Darnold runs wild in 68-9 East Mills home victory

The East Mills football team racked up 540 total yards, including a career-high 223 yards rushing and four touchdowns from Cavin Darnold in a dominating 68-9 victory over West Harrison Friday in Malvern.

“West Harrison had some good players and good skill but I think we got the better of them. I think we were the more prepared team,” said East Mills coach Andy Irwin.”

The Rams’ 540 total yards are a three-year high and their 418 rushing yards is among the top five rushing performances ever by the school in eight-man football.

Darnold carried 17 times through, around and over the West Harrison defense for his 223 yards.

“He was a good runner for us last year but he had a couple of injuries and we had some other good running backs as well,” Irwin said of Darnold, who carried just eight times for 31 yards all of last season. “We knew he definitely had the ability to become a good running back for us. He’s very strong and fast but he also does a great job of following his blockers and reading what the defense is giving him. He does a good job of running hard every time he carries the ball.”

Running backs Matt Walliser added 76 yards and a touchdown and Josh Hopkins 60 yards are just four carries for the Wolverines.

Quarterback Logan Currin threw just nine times but completed four passes for an efficient 132 yards. Gabe Barney hauled in three of Currin’s strikes for 85 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown bomb.

East Mills led 40-3 at the half and played most of the second half with the junior varsity.

Defensively, East Mills limited West Harrison to 102 total yards, including 85 rushing yards, and forced two turnovers.

“Our kids executed our plan really well,” Irwin said. “They had a couple of really good skill players so we knew we had to contain their quarterback and get to their running back before he could get out into open space and our kids did a good job of understanding that. They broke down and made a lot of tackles as a team; that’s one thing we always stress, tackling as a team with everybody going to the ball.”

Noah Richter led the Wolverines with 10 tackles and a sack. Luke Stortenbekcer added nine tackles and Darnold wrapped up four stops and an interception.

East Mills hosts Nishnabotna for Homecoming Friday. Kick off is set for 7 p.m.