MAYNARD - In eight-man football, momentum changes like the flip of a switch.

West Central of Maynard learned that the hard way Friday.

Preston scored twice in the final 41 seconds of the first half to take a 28-14 lead and carried that momentum into the second half as the Trojans pulled out a 42-26 quarterfinal playoff victory in Maynard.

"The last 41 seconds of the first half was huge," West Central coach Steve Milder said.

The Blue Devils (10-2) were poised to take a touchdown lead midway through the second quarter when momentum turned on them in an instant.

On a fourth-and-goal, Kaleb Buhrow was stopped less than an inch from the score.

In turn, the Trojans (12-0) then marched 79 yards for a touchdown and turned a West Central interception into another seven as a 14-14 game turned into a 28-14 Preston halftime lead in 41 seconds.

"That goal line stand was huge," Milder said. "We punch it in and we take the lead.

"But instead they go down the field, score, and then we throw a pick. That was just a big turning point in the game."

Twice in the second half, West Central, whose only other loss was 23-22 at Preston Oct. 22, pulled within a touchdown of the Trojans, but that was as close as it would get.

Kyle Feller rushed for 197 yards and two touchdowns for the Trojans, and Jason Fedderson threw a pair of touchdown passes.

"That goal line stand was definitely a big momentum switch," Trojans coach Kevin Behr said. "And give our lines credit. We were worried about West Central's size. The lines stuck in there, made a big stop and then we drove the length of the field. Just a heck of an effort on their part."

The game got off to a rousing start for West Central as Preston fumbled the opening kickoff.

Three plays later, Buhrow sprinted three yards for an 8-0 lead. The Trojans answered with a 56-yard Feller run and a 25-yard pass from Fedderson to Austin Hughes to take a 14-8 lead.

West Central tied it on a Buhrow 5-yard run.

Buhrow scored all four of the Blue Devils' touchdowns. He had scoring receptions of 20 and 65 yards in the second half and caught five passes for 132 yards and rushed eight times for 42.

West Central quarterback Brad Byerly passed for 140 yards and rushed for 88 more.

"It was a great season. If I could get 10 wins every year, I'd take it," Milder said. "It was a good year. A great team."

Preston 14 14 7 7 - 42

West Central 14 0 12 0 - 26

WC - Kaleb Buhrow 3 run (Buhrow run)

Pres - Kyle Feller 56 run (Thomas Kirsten kick)

Pres - Austin Hughes 25 pass from Jason Fedderson (Kirsten kick)

WC - Buhrow 5 run (pass failed)

Pres - Luke Assenmacher 1 run (Kirsten kick)

Pres - Shawn Assenmacher 6 pass from Fedderson (Kirsten kick)

WC - Buhrow 20 pass from Brad Byerly (pass failed)

Pres - Feller 12 run (Kirsten kick)

WC - Buhrow 65 pass from Byerly (run failed)

Pres - L. Assenmacher 1 run (Kirsten kick)

TEAM STATISTICS

Pres WC

First downs 18 15

Rushes-yards 49-275 42-192

Passing yards 57 140

Passes 3-7-1 7-19-1

Return yards 48 9

Penalties-yards 6-33 9-66

Punts-yards 2-29.5 1-36.0

Fumbles-lost 1-1 3-0

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

PRESTON - Feller 27-197, L. Assenmacher 13-40, Fedderson 7-34, Hughes 1-6, Team 1-(-2)

WEST CENTRAL - Dustin Bunn 15-69, Buhrow 8-42, Byerly 18-88, Team 1-(-7).

Passing

PRESTON - Fedderson 3-7-1, 57 yards.

WEST CENTRAL - Byerly 7-17-1, 140 yards; Buhrow 0-2-0.

Receiving

PRESTON - Hughes 2-51, S. Assenmacher 1-6.

WEST CENTRAL - Jake Johnston 2-(-1), Buhrow 5-132, D.J. Bivins 1-9.