HAWTHORNE, Nev. — The Whittell football team took a big step toward the postseason with a decisive road victory Friday, Oct. 15. The Warriors routed Mineral County 60-18 in a 1A West League contest, a result that gives them the inside track to a playoff spot.

Whittell (6-1, 4-1 1A West) opened up a 26-point lead after the first quarter Friday on its way to a lopsided victory. The Warriors rolled past Mineral County (4-3, 4-2) to take sole possession of second place in the league with two games to play.

“It was a big win for us since we were tied with them,” Warriors coach Phil Bryant said. “We went in knowing we had to control their speed and their big plays.”

Senior quarterback Dismas Womack accounted for six touchdowns against the Serpents — four on the ground and two through the air. Womack finished 3-of-9 passing with 121 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, and ran for 241 yards on 12 carries.

The Warriors gashed Mineral County for 614 yards rushing, including big performances from Womack, junior Corey Huber and sophomore Dalton Warswick. Huber ran for 181 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries while Warswick had 176 yards and three scores on 11 attempts — each player also caught a touchdown pass in the win.

“Corey, Dismas and Dalton had great games — there were some amazing runs by each of those guys,” Bryant said. “The offensive line opened some big holes and we were able to do pretty much anything we wanted on the ground.”

Womack’s touchdown pass to Huber was a 56-yard score on a screen on a play that looked doomed from the start. Bryant said the play likely should have resulted in a sack, incomplete pass or lost yardage — instead it went for six points.

“Dismas escaped the rush, Corey evaded the coverage and then ran through seven defenders who simply couldn’t bring him down,” Bryant said.

Whittell’s defense produced four interceptions against Mineral County — picks from Huber, Warswick, senior Sam Berry and junior Genaro Mena — and got three sacks from junior Pierce Manchester. The Warriors struggled at times to set the edge against the Serpents, but still held the hosts to half of their season scoring average.

The Warriors now control their own destiny for 1A West League’s second spot with home games against Excel Christian and Sierra Lutheran remaining. Whittell hosts Excel Christian on Friday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m.

“All we need to do now is to finish strong and continue to get better,” Bryant said.