Beavers open up GWAC play with win at Colby
Colby, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Make it 11 straight wins for Scott City over Colby. The Beavers force a fumble on the first play from scrimmage, scored on their first six possessions, and handed the Eagles their 17th straight loss in a 59-19 win Friday night at Dennen Field.
Scott City put up 17 points in the first frame before Colby scored their first points of the game. Tre Stewart started the scoring with a season-best 30-yard field goal with 9:47 left in the opening period. Nearly three minutes later, Trey O’Neil connected with Sloan Baker for the first of two touchdown tosses from 19 yards out to make it 9-0. The Beavers moved briskly down the field on their next drive, that took only 54 on four plays and 57 yards. Cooper Griffith took it in from a yard out, and O’Neil ran in the two-point conversion to make it 17-0 Scott City with 4:36 remaining in the first quarter. Colby responded with a long run of its own. After a penalty gave the Eagles the ball at Midfield, Matthew Pieper took it the house from 50 yards out with 1:29 left in the opening quarter. Isaac Nichols tacked on the PAT to make it 17-7 after the opening period.
Whatever momentum the Eagles had was squashed in a matter of three minutes. On the second play of the second quarter, another 19-yard touchdown pass from O’Neil to Baker gave Scott City a 24-7 lead, after the Stewart kick. Nearly a minute later, following a Brett Meyer interception, Meyer hauled in a 19-yard pass from O’Neil to give the Beavers a 30-0 lead, preceding another Stewart PAT. Following Colby’s second straight interception, O’Neil found his third different receiver in the end zone. With 8:45 left before halftime, Drake McRae scored his first-career touchdown, on a 10-yard reception, and Stewart’s PAT gave Scott City the 38-7 halftime lead.
The Beavers put together a three-minute drive to begin the second half. Wyatt Kropp had his longest run of the young season, and in the process, scored his first touchdown of the season, on a 41-yard run with 8:57 remaining in the third quarter. Baker booted in the extra point to make the score 45-7. On the ensuing kickoff, Ben Matchell returned a kickoff 84 yards to give Colby their second score of the night, and make it 45-13 after three quarters.
In the final period, Chantz Yager capped off an 11-play drive with a two-yard run nearly three minutes into the fourth quarter, and the Baker kick made it 52-13. Colby quickly drove down the field, and a minute later, Matchell’s second score of the night went from 19 yards out to make it 52-19 Beavers. With the second teams in for both teams, Scott City drove down the field and scored the final points of the game. With 4:06 remaining, Kevin Lozano scored his first career touchdown from a yard out. Baker’s PAT made the final 59-19.
Scott City (2-0, 1-0 GWAC)finished with 550 yards of offense in the game, 350 on the ground. Wyatt Kropp was the leading rusher, going for 87 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown, while Chantz Yager added 74 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown. Trey O’Neil was 14-of-17 fro 200 yards with four touchdowns, two to Sloan Baker. Brett Meyer had four receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown catch. The Beavers forced five turnovers, and turned 17 points out of them. Colby (0-2, 0-1) did not have any passing yards, as Josh Matchell was 0-for-6 with two interceptions. The Eagles finished with 228 yards overall. Matthew Pieper had 15 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown.
In the win, Scott City scored the most points during their 11-game win streak against Colby. The most they scored previously was 57 in 2002. Also, the 59 points Friday night was the highest point total in Coach Glenn O’Neil’s eight years, surpassing the 58 points against TMP-Marian in 2012, and the most they’ve scored in a game since 1994, when they put up 61 against Hugoton.
Scott City will remain on the road, as they will be at Goodland on Friday, while Colby hosts Hugoton.
Assistant Coach Brian Gentry Postgame
