The West Central Heat opened their 2026 season on a high note last week, picking up a 32-12 win over Flanagan/Cornell/Woodland.
Aidan Garner got the scoring started with a 16-yard touchdown run to give the Heat an early 8-0 lead. FCW answered with two scores before the end of the first quarter to take a 12-8 lead.
Garner took over in the second quarter, finding the end zone two more times to give West Central a 24-12 lead heading into halftime.
During the break, the second half would eventually be postponed to Saturday, due to inclement weather. The Heat picked up where they left off, with the Heat defense shutting out the visitors in the 3rd and 4th quarters. Graham Kelly added another score as West Central cruised to the 32-12 win to start the season (1-0).
The Heat now turn their attention to Blue Ridge/DeLand-Weldon, as West Central returns home Friday night for a 6:30 kickoff.
In breaking news in high school football on Tuesday night, Sherrard High School has announced they will cancel the remainder of their varsity season following Friday night’s game against Orion.
The Tigers entered the year with just 30 players on the roster, including only 13 upperclassmen. With several players expecting to miss multiple weeks while recovering from mononucleosis, the school has decided to play a JV-only schedule for the remainder of the season.
During his weekly interview on the WRAM Morning Show on Tuesday, West Central Head Coach Jason Kirby, who served as Sherrard’s head coach from 2006 to 2009, shared his thoughts.
“I feel terrible for those kids. I really do. To put the work that you put forth in the summer and the offseason, and what Friday nights mean to, let’s say, this community and our kids, and how much they look forward to it. To know that those kids aren’t going to get to experience that and enjoy it, it’s really very heartbreaking. I feel bad for the kids at Sherrard, and I hope that they can get things going with their junior varsity program and move forward and get a varsity football team going back at Sherrard and get successful again.”
Sherrard will play a JV-only schedule for the remainder of the season. Varsity opponents will receive a forfeit win or have the option to find a non-conference opponent to fill the open date.
