Scott City holds on in defensive battle with Holcomb

Scott City, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Friday night’s game with Scott City and Holcomb featured two of the top programs in their classifications.  The Beavers, entered Friday’s game unbeaten and ranked second in Class 3A, while Holcomb was 2-1 after their loss to Ulysses the previous Friday night, and was ranked No. 2 in Class 4A, Division II. After the dust settled, the hype of a great battle lived up to its billing, as Scott City scored 12 points off three Longhorn turnovers, and prevailed 15-7 in a defensive battle at Holcomb High School.

After a scoreless first quarter, Scott City scored right before halftime. With 1:25 left, Cooper Griffith punched it in from eight yards out to give the Beavers a 6-0 lead. The extra point was missed. That score was set up by a Holcomb fumble following a catch that was returned to the Longhorn 30 yard line.

In the third quarter, the Beavers took advantage of another Holcomb (2-2, 1-2 GWAC) turnover. Following their second interception of the game, Griffith found paydirt again from a yard out with 7:17 remaining in period three to double their lead to 15-7. Scott City failed on their two-point conversion attempt. The Longhorns would flip the momentum in their favor on the ensuing kickoff, with a return to their own 42 yard line. Eleven plays and over six minutes later, Trey Teeter found tight end Conner VanCleave open in the end zone from four yards out on a jump pass, and Teeter’s PAT made it 12-7 after three quarters. 

Holcomb’s momentum would be short lived. The Beavers moved the ball back down the field following the Longhorns score, and picked up a huge 37-yard field goal from Tre Stewart with 10:17 left to make it 15-7. That field goal was Stewart’s longest of his career. Both defenses would step up with timely stops, and Scott City (4-0, 3-0) would kneel down twice to run out the clock, and keep the Beavers hopes alive for a league title. 

Scott City’s Bo Hess was 5-14 for 81 yards in the game, as Wyatt Kropp was the leading receiver with three receptions for 46 yards. Cooper Griffith carried the ball 19 times for 99 yards and two scores. Scott City finished with 154 yards on the ground and a season-low 235 yards on the ground. The Beavers forced three turnovers, and were turnover-free for the first time this season. 

Holcomb had Trey Teeter go 10-18 for 76 yards with a touchdown pass and two interceptions thrown. Teeter led the Longhorn ground attack with 64 yards on 15 carries. The leading receiver was Brandon Stegman, who had four catches for 41 yards. Holcomb was held to a season-low of 194 yards of offense. 

Both teams had 13 first downs in the game.

Up next for Scott City is a home matchup with the Hugoton Eagles on Friday night. Hugoton saw a seven-point lead evaporate at Goodland last week, as the Cowboys scored the winning touchdown with 22 seconds left to knock off the Eagles 35-27. Hugoton is 1-3 overall and 1-2 in league play. Holcomb stays at home and will take on the Colby Eagles. Colby is 0-4 and o-3 in GWAC play, but gave Ulysses a scare, leading 16-15 at halftime before falling to the Tigers 27-16. 

Glenn O’Neil Postgame