Ground game takes over in Wheatland win

The shadow Tyler Larcom had to emerge from this season was enormous.

His predecessor at fullback, 2010 A-D Player of the Year Derick Seward, amassed 1,834 yards rushing last season and 30 touchdowns, leading Wheatland High to the Northern Section Division II championship game.

Wheatland coach Javier Lopez said Larcom could have easily started as a junior if it weren't for all of the senior talent ahead of him. Larcom's just happy to have his shot now.

With his output Friday night at War Memorial Stadium against the Marysville Indians, Larcom is making the transition seamless.

He rushed for 231 yards on 22 carries, scored twice and led the Pirates to a 29-19 victory over Yuba County rival Marysville. Wheatland (2-0) now leads the all-time series 5-0.

Clinging to a 23-19 lead with just over a minute remaining in regulation, Larcom gained 15 yards on fourth-and-4. He sealed the game two plays later with a 10-yard score.

"He dug deep to come up with that win," Lopez said. "We knew going in it was going to be that kind of a game.

"There's certain games you put on your calendar that you know are going to be tough and this was one of them."

Larcom's counterpart on the other sideline, Marysville junior tailback Cole Hannum, almost single-handedly brought the Indians back from a 23-7 deficit in the third quarter.

Hannum scored on touchdown runs of 10 and 39 yards to bring the Indians (1-1) to within four at the end of the third quarter. He also tallied a sack on defense.

Hannum ended his night with 307 yards on 33 carries and three touchdowns. His first score came on a 10-yard romp at the beginning of the second quarter to give Marysville a 7-0 lead.

"(Hannum) is going to do great things," Lopez said. "It was a great performance by both teams."

Wheatland pulled within one after junior quarterback Justin Bragg found senior Haydon Leissman in the back corner of the end zone on a 21-yard pass.

Larcom gave Wheatland a lead it wouldn't relinquish with a 59-yard touchdown run with 10:20 remaining in the first half.

The Pirates extended their 14-7 halftime lead immediately by notching a safety on the first play of the second half. Wheatland would score on its next possession on a 12-yard scamper by Mark Campos. That run was set up by a Larcom 49-yard gain.

After Hannum's scores brought Marysville within four, the two teams traded fumbles before Marysville eventually took over at its own 26-yard line.

The Pirates defense forced the Indians to go three-and-out after Marysville failed to convert on fourth-and-1.

"That was the game right there," Lopez said. "Our linebackers were digging deep to not allow that extra foot. That was a momentum-changer."

Wheatland hosts Highway-65 rival Lincoln next Friday, while Marysville continues its trek through the Butte View League with Sutter (3-0) at home.

"If you told me we were going to be 2-0 at the beginning of the year I'd definitely take it," Lopez said. "We got another tough one next week."