect time.
Memorial had cut West Plains’ lead to 17-7 with 58 seconds remaining in the first half and appeared ready to take some momentum into the locker room. Instead, Timber Russell found his older brother in the flat on the Wolves’ next offensive play.
Slade did the rest, turning it into a 75-yard touchdown.
Thirteen seconds after Memorial scored, West Plains had answered.
That was essentially the ballgame.
The touchdown started a 31-0 West Plains run that turned a competitive game into a rout. Paxton Chandler joined the fun on the ground, finishing with 94 yards and two touchdowns on just eight carries.
Altogether, the Wolves piled up 500 yards of offense.
The defense delivered its share of highlights, too. West Plains held Memorial to 245 total yards, while sophomore defensive back Kline Hooker had two third-quarter interceptions and a tackle for loss.
There will undoubtedly be tougher nights ahead for a West Plains team replacing plenty of experience from last season. But after reaching the state semifinals two years ago, the expectations surrounding this young program aren't exactly small.
Friday looked like a step in the right direction.
Lofton has his first victory as head coach, Slade Russell continues to look like one of the area’s most dangerous offensive weapons, and the Wolves are back in the win column.
