The Westby football team had its hands full in Friday's season opener at Royall.
Royall senior Jett Bender amassed 259 yards and one score on 35 carries to help down the Norsemen. Bender's lone score came in the fourth quarter which allowed RHS to take its first lead of the game at 14-12.
Westby, which scored first on Friday, owned a 12-6 lead at the half.
Bender and the Panthers were able to take the lead as a result of a Westby turnover.
Royall went up 22-12 after a pass by Braxton Board was caught by Travis Hafemeister who ran 28 yards to paydirt with about eight minutes to go in the final period of the game.
Westby didn't roll over, however. Kameron Hulst caugth a pass for a scoring strike on the ensuing drive. The Norsemen wouldn't get another try on offense, however, as Royall used its ground game to run out the clock.
Maddox Torkelson finished 6-8 for 65 passing yards and Gavin Fortun went 5-7 for 121 yards and two scores.
Hulst ended with 108 receiving yards on three catches - most of which came on the fourth quarter catch-to-score. Griffin Nelson caught four passes for 51 yards and a touchdown.
Reed Barstad led the ground attack with 30 yards and one score and also turned in a defense-leading performance with 14 total tackles - 9 solos - in the game.
Landon Lee had one interception that was returned 35 yards.
UP NEXT
Westby will open at home on Friday against Dodgeland (0-1). The Trojans lost to Whitewater 28-6 in a Week 1 contest.
Friday's game will be broadcast on WVRQ 102.3.
