Verndale still perfect

ASHBY - The Verndale Pirates lived up to their No. 4 ranking by rolling over the Ashby Arrows 52-12 for a Pheasant Conference victory Friday.

The Pirates held a 30-0 advantage after the first quarter following an 80-yard run by Zack Meidinger, runs of 15 and 2 yards by Amos and Colby Schmidt respectively and then a 80-yard interception return by Meidinger.

Amos Schmidt scored again on a 33-yard run in the second quarter and Mason Johnson found the end zone from 33 yards out in the third.

Dustin Motschenbacher wrapped up the scoring for Verndale on runs of 55 and 47 yards in the final stanza.

The Pirates averaged better than 13 yards per carry as they picked up 438 yards on 33 attempts.

Motschenbacher finished the game with 120 yards on six carries. Meidinger carried only three times for 93 yards and Amos Schmidt added 81 yards on six carries. Colby Schmidt completed two of three passes for 37 yards.

Verndale 30 8 0 14 - 52

Ashby 0 0 6 6 - 12

First quarter

V-Zack Meidinger 80 run (Amos Schmidt run) 11:03

V-A. Schmidt 15 run (Colby Schmidt run) 7:51

V- C. Schmidt 2 run (C. Schmidt run) 4:36

V-Meidinger 80 interception return (pass fail) 1:20

Second quarter

V-A. Schmidt 33 run (A. Schmidt run) 11:32

Third quarter

A-Mason Johnson 33 run (run fail)

Fourth quarter

V-Dustin Motschenbacher 55 run (pass fail) 10:39

V-Motschenbacher 47 run (Jacob Perius run) 5:17

A-Jordan Lillemon 48 run (pass fail) 1:00

Team statistics

Rushes-yards: V 33-438, A 42-218

Pass comp-att-int-yards: V 2-3-0-37 A 4-11-2-20

Total offense: V 475 A 238

Individual statistics

Rushing: V-Motschenbacher 6-120, Meidinger 3-93, A. Schmidt 7-81, C. Schmidt 4-14; A-Johnson 22-107

Passing: V-C. Schmidt 2-3-0-37; A-Sam Graham 4-11-2-20

Receiving: V-Nate Wiese 1-28, Justin Kern 1-9

Conference: V 2-0. Overall: V 3-0. Next: Verndale vs. Bertha-Hewitt at Bertha 7 p.m. Friday.