The defending 6-man State Champs returned to the gridiron last Thursday in a home contest against the Arickaree/Woodlin Indians and opened the year with a shut out.

Fleming won the toss, but deferred to the second half and managed to keep Arickaree/Woodlin out of the end zone on their opening possession.

The Wildcats struck first midway through the first quarter putting up six points followed by a good kick for another two. They led 8-0 at the end of the first.

A huge offensive second quarter put Fleming up 32-0 by the end of the half. The home team found the end zone three times for 18 points and tacked on the extra two points each time with good kicks off the boot of kicker Kenny Bandy.

Third quarter scoring settled at 10 for the home team after a touchdown for six and four-point field goal by Bandy. Those 10 would round out the final score of 42 for the Wildcats; the Indians were left scoreless.

Senior Braylen Feather takes the offensive leadership reins as this year's starting quarterback following the graduation of Kade Comstock last May. Feather completed four of seven passes for 68 yards and three touchdowns. Junior Kolten Houser threw one good pass for six yards.

Senior Joel Muller led on the receiving end of Feather's arm. He caught three passes for 42 total yards and two TDs. Junior Nolan Japp caught the evening's long pass of 26 yards putting him in the end zone for a TD.

Leading rusher Blake Feather, a junior, ran for 70 yards on nine carries. Senior Maddix Welch carried the ball nine times for 50 yards and a TD; senior Hayden Burr followed with seven carries for 43 yards and a TD.

Japp led the Wildcats' defensive efforts with 12 tackles; seven solo and five assisted. Muller followed with nine tackles. He also grabbed the lone interception of the game.

The Wildcats are scheduled to hit the road this week to Peetz. A Friday afternoon game at the home of the Bulldogs is set for 3 p.m. Peetz enters at 1-0 following a week one win 62-6 win over Miami-Yoder.