Lenoch powers West Branch past North Cedar

STANWOOD - Entering last night's game at North Cedar, Class 1A No. 4 West Branch's defense had surrendered one lone field goal through three games.

The Bears knew they'd face a stiff test from Knights quarterback Jayden Johnson - the 1A leader in passing yards and touchdowns - so they countered with their workhorse.

Senior tailback Luke Lenoch carried the ball 40 times for 324 yards and four scores as West Branch outlasted North Cedar, 42-28, last night in a 1A district game.

'My offensive line, they laid down some really good blocks,” Lenoch said. 'Without them, I wouldn't be able to get 2 yards. It's just how big they are and how physical they are to get me through those holes. It's nice to have.”

Johnson had his moments against the Bears' defense, opening the scoring with a 52-yard strike to junior Ian Malaby for a brief 6-0 lead.

Lenoch responded on the Bears' first possession with a 7-yard surge to give West Branch (4-0) its first lead at 7-6. Johnson added a 35-yard TD to Malaby on fourth-and-26 to pull within 14-13 early in the second quarter, but Lenoch closed the half with his second touchdown from 3 yards out for a 21-13 lead.

'I thought our offense did a tremendous job carrying the team tonight,” West Branch Coach Butch Pedersen said. 'When they scored, our offense put us right back in it again.”

North Cedar (3-1) got started in the second half when tailback Adam Poduska took a pitch from Johnson and sprinted 50 yards down the right sideline. The two-point conversion tied the game at 21-21. Lenoch responded with touchdown runs of 33 and 3 yards for a 35-21 lead.

'We just knew our offense was going to have to keep rolling,” Lenoch said.

Johnson added a 50-yard quarterback keeper in the fourth quarter to get within a touchdown, but the Knights got no closer. The senior finished 238 yards passing and two scores, but was picked off by West Branch defensive back Austin Black with 7:33 left in the game to end the threat.

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com