Scott City takes care of Beloit

Scott City, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)-It’s tough to face a familiar opponent two time in a year, especially if you came out on top in the first meeting. Friday night’s Regional game between Scott City and Beloit matched a pair of team who met a month ago in Beloit, where the Beavers won 55-12. It would be the same winner a second time around, as the Beavers used solid defense to knock off the Trojans 34-7 at Darner Field.

Scott City would score on their first two drives of the game. A three-play drive started the scoring, as Wyatt Hayes scored from 70 yards out with 8:09 left in the first quarter to go up 7-0 with the Moses Hinojos PAT. Their second score would come on a five-play drive, as Hays found the end zone from two yards out with 2:26 left in the first period to make it 13-0. The extra point was blocked.

The Beavers would cash in on two more scores in the second quarter. Their first came with 6:25 left before halftime on a Hayes three-yard run to go up 20-0 with the Hinojos PAT. Hayes would score his fourth touchdown of the night with 1:15 left before halftime on an 18-yard run up the middle to take the 27-0 halftime lead after the Hinojos extra point.

In the third quarter, Scott City would struggle getting to the end zone, and were stuffed at the goal line on their second series of the half after a 12-play drive. Beloit would punt deep in their own territory, that set up a Hayes 40-yard punt return to the four yard line. On the next play, Hayes scored from four yards out with 2:37 left in the third frame to extend the lead to 34-0, with the Hinojos PAT.

Beloit would drive deep into Scott City territory on a six-minute drive in the second half, but stalled at the Beaver five. They would take advantage of a fumble and short field. The Trojans scored with 3:41 left in the game on a 37-yard pass from Grant Arasmith to Vincent Palen. Colin Chandler knocked in the extra point to close the scoring out at 34-7.

Wyatt Hayes had five rushing touchdowns on the night, tying a career high he set at Beloit on October 4. He finished with 179 yards unofficially on 16 carries, and went over 4,000 rushing yards in his career. The Beavers finished with 281 yards rushing and a total of 321 yards. Parker Gooden was 5-7 passing for 40 yards, hitting five different receivers. Marshall Faurot had 13 receiving yards. Scott City forced three turnovers.

Beloit got 73 yards rushing from Grant Arasmith on 16 carries, and he would pass for 82 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions on 4-14 passing. The Trojans rushed for 134 yards and ended up with 216 yards of offense. Vincent Palen led the receiving with his lone reception for 37 yards and a touchdown.

With the win, Scott City now leads the all-time series with Beloit 3-2. It’s the first time in four games that the home team has won. The Beavers improved to 50-19 in the playoffs all-time, and became the 10th team in Kansas to win 50 playoff games. They’re tied with Blue Valley-Stilwell for the ninth most playoff wins. Scott City also improved to 17-4 in Regional play all-time, and are now 26-10 at home in the playoffs.

Scott City is 10-0 for the second straight year, and for the ninth time in 13 years. They will be at 10-0 Andale next Friday. The Indians tripled up Chapman 66-22 on Friday at home. They finished as Class 4A Runners-up in 2017. It will be the first time that Scott City and Andale meet up since 1991, when the Beavers won 9-6 in double overtime at Andale.

Beloit finishes their season at 6-4, ending their first playoff run since 2015.

Assistant Coach Landon Frank Postgame