Polk County found a familiar formula Friday.
Give Zach McCraw and Styler Blackwell some room to run, and good things tend to happen.
That was true four years ago when the pair helped lead Polk County Middle to an undefeated regular season, and it was true again Friday as the two repeatedly gashed Landrum’s defense in Polk County’s home opener.
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Blackwell scored three touchdowns and McCraw rushed for 112 yards, helping the Wolverines deliver their strongest showing of the young season before Landrum ultimately claimed a 32-20 victory at G.M. Tennant Stadium.
The loss dropped Polk County to 0-3, but this one looked and felt considerably different from the Wolverines’ first two outings.
Polk rushed for 184 yards on just 26 attempts, an average of 7.1 yards per carry, with McCraw gaining his 112 yards on 12 carries and Blackwell adding 74 yards on 11 attempts.
The Wolverines also forced two first-quarter turnovers, led 8-0 early in the second period and twice answered Landrum touchdowns with scoring drives of their own.
Landrum (2-1) threatened immediately, taking the opening kickoff and marching 73 yards in 12 plays.
The Cardinals reached the Polk goal line, but quarterback Ian Patterson was hit as he tried to score. The ball came free, with Dre Thompson recovering to end the threat.
Polk took over at its 20, and McCraw quickly offered a glimpse of what would come. He gained five and seven yards, then broke loose for 23 more to the Landrum 45. Blackwell added another 5-yard run before the possession stalled.
The Wolverine defense then created another opportunity as RJ Simpson intercepted Patterson at the Polk 36 late in the first quarter, setting up the game’s first touchdown.
McCraw gained nine yards on the first play, then 14 more to the Landrum 40. Blackwell opened the second quarter with a 15-yard run before McCraw added another 14 yards to the 11.
Two plays later, Blackwell powered nine yards into the end zone. He also ran in the 2-point conversion for an 8-0 Polk lead.
Landrum answered with a long scoring drive, Patterson finishing it with a 4-yard run and then throwing for the tying conversion.
The Cardinals took the lead late in the half when Patterson threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Trey Nesbit, then added a 22-yard Esteban Velazquez field goal just before halftime for an 18-8 advantage.
Polk’s opening possession of the third quarter ended with an interception, and Landrum converted the turnover into another touchdown, Patterson scoring from three yards out to push the margin to 24-8.
Again, the Wolverines answered.
Brody Wilkins was sacked for a 6-yard loss on the first play of the ensuing possession, but McCraw erased that setback with a 38-yard run to the Landrum 36. Blackwell followed with a 15-yard gain, and a pass-interference penalty eventually gave Polk first-and-goal at the 9.
Blackwell covered those nine yards on the next play for his second touchdown.
Polk nearly pulled closer on the conversion attempt, but Wilkins was hit at the goal line, knocking the football free and into the end zone to leave the score at 24-14.
Landrum restored its cushion early in the fourth quarter. Patterson broke loose on runs of 29 and 15 yards, the latter his third rushing touchdown of the night, before a successful conversion made it 32-14.
Polk still had an answer.
Wilkins flipped a short pass to Thompson on the first play of the next possession, and Thompson raced past one defender, eluded another and kept going until finally being hauled down at the Landrum 20, a 56-yard gain.
A completion to Andy Serrano and another Landrum pass-interference penalty moved Polk to the 7.
Blackwell took it from there, bowling through a defender at the goal line for his third touchdown and cutting the margin to 32-20 with seven minutes remaining.
Polk never got the football back.
Landrum kept possession for the remainder of the game, grinding out enough first downs to drain the clock and secure the victory.
Patterson led the Cardinals with 142 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries. He also completed 3-of-4 passes for 73 yards and a score. Landrum finished with 332 total yards, including 259 on the ground.
Wilkins completed 4-of-15 passes for 72 yards for Polk, with Thompson’s 56-yard catch accounting for most of that total.
Polk County remains at home Friday to face Patton for its 2026 Homecoming.
