The long-awaited and highly anticipated official start of this year’s football season did not disappoint for the Fleming Wildcat family last Friday. Ongoing restrictions and regulations surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the start of the season for teams across the State, but the defending 6-man State Champions returned to the gridiron at Arickaree/Woodlin last week for their 2020 season debut.

Fleming received the opening kickoff from the home-team Indians. Veteran quarterback Kade Comstock completed a pass to senior Chris Goss in the opening play giving the Wildcats a quick 17 yards. Just two plays later, the Wildcats would go up by six with their first touchdown of the year ran in by senior Charles Hobbs. The scoreboard remained at 6-0 following a failed conversion attempt.

Fleming’s defense held tough for Arickaree/Woodlin’s opening possession of the contest and forced the Indians to punt. Fleming would go on to score six more on their second possession after a 64-yard Comstock pass was caught by senior Brady Kuntz put him in the endzone. A successful two-point kick by sophomore Kenneth Bandy gave Fleming a 14-0 advantage early in the game.

The two teams traded possessions once again with both defenses playing solid and preventing points on either side of the scoreboard. Arickaree/Woodlin was forced to punt in the opening seconds of the second quarter, but a roughing the kicker call gave them the ball back and a first down. The Wildcat defense held strong and gave up just a yard over the next three downs forcing another Indian punt.

The first down of Fleming’s following possession put the Wildcats in the endzone for the third time in the game — this time for rushing touchdown by sophomore Nolan Japp. A kick through the uprights by Bandy put the Wildcats on top 22-0.

The Wildcat offense continued to dominate throughout the remainder of the game adding another 32 before the final horn. Fleming’s defense gave up just one touchdown for the night and the game closed at 54-6, Fleming.

Comstock threw for 102 yards on the night. The senior quarterback completed three of five passes with one touchdown. Defensively, Comstock brought down seven total tackles — 3 solo and four assisted — and caught one interception that he returned for 14 yards.

Two players found themselves on the receiving end of Comstock’s throws. Kuntz led for the night with 86 total receiving yards off two catches. He added six points off his long catch and averaged 43 yards per catch. Goss grabbed one catch for the night adding 16 Wildcat yards.

In addition to Kuntz’s offensive performance, he brought down eight tackles; two of those for lost Indian yardage. Goss led the Wildcat defense in tackles at Arickaree/Woodlin. He earned seven solo tackles and nine assisted for a total tackle tally of 16 and caught one interception for a 37-yard return. Japp followed Goss with 13 tackles in the game. He brought down five solo and eight assisted.

Hobbs, Bandy and Japp led on the scoreboard with 12 points apiece. Hobbs and Japp earned two touchdowns on the ground and Bandy tallied his 12 after making six of seven points-after kicks.

The season continues for the Wildcats this Saturday, Oct. 17 when they are set to host the North Park Wildcats. North Park enters at 1-0 following a week-one, 77-0, shut out of the Flagler Panthers. Saturday’s football game marks Fleming’s annual homecoming. Festivities and crowning of this year’s royalty takes place at halftime. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.