Kayden McCurdy and TJ Hamel had a game that transcended sport Friday.
In Wright City’s 40-6 win over visiting Eastern Missouri rival Mark Twain, the pair hooked up for the hat trick – or three touchdowns – in the victory. Hamel even added a rushing score for good measure.
“I’ve never done this,” Hamel said. “Not in middle school, not on jayvee. This is a first for me. This just feels so great.”
The home team dominated the first half, building an insurmountable lead.
After stopping Twain on downs on the first possession of the game. Wright City’s offense went to work, scoring three times in succession.
First, a 20-yard pass from junior Kayden McCurdy was hauled in by fellow junior Kaveon Schulte with seven minutes, 14 seconds left in the opening quarter. After the Sam Sherman extra point, Wright City led 7-0.
“This is amazing,” McCurdy said. “I’ve got two of the best receivers in the conference. I’m getting him the ball this year. "
Then, McCurdy found his new favorite target – Hamel, twice, in the first half – to grow the lead for the Wildcats (1-4).
A 32-yard scoring strike to senior TJ Hamel made it 14-0 after the PAT and the duo hooked up once again, from 45 yards out this time, to make the score 21-0 Wildcats after the first play of the second quarter.
Twain cut into the lead with 6:50 left in the second quarter as Wyatt Karnes scored on a 2-yard run, but the subsequent 2-point conversion attempt was stopped short of the goal line.
Wright City went into the locker room with the 21-6 lead over Twain (1-4).
On the first drive of the second half, Wright City struck again – quickly.
Just 72 seconds into the half, McCurdy found Hamel to cap a long drive and Hamel took a 31-yard pass to the end zone to put the Wildcats up 27-6 through the end of the third quarter.
Hamel added a fourth score, on a 9-yard run with 7:24 to play when, after the unsuccessful 2-point conversion attempt, made the score 33-6.
The game’s final score came with 3:04 left when back-up quarterback freshman Kody Kneemiller found Sherman from 10 yards and Sherman added the kick.
Wright City has now won five straight against the Tigers, including a 41-20 victory on the road last season. In total, the teams had played 13 times, with each winning six contests prior to Friday with the Wildcats breaking the deadlock.
Now, though, the Wildcats will prepare for Homecoming as they will play host to South Shelby (3-1) at 7 p.m. next Friday.
“We’re going to have a hard week of practice to get ready,” Wright City Coach John Klekamp said. “We want to build off of this. Getting a first win is nice but we want it (the success) to continue.”
