On a night Wellington head football coach Linn Hibbs accumulated his 
100th win, his team posted a shutout.
    Wellington whipped Kingman 35-0 in the 2008 season opener Friday 
night there, setting the stage for a tenacious three-game series 
starting with Andover Central at home next week.
    After the game, longtime assistant John Gifford presented Hibbs the 
game ball.
    "There are three reasons why I have won 100 games," Hibbs said. 
"Great players. Great players. Great players."
    For the first quarter and much of the second it seemed liked the 100-
win celebration was a long, long ways. Wellington was holding onto a 
2-0 lead, and was having trouble moving the ball. But the tone of the 
game changed on one play.
    A screen play that called for quarterback Jordan Edward to roll out 
to his left and throw across field to Tanner Church resulted in a 33-
yard touchdown. That gave Wellington a 9-0 lead. From thereafter, 
there appeared to be little doubt Wellington would go on to win this 
game.
    "I think our guys had a hard time adjusting to their unorthodox 
defense," Hibbs said. "They had seven guys on a yo-yo - going back 
and fourth on and off the defensive lines. They were doing stuff, I 
don't think I have ever seen in a game."
    For Kingman, it was a beginning of a new era. Their coach, Darby 
Jones, came from Texas and was making his debut. He took over a 
program which was 1-8 in 2007.
    At the beginning, Kingman looked tough. For the first quarter, the 
only thing that separated these two programs was a safety on a punt.
    Dylan Bowman would crash through the line to block a Kingman punt 
deep in Eagle territory. The ball would bounce through the end-zone 
for two points.
    Wellington then made a couple of mistakes. A poor punt reception 
that was boggled left the Dukes pinned at a two. Drake Koehner, who 
started at quarterback, threw an interception giving Kingman life in 
Wellington territory.
    But the Crusader defense would hold tough and Wellington got the 
ball again. This time the Crusaders scored on the Edwards-to-Church 
screen.
    Kingman would move the ball to midfield, before Troyce Hefley 
recovered a fumble. That led to Wellington’s second touchdown drive.
    As promised, Hibbs said he would rotate quarterbacks, and Koerner 
was back in the lineup. This time he would take Wellington downfield, 
completing a nice 44-yard touchdown throw to Dylan Woodbridge in the 
middle of the field. Felipe Matsuzoe made the extra point. The 
Brazilian would go 3 of 5 on PATs and nearly hit a 33-yard field goal 
later.
    Kingman, intent on passing the ball, was becoming more ineffective 
as the night progressed. Sage Aguilar would grab an interception and 
scramble 37 yards untouched for Wellington’s third touchdown. The 
score was 23-0 at the half.
    The third quarter started quickly for Wellington, as the Crusaders 
recovered a fumble at the 25.
    Edwards then hit Woodbridge on a 21-yard reception to the 4. Heath 
Carroll would punch it in two plays later to make it 29-0.
    The Crusaders then made their most impressive stand of the night.
    Kingman would drive inside the 10 yard line and looked to be going 
in for its first score of the game with a first down. But Wellington 
didn't budge for eight consecutive plays. After putting the Eagles in 
a fourth down situation, Wellington was called with pass interference 
and had to start a new set of downs. Still Kingman couldn't push it 
through.
    "I really thought that was the defining moment of the game," Hibbs 
said. "I was so pleased how the defense played tonight."
    From thereafter, Kingman would get no closer.
    Wellington would score again on a Koerner 5-yard touchdown reception 
to  Sage Aguilar with 5:05 to play in the game. The Crusaders ended 
the game playing junior varsity players.
    ••••
    Wellington appears to be doing better on the injury front. Jordan 
Edwards has a sore shin. Casey Dry is dealing with a sore back. 
Still, Wellington appears to be season-ending injury free.

    Wellington 35 Kingman 0
    Wellington     2   21   12   0 — 35
    Kingman    0   0    0    0 — 0
    W — Blocked punt Bowman safety.
    W — Church 33 pass from Edwards (pt. kick)
    W — Woodridge 29 pass from Koehner (pt. kick)
    W — Aguilar 37 interception TD run (pt. kick)
    W — H. Carroll 2 run (pt. no good).
    W — Aguilar 5 pass from Koehner (pt. no good).