Jackson Blotner would have lit up the G.M. Tennant Stadium scoreboard Wednesday, had the scoreboard been working.
That proved one of the few negatives of a warm evening for Polk County.
Blotner scored twice in the first half and the Wolverines never let go of the advantage he provided, downing West Henderson 2-1 in Polk’s home and season opener.
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The starting junior varsity goalkeeper last season, Blotner came on in the first half in an attacking position and made the most of it, striking twice in the final 20 minutes. The tallies put Polk up 2-0.
“He plays kind of a marauding style up there,” grinned Wolverine head coach George Alley. “I had a feeling once he got a taste, he’d be in it.
“I’m proud of these guys for hanging on, basically down two starters. Obviously, we’re not fit yet. That’s my responsibility, but this will obviously help. It got a little messy at the end, just clearing it away, but you do what you’ve got to do.”
The Falcons (1-1) kept pace with the Wolverines for the opening 20 minutes, but then momentum quickly shifted.
Playing a free kick from deep in Polk’s end, Ross Dow hammered the kick down the left flank. Erik Ramirez reached the drive on its first bounce and flicked a header past a West defender into free space, allowing Blotner to race in for a one-on-one with the Falcon goalkeeper. Blotner won that, hitting a low touch into the right corner of the net for the 1-0 advantage.
The Wolverines threatened again minutes later. Tallis Metcalf snared a pass from Brennan Oates and dribbled deep into the left corner, sending a cross that just missed a pair of teammates. The ball rolled toward the sideline, but as a West defender closed in, Polk defender Matt Jarrett raced forward, poked away the ball and slid a pass to Blotner.
The sophomore had free space and time to wind up, sending a high strike this time that the goalkeeper could only deflect into the net.
Polk had other chances to score, but could never quite get the needed connection in the penalty area.
“We had a lot of good chances that went awry because the passes were off,” Alley said. “We can improve technically.”
West added its goal with roughly six minutes left in the first half on an own goal, slicing the lead in half. The Falcons wouldn’t score again, though.
“Last year, in a couple of scenarios like that, we gave it away and ended with ties,” Alley said. “So to get (the win) is huge.”
Polk County returns to Tennant Stadium on Monday, hosting East Rutherford in another nonconference match.
