WEST MADISON -- Wayne's football team made the most of its chances Friday night.
Scott did not.
The Pioneers limited the Skyhawks to just three points on two drives inside the 10-yard line, leading Wayne to a 16-9 victory over host Scott.
Scott took a 9-8 lead early in the fourth quarter when Mason Brown broke loose on a 48-yard scoring run, dragging defenders the final seven yards to the goal line.
The lead was short-lived. Jayden Wayman returned the ensuing kickoff to the Skyhawk 27. Wayne methodically ran the ball inside the Scott 5, finding the end zone on Kaiden Hayton's 2-yard scoring run off right tackle with 6:34 remaining.
Wayne got the stop on the next Scott possession before turning the ball over on downs with 2 seconds remaining at its own 33. A final pass fell incomplete, sealing Wayne's first win in West Madison since 2017.
The game started inauspiciously for the Pioneers (2-0). After Ryan Neal pinned Wayne at its own 4-yard line with a punt, the Pioneers fumbled the center-quarterback exchange. Ethan Bowe fell on it for Scott, giving the Skyhawks the ball first-and-goal at the Wayne 2.
Scott lost four yards on three running plays, leading to a Tucker Breedlove 29-yard field goal and a 3-0 first-quarter lead.
The Skyhawks were driving again at the end of the first quarter before a lightning delay halted play for 35 minutes between periods.
After the break, Scott got inside the Wayne 10 again, but was forced to attempt another field goal, which sailed wide left.
Wayne coach Tom Harmon said the defensive stands started long before the season began.
"Our ability to move the pile made a difference," Harmon said. "That is usually decided months before the actual play. We had some guys present then."
"It came back to haunt us," Scott assistant coach Dean Brinegar said. "Any time you get inside the 10, really inside the 20, you want touchdowns."
Harmon said the delay helped slow the Skyhawks' momentum.
"I thought it came at a tremendous time," Harmon said. "Luck always plays a role."
"Wayne had the same break we did," Brinegar said. "What it came down to was, they executed when they needed to and we didn't."
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The Skyhawks carried the 3-0 lead into halftime.
After Wayne ran for just 51 yards in the opening two quarters, Hayton ripped off 53 yards on the first two plays of the third period, the latter a 36-yard sprint down the left sideline that put Wayne on top.
Hayton also played a pivotal role in a Wayne defense that held Scott to 108 yards of total offense.
"No secret he is our Captain America and leader," Harmon said. "We need to give him some breaks, but what a dependable warrior mentality."
Scott fell to 0-2.
"We were a lot better this week than last week," Brinegar said. "I was proud of our effort. It was just a good Wayne-Scott football game."
WAYNE 0 0 8 8-16
SCOTT 3 0 0 6-9
S-Breedlove 29 FG
W-K. Hayton 36 run (Haffer run)
S-M. Brown 48 run (pass failed)
W-K. Hayton 3 run (K. Hayton pass from Haffer)
RUSHING: (W)- K. Hayton 19-117, Wayman 12-48, Worrell 6-17, Walker 1-14, T. Hayton 2-(-1), Haffer 8-(-18). (S)-M. Brown 14-118, Neal 1-14, Sharps 2-13, Grant-(-1), Easterling 7-(-41).
PASSING: (W)-Haffer 1-1-0, 23 yards; T. Hayton 2-2-0, 5 yards. (S)- Easterling 4-11-0, 5 yards.
RECEIVING: (W)-Worrell 1-23, Davis 1-7, Walker 1-(-2). (S)-Sharps 2-7, Neal 2-(-2).
