By Levi Payton
sports@joplinglobe.com
WYANDOTTE, Okla. — The Commerce Tigers opened their season with an impressive 44-0 triumph against Wyandotte on Thursday night.
Early in the first quarter it appeared the Bears would be the aggressors. However, the tide turned when the Tigers found the end zone first.
In his first three carries Tigers fullback Mikey Morgan ran for touchdowns of 5 and 4 yards.
Tailback Josh Pilkinton provided a big-play threat. Pilkinton accumulated 155 total yards and a pair of scores. He ran for 83 yards on 10 carries in the first half, but his biggest play came when he hauled in a 40-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Joey Bowling as time expired in the second quarter to send the Tigers to the break with a 21-0 margin.
The pass to Pilkinton was the only one completed by Bowling in the first half. However, Bowling connected on 6-of-9 throws in the second, including an eight-yard strike to Dusty Williams to make it 28-0.
“We thought we were going to come out and grind it at them on the ground,” Tigers coach Willie Ng said. “But the way they were lining up, we just started throwing (short passes) and it worked.”
Commerce went into the fourth leading 30-0 after recording a safety when Wyandotte recovered its own fumble in the end zone late in the third quarter. Pilkinton added a three-yard scamper in the fourth, and Ryan Nowlin returned a punt 69 yards for the game’s final score.
Pilkinton finished with 96 yards rushing on 16 attempts and 59 yards on four receptions.
“The kids played hard tonight,” Ng said. “I can’t say enough about them.”
Commerce 7 14 16 14—44
Wyandotte 0 0 0 0 — 0
Com— Mikey Morgan 5 yard run (Zach Barnes kick)
Com— Morgan 4 yard run (Barnes kick)
Com—Josh Pilkinton 40 pass from Joey Bowling (Barnes kick)
Com—Dusty Williams 8 pass from Bowling (Barnes kick)
Com—safety
Com—Pilkinton 5 yard run (Barnes kick)
Com—Ryan Nowlin 69 yard punt return (Barnes kick)
Sports
September 5, 2008
Morgan, Pilkinton power Commerce
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Outlaws open season Thursday on the road
Chris Oldner takes a cut during the Joplin Outlaws practice Tuesday afternoon. The Outlaws open their season on Thursday night at Rossville and play seven road games before their home opener on June 5.
The Joplin Outlaws and new coach Rob Vessell have set some lofty goals for the 2012 baseball season.
Continued ... - Heat take 2-0 lead into Boston in East finals
- McIlroy recovers from rugged start for 71
- Former equipment manager sues Rams
- Stanton’s homers fuel Marlins’ surge in May
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- Pittsburg State Sports
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- Vengels sixth in heptathlon; PSU picks up two seventh-place finishes
- Ethan Cordray signs with Pittsburg State
- Lions, Gorillas begin competition in outdoor track and field championship
- Three finalists named for PSU head baseball coach position
- Lions qualify 10, PSU 15 for Division II outdoor track meet
- Missouri Southern Sports
- High School Sports
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Area athletes turn shine at state meet
Webb City's Jarvis Jones takes sixth in the 200.
- Cleo Elbert steps down at Thomas Jefferson
- Frontenac wins first state baseball title
- Joplin's Jeremy Lynn takes fifth at state tennis
- Frontenac advances at state baseball
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