Sanford gets unconventional win at home

SANFORD — A league meeting between Sanford and Norwood took an odd turn for Sanford’s homecoming. Host Sanford (4-0) kept their win streak alive taking what will likely go down as a forfeit victory over the visiting Mavericks (1-4).

From beginning to end the Sanford home game was not quite what anyone expected. The home team got going quickly in the win. Sanford’s Kelton Gartrell scored three times, two rushing and a third on a kick return putting the home team up 20-6 with 3:43 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Local weather prompted a lightning delay, so after the Sanford faithful returned from cover 30 minutes later the game continued.

In that time Sanford looked even more dominant than before. The beginning of the second quarter was opened with a Thomas Faucette to Josh Holman touchdown extending the lead to 26-6.

The ensuing Norwood drive things took another unexpected turn. With second and 7 from the Sanford 46-yard line, Norwood’s Logan Weimer suffered what the Norwood coaching staff felt was an unnecessarily aggressive tackle that wasn’t penalized. The argument on the non-call garnered four unsportsmanlike penalties pushing the Mavericks back to their own 5-yard line.

The next two drives lasted one play each. Gartrell got his fourth touchdown on a 38-yard burst and Brady Kuhns took an interception to the house putting Sanford up 40-6.

Sanford covered the kick-off following the score for another possession, they would turn  that into points as well thanks to Clay Canty running it in from 26 yards out. The touchdown plus the successful two-point attempt created a 48-6 advantage and a running clock.

When the Maverick’s took possession after the kickoff, there was a discussion at midfield. Citing safety concerns for the Maverick players, Norwood elected to pull their team off the field effectively ending the game before it could reach halftime.

Similar to a player suffering an injury that puts a team below the roster requirements, a coaching staff pulling their team will most likely put the victory in the books as a forfeit.

In addition to the unorthodox game being a nice touch on a homecoming celebration, the win also adds a win to Sanford’s league standings, 2-0. Sanford will look to keep the win streak alive next week when they host Custer County (2-3).

(This article has been corrected)