It wasn’t quite the 50-point scoring output that Millard West averaged for the previous seven games.

But the defending state champion Wildcats continued a dominant stretch with a 35-0 win over Norfolk in a Class A quarterfinal Friday night before 2,555 fans at Buell Stadium.

“We thought we left some points on the field in the first half,’’ Millard West coach Kirk Peterson said. “We had them stopped on the first drive, and we fumbled the punt. They kind of got the momentum after that.’’

The Panthers drove as far as they would all night — the Millard West 17-yard line — but kicker Brady Lollman missed on a 34-yard field goal attempt.

After leading 7-0 at halftime, the Wildcats scored on their first offensive possession of the second half. Senior running back Darius Evans started the drive by scooting 45 yards to the Panther 23-yard line. Five plays later, quarterback Zach Whitham snuck in from the 1 to put the Wildcats up 14-0 with 9:11 left in the third quarter.

After the teams traded punts, the Wildcats took over on the Panthers’ 45. Running back Vincenzo Guido went in as quarterback in the shotgun formation and raced 39 yards for the touchdown to increase the Wildcats’ advantage to 21-0 with 1:50 to go in the third.

Millard West, after intercepting a Brady Lollman pass, took two plays to score when Evans sprinted 26 yards to push the lead to 28-0.

The Wildcats (9-2) scored again with 6:17 left in the game on a 47-yard pass from Whitham to Guido that started the continuous clock rule.

“We just kind of kept after it tonight,’’ Peterson said. “Norfolk presented some unique challenges with the type of defense they play.’’

Norfolk held the Wildcats to 160 total yards the first half while recording 124 of its own.

“I knew this was our tallest task yet,” Norfolk coach Tom Olson said. “The biggest thing is, they don’t make a lot of mistakes. And they have athletes everywhere.’’

Millard West scored its only touchdown in the first half after taking over on its own 45. The Wildcats got a 19-yard pass play from Whitham to Aaron Lorraine before Whitham scored on a 36-yard option-dive play to make it 7-0.

“I was impressed with their defensive line on tape,’’ Olson said. “But I was more impressed with them live. Their defensive line created so many things for them. All in all, it made things really tough on us.’’

The Panthers never crossed midfield in the second half. Guido had 117 yards rushing on 16 carries and two receptions for 71 yards. Evans rushed 11 times for 123 yards for Millard West.

“We didn’t do anything fancy,’’ Peterson said. “We were excited to play tonight just because it wasn’t a spread offense which threw it all over place. We’re excited to be playing next week, too.’’

Olson said the Panthers have a lot to be happy with this year.

“It’s as proud of a team as I have ever been in 29 years of coaching,’’ Olson said. “We just ran into a better team tonight.’

Norfolk High.................0 0 0 0—0

Millard West.............7 0 14 14—35

MW: Zach Whitham 36 run (Brendan White kick), 2:20

MW: Whitham 1 run (White kick), 9:11

MW: Vincenzo Guido 39 run (White kick), 1:50.

MW: Darius Evans 26 run (White kick), 11:19.

MW: Guido 45 pass from Whitham (White kick), 6:17.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: NOR: Lollman 18-66; Thomas Moman 10-42. MW: Evans 11-123; Guido 16-117.

PASSING: NOR: Lollman 7-19-1, 73. MW: Whitham 5-11-0, 95.

RECEIVING: NOR: Elliot Koerting 1-38; Tyler Erwin 2-16. MW: Guido 2-71; Brian Buttry 1-19.

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