Chris Leivermann (right) run by a Royals defender during the second quarter of Waconia’s 20-7 victory over Watertown-Mayer in the Wildcats homecoming game Sept. 26. Patriot photo by Brad Unangst

An undermanned Watertown-Mayer team tried its best to play homecoming spoiler, but Waconia wore down the Royals with a sack-laden performance from its defense and a three-touchdown performance from Chris Leivermann to send the Wildcats home happy with a victory on one of the biggest nights of the fall season.

For the third consecutive game, the WHS defense allowed no offensive touchdowns while Leivermann had two, 1-yard scoring runs on offense and a 19-yard interception return in a 20-7 victory over the ’Cats local rival on Sept. 26.

It was the fourth consecutive victory for Waconia (4-1) and improved the Wildcats to 4-1 in the Wright County Conference where they are tied for second place.

Watertown-Mayer had fewer than 30 players dressed for the game and as a result most of the Royals played both ways. The situation took its toll on W-M, helping a Wildcats team that struggled to get going on offense to eventually find the end zone against a Royals team that proved to be solid on defense.

“You got to give them (the Royals) credit,” WHS head coach Pat Foley said. “They play teams tough. (But) I think we wore them down.”

W-M’s defense was tough enough to limit Waconia to 172 yards rushing and 0 yards passing. The Royals, who put pressure on WHS’ quarterback Evan Graff most of the night, also recorded four interceptions in the game.

“They played really good pass defense,” said Foley, who added that he couldn’t remember the last time a Wildcats team finished with no passing yards in a game played in nearly ideal weather conditions.

The WHS offense got off to a rough start with several of the regular starters opening the Wildcats’ first series on the sideline, a disciplinary move made after some were cited for curfew violations and other were caught allegedly planning a homecoming prank. On its first series, Waconia went three-and-out after gaining no yards on three running plays.

The regular starters returned for the second series, but a W-M interception stopped the drive and the Royals ended the next Wildcats possession with another interception.

Meanwhile the Waconia defense played true to form. WHS forced W-M to punt on three of its first four possessions of the first quarter. The Wildcats forced a fumble that was recovered by Waconia’s Shelby Moats on the Royals other possession.

Following the Royals third punt, WHS took advantage to get on the scoreboard.

Behind the running of Leivermann, Tim Watts, Derik Noeldner and Dillon Pomeroy, the Wildcats drove 49 yards on 13 plays - all rushes - for a TD midway through the second quarter. Nick Ramm kicked the extra point, giving Waconia a 7-0 lead.

Leivermann had 28 yards on eight carries on the drive and finished off the possession with a 1-yard scoring run. Watts carried twice for seven yards while Noeldner had nine yards on two carries and Pomeroy had one rush for seven yards on the series.

“We were able to get some pretty good yards (on the drive),” Foley said.

It would be the bulk of the offensive yards the Wildcats gained in the first half. WHS picked up a total of two more yards before halftime as Waconia threw two more interceptions and took a knee on its final three possessions of the quarter.

WHS’ offense continued to sputter in the second half, however, the defense came up big once again.

On offense, the Wildcats went three-and-out on their only three possessions of the third quarter.

On defense, Waconia allowed W-M to move the ball 47 yards on eight plays before the Cats’ stopped the drive with sack for a six-yard loss on third down that forced the Royals to punt.

W-M’s next possession ended when Noeldner recovered a Royals’ fumble and Waconia forced another punt on the next series.

The Wildcats found the end zone again with another long drive that started at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

With Leivermann and Noeldner alternating carries, WHS went 50 yards on eight plays for another TD. Leivermann scored from 1 yard out and also had a 15-yard run on a fourth-and-3 during the drive. Noeldner had a run of 10 yards to help set up the score.

Waconia took a 14-0 lead after Ramm added the extra point, but the Royals quickly trimmed the lead.

W-M ran the ensuing kickoff back 82-yards for a TD, helping cut the Royals deficit to 14-7.

The Wildcats looked to run out the clock on their next possession. After a 19-yard kickoff return from Leivermann that gave WHS some nice field position, Waconia marched 37 yards on nine plays to the Royals 19-yard line with 2 minutes to play in the game. The ’Cats came up just short on a fourth-and-5, turning the ball over to W-M.

But on the very next play, Leivermann intercepted a Royals pass and ran it back for a TD that extended Waconia’s lead to 20-7.

W-M tried to mount a comeback. After returning the kickoff 19 yards to start their final drive with good field position. And after the Royals completed an 11-yard pass, they saw their drive stall out after a sack by the Wildcats William Lynn, a pass for -3 yards and an incomplete pass on fourth down.

Waconia tallied 10 sacks in the game, helping hold W-M to 132 total offensive yards (82 passing, 50 rushing).

“Our defense played well,” Foley said.

Noeldner played especially well on defense, leading the Wildcats with 13 tackles and three sacks. Lynn had seven tackles and two sacks and Moats and Jake Braunshausen each had six tackles and a sack in the game for WHS.

Anton Lieb and Brian Broll finished with five tackles and two sacks apiece while Leivermann, Joseph Sandholm, Charlie Smothers and Trevor Horning all had five tackles for Waconia.

Leivermann also finished with a team-high 120 yards on 27 carries. Noeldner had 30 yards on nine rushes and Watts had 14 yards on five carries.

Graff went 0-for-8 passing for the Wildcats.

On special teams, Cody Swier had a standout night. The senior punted four times -- including a 74-yarder -- to finish with 210 yards (52.5 average) in the game.