By Bryan Bloodworth

STANFORD – Sophomore quarterback Arion Worthman threw for three touchdowns and ran for one to carry University High School’s football team to a 46-18 Corn Belt Conference victory over Olympia on Friday night.

The triumph kept the Pioneers, ranked No. 7 in Class 5A,  undefeated in three games overall and pushed their record to 2-0 in league play. U High plays at Fairbury against Prairie Central next week.

U-High scored 22 points in the third quarter as Worthman threw his three scoring passes in a three-minute span. Dylan Farney caught the first two touchdown passes on 10 and 16-yard strikes.

Malik Wildermuth hauled in the third touchdown pass on a 41-yard play. Worthman completed 11 of 20 passes on the night for 147 yards. He also rushed for 116 yards on eight carries and had a 22-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

Malik Wildermuth, a junior, caught seven passes for 147 yards. Running back Joe Johnson scored two touchdowns in the first half on runs of 1 and 16 yards.

The Pioneers’ defense forced five Olympia turnovers. Zach Cook, Noah Larsen and Dan Gibson had interceptions for the Pioneers. Jeff Larson and Mitch Bottorff led the U-High defense in tackles.

Olympia, which saw its record dip to 0-3 overall and 0-2 in the conference, was paced by Cole Goff’s 88 yards rushing. Rickie McCown caught three passes for 48 yards.

“Our defense continues to put us in good field position situations,” said U High coach Dusty Burk. “That makes it a lot easier to play offense when you’re not playing in the shadow of your own end zone.

“The defense set us up all night by giving us good field position and short yards to work with.”

The Spartans’ touchdowns came from McCown on an 88-yard kickoff return and a 56-yard run by Goff.

U – Joe Johnson 1-yd. run (Dylan Farney pass from Arion Worthman)

U – Worthman 22-yd. run (Malik Wildermuth pass from Worthman)

U – Johnson 16-yd. run (Johnson run)

O – Derek French 1-yd. run (pass failed)

U – Farney 10-yd. pass from Worthman (run failed)

U – Farney 16-yd. pass from Worthman (Bryan Sengsay run)

U – M. Wildermuth 41-yd. pass from Worthman (Johnson run)

O – Rickie McCown 88-yd. kickoff run (run failed)

O – Cole Goff 56-yd. run (pass failed)

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

Rushing: U High – Worthman 8-116, Johnson 13-48, Sengsay 7-15; Olympia – Goff 9-88, French 6-21.

Passing: U High – Worthman 11-20-1-147; Olympia – Jacob Boatman 3-10-2-48.

Receiving: U High – M. Wildermuth 7-112, Farney 2-26; Olympia – McCown 3-48.