Wes-Del Football Concludes Season with Hard-Fought Loss at Knightstown The Wes-Del varsity football team saw its 2026 season come to an end with a hard-fought 22-14 loss on the road against Knightstown. The Warriors battled throughout the contest, jumping out to an early lead before the Panthers rallied to secure the victory. Wes-Del struck first, taking a 6-0 lead after the opening quarter. Knightstown responded with eight points in the second quarter and added 14 more in the third to build a 22-6 advantage heading into the final period. The Warriors continued to fight, scoring eight points in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to eight, but were unable to complete the comeback. Offensively, the Warriors finished with 218 total yards, including 168 yards rushing and 50 yards passing. Junior Zach Gillam led the ground attack with 78 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, while senior Rhyker Mauck added 51 yards on 12 attempts. Sophomore Haiden Hassett contributed 25 rushing yards and added three receptions for 28 yards. Junior quarterback Noah Perdue completed six passes for 50 yards, connecting with three different receivers. Senior Eli Wright hauled in two receptions for 20 yards, while junior Ryan Hyre added a reception. Senior Ranen DuBois also contributed a successful two-point conversion reception. Defensively, the Warriors were led by sophomore Jaxon Drumm, who recorded a team-high nine tackles. Sophomore Haiden Hassett followed with seven tackles, including three tackles for loss and a sack. Noah Perdue, Eli Wright, and freshman Luke Fields each recorded six tackles, while Ryan Hyre and junior Kolby New added five tackles apiece. Hyre provided one of the game's biggest defensive highlights, intercepting a Knightstown pass and returning it 36 yards for a touchdown. The defensive score helped keep the Warriors in the contest and highlighted the team's ability to make plays on both sides of the football. The Warriors also received contributions from their offensive line, which recorded 16 pancake blocks. Luke Fields, junior Drake Fowler, and senior Easton Stewart each finished with four pancake blocks, while junior Braxton Harmeyer and senior Sean Ashton added two apiece. Senior Wyatt Wicker handled the punting duties, recording five punts for 212 yards, an average of 42.4 yards per punt, including a long of 55 yards and two punts inside the 20-yard line. Although the season ended earlier than the Warriors had hoped, the 2026 campaign featured numerous accomplishments and memorable moments. Wes-Del's players and coaches demonstrated tremendous dedication and commitment throughout the year, representing their school and community with pride. Congratulations to Head Coach Matt Nuckols, the coaching staff, and all of our student-athletes on their efforts throughout the 2026 football season. A special thank you goes to our seniors for their leadership, commitment, and contributions to the Wes-Del football program.