The Wetumpka freight train is rolling.
After starting its season 0-3, Wetumpka has won its third straight game with a 34-31 win over Greenville on the road on Friday night. The win spoiled Greenville’s last game in its current stadium.
Wetumpka, which was held to 19 points or less in each of its first three losses, has scored 123 points across its last three wins.
“We’re doing what needs to be done but we have a lot more work to do,” Wetumpka coach Bear Woods said. “We’ve done some good things, especially offensively the last three games. But it’s still in the process. We are right where we hope to be after starting 0-3. We wanted to be 3-3 heading into three-straight region games.”
Wetumpka’s win over Greenville started slow for the Indians (3-3). Wetumpka found itself down, 12-0, at the end of the first quarter before the Indians got on the board with a 35-yard field goal by Gabe Myrick.
Running back Mike Dillard then scored a touchdown run, and Wetumpka trailed 12-10 at the half.
Quarterback Nate Rogers then put Wetumpka on top with two quick touchdowns to begin the second half. Both within two minutes, Rogers scored on runs of 9-yards and 60-yards and Wetumpka took its two-point halftime deficit into a 24-12 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Rogers’ two rushing touchdowns were his 13th and 14th rushing touchdowns of the season, which is his new season best.
Last season, he scored on the ground 13 times. This year, he’s scored 14 times in only six games.
“It’s not just the speed he has, but he is as tough as they come,” Woods said of Rogers. “He’s hard to tackle and his balance is unbelievable. He has a will to win and that’s why he doesn’t come down. He’s scored eight touchdowns in the last two games and he’s had some help from Jamarion Thrasher coming back from injury.”
Thrasher, which missed three of Wetumpka’s six games this year, came back last week against Russell County. He immediately made his presence known with a kickoff return touchdown, and he found the end zone again this week.
Late in the fourth quarter, Rogers found Thrasher open for a four-yard touchdown.
“He is another dynamic player who brings speed and quickness to make plays,” Woods said. “He actually ran a kickoff back tonight for another touchdown, but it was called back in the fourth quarter. That brought us back to the five yards, and then we went on a 95-yard touchdown drive.”
Wetumpka’s game-securing drive started with over eight minutes left on the clock, and the Indians drove all the way down the field and took over five minutes off the clock before Thrasher’s touchdown catch.
Wetumpka’s offense has been known for the big plays, but the Indians were able to move the chains, wear Greenville down and control the game.
“That was a team defining offensive statement to do that,” Woods said. “This was their last game and it was a game that was very challenging for our players. They fought through it and for that 95-yard drive, that was a statement for our guys.”
Wetumpka returns home next week for another region game against rival Stanhope Elmore.
