After opening the season 0-5, the Plainville Cardinals have put together an impressive three game winning streak with victories over Ell-Saline, Ellinwood and Valley Heights and for three quarters Friday night it looked like the Cardinals would win their fourth in a row with an upset over unbeaten LaCrosse. The Cardinals built a 16-6 lead in the first half but injuries to starting quarterback Kyle Becker and the team's best player, Andrew Casey, helped turned the tide. The Leopards got big fourth quarter performances from junior quarterback Tayler Stull, as he threw touchdown passes of 59 and 22 yards to Austin Webs, and senior running back Marcus Moeder who ripped off scoring runs of 52 and 61 yards to keep the Leopards unbeaten with a 32-16 win.
Hays High and Salina Central went back and forth as the two teams were tied at 14 after one half of play. The Indian defense shutout the Mustangs in the second half and got a touchdown to earn the 21-14 win. The Mustangs got a big night from running back Taylor Bradley who caught a touchdown pass from Shay Wooten and contributed to a multi-player "Pony Express" rushing attack. For Hays High Josh Balman and Casey Sedbrook were workhorses in the running game. Ryan Cornelsen is now 14-4 in two seasons as the head coach at Hays High.
Two 6A rivalry games lived up to the hype as Dodge City rallied from a 26-0 second quarter deficit to win the "Hatchet Game" over Garden City 29-26 and Manhattan rallied from a 14-7 deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Junction City 21-14. The Blue Jays and Indians were tied at seven after one half of play. Manhattan remains undefeated with the win.
Hutchinson overcame seven turnovers to squeak by Bishop Carroll 21-14.
Shawnee Heights rallied from a 34-14 halftime hole to knock off Topeka Seaman, 41-34. Donnie Lockhart rushed for 150 yards and 2 touchdowns as the T-Birds claimed the 5A District 3 title. Quarterback David Gauntt engineered the Heights’ comeback throwing for 225 yards and 2 touchdowns, while adding 105 yards and 2 scores on the ground.
Gardner-Edgerton scored late in the first half to take a 28-21 lead, and then shutout Blue Valley the rest of the way to claim the 5A District 4 title, 42-21.
Recap: Class 2-1A #1 St. Marys Colgan at #4 Olpe
In Class 2-1A, top-ranked St. Mary’s Colgan overcame a 14-0 first-half deficit to knock off #4 Olpe 28-21. Neither team could generate much offense in the first half, but Olpe took advantage of field position and a Colgan fumble on a kickoff to take a two-score lead into the break.
The Eagles would get the ball first in the second half, but lose a fumble on their first offensive play. Panther quarterback Nate Arnold would hit Zach Smith for a 17-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 14-7. Olpe would fumble again on the first play of the ensuing possession setting Colgan up with good field position. But the top-ranked Panthers couldn’t overcome a holding penalty and the Eagles held on downs. After Olpe’s offense sputtered, Smith would respond again with a 1-yard plunge to tie the game.
Colgan DB Andy Farmer would then pick-off a Jake Brinkman pass at mid-field and the Panthers would take the lead for good closing out the third quarter with a 48-yard touchdown pass from Arnold to Christian Smith.
In the fourth quarter, Christian Smith’s 85-yard touchdown run was negated by another penalty, but two plays later, Arnold hit Farmer for a 75-yard strike to put Colgan up 28-14. Colgan would threaten again late in the game, but this time Zach Smith’s 35-yard touchdown run was called back due to penalty. Olpe would eventually take over on downs with one minute remaining, and after a long halfback-option pass, Brinkman would hit Linden Stueve for a 5-yard score on the game’s final play to make it 28-21.
Arnold completed 10 of 13 passes for 213 yards and three touchdowns for the Panthers. Farmer caught 4 balls for 113 yards and two scores to go along with his key interception on defense. Colgan claims the District 1 title with the win and will host Oskaloosa (7-2) next Friday night. Olpe will open the playoffs at Valley Falls (6-3).
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