The fifth time is a charm for Silver Lake.
After losing the last four meetings between the two in the 3A state championship game, the Eagles finally were able to get the best of Conway Springs with a 27-21 victory in Hutchinson this afternoon.
The two 3A powerhouses played the first three quarters neck and neck before Silver Lake took control in the fourth quarter.
Eagles quarterback Keenan Kruger made two decisive plays late in the game, scoring on an eight yard run for the go ahead points and intercepting a pass setting up another late touchdown.
It proved to be too much for Conway Springs to overcome as the Cardinals were denied a seventh state football championship.
After a scoreless first quarter, Silver Lake struck first on a six yard pass from Kruger to Mark Herrmann. Conway Springs would tie the game at 7-7 on a Brian Doffing 1-yard run with just three seconds to go in the half.
The first half was dominated by defense. Silver Lake was able to keep the high scoring Cardinal offense, which averaged 57 points per game coming into the contest, in check for the most part. Conway Springs did not get a first down until their third possession of the game and squandered a scoring chance after a 15 play drive ended on a missed field goal from 28 yards.
Silver Lake would get the ball first in the third quarter and opened the second half with a bang. On the first play from scrimmage, Kruger hit Brit Dewey on a 54 touchdown pass to retake the lead at 14-7.
Conway Springs answered right back with a 12 play, 80 yard drive to tie the game at 14-14. The drive was capped on a 33 yard touchdown run by Cory Misak with six minutes left in the third quarter.
On the next Silver Lake possession, Doffing picked off a Kruger pass to halt Silver Lake's drive and give the Cardinals the ball back at their own 37 yard line. Conway Springs was unable to take advantage and the game remained all square at 14 moving into the fourth quarter.
Silver Lake took the lead once again with 4:28 left in the game when Kruger scored from eight yards out. The PAT was missed, however, leaving the door open for the Cardinals trailing by just six.
That's when Kruger took matters into his own hands. With 3:40 left, Kruger picked off a Tanner Wood pass to give the Eagles the ball back inside the Conway Springs 20 yard line.
Silver Lake took a crucial two and a half minutes off the clock before going up by two scores on a Jeremy Boyd three yard run with just 2:08 remaining.
However, the Cardinals would not go down without a fight.
On the ensuing kick-off, Jordan Ast scampered 84 yards for a touchdown bringing the Cardinals within six points at 27-21. Conway Springs still had life with three timeouts remaining and only having used ten seconds to pull within one score.
Those hopes were dashed when Silver Lake recovered an onside kick attempt and was able to run out the clock to secure their first football championship since 2006 and their seventh in school history.
The Eagles finished the season 13-1, their only loss coming to 4A state champion Louisburg. Conway Springs ended the year at 13-1 as well.
*The play-by-play details of this article are credited to the Varsity Kansas in-game blog.
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