Andale wears down Scott City

Andale, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–When Scott City and Andale met 26 years to the date, the Indians would run 77 plays, compared to 31 for the Beavers. Friday night’s Class 3A Sectional would see a similar situation. Unfortunately for Scott City, they were unable to get their defense off the field, and fell to Andale 35-14 in a battle of 10-0 teams on a 24-degree night at Andale High School.

Both teams would go three-and-out on their opening drives. The first big momentum shift occurred when Scott City fumbled on their first play of the second drive at their own 38 yard line. Andale would go nine plays, converting two fourth downs, and pick up the first points of the night on an eight-yard run by Mac Brand with 3:28 left in the first quarter to give the Indians a 7-0 lead.

The Beavers would answer back on their ensuing drive. A 10-play drive that lasted nearly four minutes ended with a Wyatt Hayes four-yard run to tie the game at seven with the Moses Hinojos PAT with 11:29 left in the first half. Andale would start their next drive on their own 16 yard line and moved the ball down the field. A bad break for the Beavers allowed the Indians to keep the drive alive. It looked as if the Andale recevier caught the ball and fumbled, recovered by Scott City. Instead the officials awarded the Indians the ball. That Andale drive would continue, and would be capped off by a Brand three-yard run with 3:39 left in the half to give them the 14-7 lead. Their drive was an 18-play, 84-yard drive that lasted over seven minutes.

On the next Scott City possession, the Indians would catch a big break, as they intercepted the pass at the Beaver 48 yard line, when it looked like it was jarred out. After an officials meeting, it was determined that the Andale defender had possession long enough before the lost the ball and was tackled. They moved the ball inside the 20 yard line, before a penalty backed them up and the half ended with an interception.

Andale would open the second half with a 12-play, 75-yard drive that went 5:33, as Ethan Baalmann connected with Devin Marx on a nine-yard swing pass with 6:27 left in the third period to go up 21-7 after the Eli Clouse PAT. Following a Scott City three-and-out, Andale scored again with 10:47 left, on a one-yard Ethan Baalmann quarterback sneak to go up 28-7 with the Clouse extra point.

The Beavers would score once more. At the 3:58 mark of the fourth quarter, quarterback Parker Gooden rushed it in from five yards out, and the Hinojos PAT cut the deficit to 28-14. On the first play after a missed Scott City onside recovery attempt, Andale put the dagger in. Mac Brand took it 55 yards for his third rushing touchdown of the night with 3:40 left to put the Indians up 35-14. Scott City had their pass intercepted on the next offensive series, and Andale would run out the clock, on their way to the win.

After Scott City had scored to tie the game at seven, to Andale’s next three touchdowns, the Indians ran 51 plays to the Beavers’ four. Scott City only had seven possessions in the game, with three lasting just one play on a turnover.

Mac Brand rushed 33 times for 190 yards and had three touchdowns, while Ethan Baalmann had 41 yards on 10 carries with two total touchdowns. He was also 10-13 passing for 80 yards. Andale finished with 294 yards rushing and had 374 yards of offense. Scotti Easter was their leading receiver with four catches for 25 yards. The Indians were 9-14 on third downs and converted all four of their fourth down attempts.

Scott City had only 30 plays in the game. Parker Gooden was 7-14 passing for 79 yards with two interceptions. Hunter Yager had three catches for 34 yards. Wyatt Hayes rushed for 53 yards on 10 carries, as the Beavers were held to a season-low 49 rushing yards and had just 128 yards of offense. They were 3-7 on third downs, and converted their lone fourth down attempt.

In Scott City’s last three playoff losses, they were held to under 100 yards rushing.

Despite the loss, the Beavers accomplished many things in 2018. They crossed the 600-win mark in program history, went 5-0 against GWAC foes for the sixth time in eight years, extended their district championships to 10 consecutive, extended their district win streak to 33 in a row, and became the 10th school in Kansas high school history to win 50 games in the playoffs.

Scott City ends their 24th playoff run with a record of 50-20 all-time, and are 5-6 in district play. Andale is 11-0 on the year, and are now 45-24 in 27 playoff appearances. The Indians will play at 11-0 Pratt next Friday night in the sub-state round of the Class 3A Playoffs, as the Greenbacks shut out previously unbeaten Smoky Valley 46-0.

Assistant Coach Dakota Hayes Postgame