HS Football: Westside hammers Wyoming East

Football

August 30, 2025•3 min read

Renegades win the Battle for the Golden Shovel for the fourth straight season

New Richmond - Hopes were high at Wyoming East that 2025 was the year the Warriors would be victorious in the annual Battle for the Golden Shovel, breaking a three-year drought.

Westside had other ideas.

Aided by four first half turnovers committed by the home team, the Renegades blitzed the Warriors 54-6 to retain the Golden Shovel for the fourth straight year.

"A young team, (that made) 10,000 mistakes. Less physical than they need to be and it all snowballs," Wyoming East head coach Steven Cook said. "You have a little bit of a chance and you keep making mistake after mistake. Things you work on and you coach, that you know they are going to bring. Friday night comes and you don't execute."

After converting the initial first down of the contest, Wyoming East fumbled the snap, which was recovered by freshman Malachi King.

Sophomore quarterback Bradyn Waldron made the Warriors pay when he rambled 26 yards on 4th-and-4 for the game's first score.

Another East miscue allowed Westside to score again in a blink.

After a receiving error on the ensuing kickoff left Wyoming East pinned deep in its own territory at the one-yard line, the Warriors fumbled on the first play from scrimmage. The fumble was once again recovered by King, this time in the end zone by King for a 14-0 lead.

The Warriors appeared to have steadied the ship with a strong drive that ended in a one-yard sneak from freshman quarterback Cruze Cooper, trimming the lead back to 14-6 with 8:45 to play before the half.

Unfortunately for the Warriors, another quick turn of events and costly turnovers sent the game spiraling out of control.

Ashton Blankenship started the run for Westside when he scooped up a squib kick and raced 60 yards for a score and a 22-6 advantage.

Wyoming East was able to stop the Renegades on their next drive, but a muffed punt handed the ball right back to the visitors.

Waldron once again quickly made the Warriors pay for the mistake with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Sanders for a touchdown.

Before Wyoming East could get into the halftime locker room, Devin Sanders scored again from seven yards out with 10.1 seconds on the clock and a 38-6 lead at the break.

Making his first start as a varsity quarterback, Waldron capped his night with two more passing touchdowns in the second half.

The first was a 16-yard pass to Ethan Walls, but the final toss was the most special of the night when he connected with his older brother, Braxton Waldron, on a 52-yard scoring strike.