09/12/2025
BY JACK BULLOCK
CHRISTOPHER - The Flora Wolves, despite a couple of hiccups (turnovers), took care of business in their contest on the road Friday night at Christopher.

Coach Brian Tackitt and his club left Franklin County with a 35-22 victory, a game in which they led 35-0 after three quarters before letting the reserves finish out the win.

The Wolves are now 3-0 in overall and in the Black Diamond Conference as they move towards hopefully their second-consecutive playoff berth.

“I thought our kids played really well this week. We had a great week of practice in preparing for CZRE,” said Coach Tackitt. “We got big time contributions from all three facets of the game.”

Christopher/Zeigler-Royalton/Elverado saw its mark slip to 1-2 in the league and overall.

Quarterback Parker Helm scored on three short touchdown runs and running back Kormik Massie delivered the other rushing TD for the Wolves.

Kick returner Kehlin Crawford went 51-yards on a punt return put the Wolves up 28-0.

Massie led the team in rushing with 103-yards on 13 attempts, including a short touchdown run.

Zane McKinney added 92-yards on the ground for Flora.

Helm completed 4-of-7 passes for just 28-yards, but he scored on runs of one, seven and one-yards.

Wide out Gage Dugan caught a pair of passes, one on a halfback pass from running back Thane Warren.

CZRE got 89-yards passing and 37-yards rushing from senior quarterback Landon Sveda in the loss.

Gauge Schlake, a senior running back, led the Bearcats with 120-yards on the ground, on 11-attempts, most of which came in the fourth quarter.

CZRE had chances, especially early in the game, but the Flora defense kept the Bearcats off the scoreboard until after the outcome was decided.

The Wolves fumbled on their opening play and the Bearcats recovered on the Flora 41.

Although Coach Mike Rude's squad picked up a couple of first downs on a drive that reached the Wolves' 17, a fourth-and-nine pass from Sveda was incomplete as the Wolves took the ball back.

It took 11-plays and just over five minutes of game clock for Flora to get on the scoreboard.

Rushes by McKinney, Massie and Helm did all of the damage on a drive.

Helm scored on a one-yard run.

Even though Helm missed the PAT kick, the Wolves led 6-0 with 2:34 left in the first quarter.

After forcing a punt, Flora got the ball back in Bearcats' territory at the 35.

The halfback pass from junior Warren to McKinney covered 26-yards to the CZRE nine.

Facing a fourth-and-goal at the seven, Helm dropped back to pass but it was a quarterback draw.

The senior weaved his way through the Bearcats' defense for a TD.

A PAT run by Massie made it 14-0 at the 8:27 mark of the second quarter.

The Bearcats had a drive going on its next possession but a crucial holding penalty negated a 31-pass that would have put CZRE at the Flora 10.

Instead they had to punt the ball back to the Wolves who had plenty of time to add another score before intermission.

A 12-play drive from their own 28 resulted in a last second touchdown.

A pass interference call on a long pass from Helm to Crawford pushed the ball to the CZRE 14.

A 10-yard run from Massie to the four was followed by a run by McKinney.

McKinney was hit and the ball came loose and hit the ground but senior tight end Dulaney Bullard fell on it inside the one-yard line.

After a Flora timeout, Helm took care of the rest scoring on the next play with :05.0 left in the half.

Helm kicked the PAT for a 21-0 halftime advantage.

“Our defense held their skill kids in check when it mattered. The defensive line gave them fits up front. They allowed our linebackers and safeties to come up and make tackles. Our special teams were really good all night. Kickoff coverage was on point forcing the long field for the offense,” said Coach Tackitt about his defense.

After forcing a three-and-out on the first defensive possession of the second half, Crawford took a bouncing punt and headed up the right sideline.

The junior speedster dodged some CZRE players and sprinted into the endzone.

Another Helm PAT pushed the score to 28-0 with 9:37 left in the third quarter.

“In the third quarter Kehlin had the big punt return touchdown that broke their back,” said Coach Tackitt.

CZRE had a chance to score in the third quarter after one of the few mistakes by Flora.

Helm threw a pass over the middle intended for Dugan, but the ball went off of the receivers hands and into the waiting arms of defensive back Tripp Fletcher.

His return set up the Bearcats with a first down on the Flora 34.

However, as they had accomplished throughout the game, the Wolves defense stopped the hosts.

A Sveda pass intended for wide out Leo Tucker was picked off by Warren and returned to the Wolves' 36.

Massie produced his longest run of the night for Flora with burst down the left sideline for 52-yards to the CZRE eight.

Massie rushed for seven more yards to the one before Helm finished the Flora scoring with another one-yard run and a PAT kick making it 35-0 with 2:12 left in the third quarter.

“Our offense moved the ball really well on the ground, controlling the clock for three quarters,” said Coach Tackitt. “Kormik finally busted the long run and Zane kept moving the chains with nice runs. The passing game didn't get going like we can, but we felt like we were running the ball really well.”

The Bearcats three touchdown fourth quarter came with the Flora reserves on the field.

Schlake scored on runs of 15, 59, and nine-yards.

The Wolves will host Edwards County next week before tackling defending conference champion Johnston City on September 26.

CZRE will try to regroup with a game at Hamilton County next Friday.

“After the slow start we really responded well and had a nice night. It is a good start to the first third of the season. We have a tough game with Edwards County next week that we are going to have to be prepared for,” finalized Coach Tackitt.