Big first half propels Beavers to GWAC win

Scott City, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Friday night’s game at Darner Field featured two teams who have been on opposite ends of the GWAC results through the first five years of the league. Scott City, who has won four league titles in five seasons, had won 24 of their first 25 league games, while Colby has only won four conference matchups during that time span. Facing one of the most experienced teams in the Great West Activities Conference, the Beavers did all their damage in the first half, as they cruised to a 35-6 win over the Eagles on a beautiful Friday night of high school football.

Both defenses dominated the game for a majority of the first quarter, with a combined four three-and-outs. Scott City struck first with 2:50 remaining in the first quarter on a Bo Hess seven-yard quarterback sweep. Tre Stewart’s extra point made it 7-0 Beavers. One play after Colby picked up their first first down of the game, Scott City scored their second touchdown of the game on defense. Cornerback Drake McRae read the Brady Holzmeister pass his way, and took the interception 45 yards for a Beaver touchdown to push the Scott City lead to 14-0, following the Stewart PAT. 

The second quarter was dominated by the Beavers. Their first score came with 9:15 left in the period, when Hess found McRae on a 13-yard touchdown pass play. Stewart knocked in the extra point to make it 21-0. After another three-and-out by Colby (0-2, 0-1 GWAC), Scott City drove down the field and got a two-yard touchdown run by Wyatt Kropp with 6:12 left before halftime, and it was 28-0 following the Stewart PAT. The Beavers weren’t done in the first half. With under a minute before halftime, Hess found Justin Faurot on a three-yard touchdown pass. Stewarts extra point try made it 35-0 Scott City (2-0, 1-0), and that would be the score at the break.

In the second half, the Beavers were marching down the field on their opening drive. Inside the Eagle 10 yard line, Scott City fumbled the ball that Colby recovered. The second half would be scoreless, as the Beavers turned the ball over four times, and the Eagles would cough it up twice. 

Colby took advantage of a Beaver fumble late in the game, going 25 yards on the drive that was capped off by a Holzmeister nine-yard run with 17 seconds remaining to make it 35-6. The two point conversion failed. 

For the game, Cooper Griffith led the Scott City rushing attack with 107 yards on 12 carries, while Wyatt Kropp carried the ball 14 times for 49 yards and a touchdown. Bo Hess was 11-19, for 159 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Drake McCrae caught eight of those passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. The Beavers rushed for 170 yards and had 329 yards of offense. They had four turnovers, all in the second half.

Colby’s Brady Holzmeister was 9-23 passing for 48 yards and three interceptions. Matthew Pieper carried the ball nine times for 22 yards, while Holzmeister had 21 yards rushing and a touchdown. The Eagles had 109 yards of offense in the game. 

With the win, Scott City has now won 12 straight vs Colby, dating back to 2000. So far this year, the Beavers have allowed an offensive touchdown per game through the first two games, and only nine first downs.

Scott City will remain at home next Friday, hosting Goodland. The Cowboys lost to Holcomb 51-6 and are 1-1 on the year. Colby visits Hugoton in a battle of 0-2 teams. Hugoton gave Ulysses a scare, and fell short 27-21.

Coach Glenn O’Neil Postgame