Beloit stuns Scott City

Scott City, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–There’s no question that Beloit came in as the underdog on paper Friday night into their Class 3A, District 8 matchup with the Scott City Beavers at Darner Field. When you’re the underdog, you want to control the game with time of possession and win the turnover battle. The Trojans did that, and also had a defensive touchdown. 

Beloit would score the first 14 points of Friday night’s game against the Beavers, and put together a solid defensive effort in a 28-13 win that stunned the Scott City side, and spoiled the Beavers’ homecoming.

After Beloit would punt on their first series, Scott City would get one first down and take it to their own 33 yard line. On a second down play, the Trojans would get a defensive touchdown to strike early. Parker Gooden caught the toss sweep, and Beloit’s Kyler Vahle would immediately steal the ball and return it 28 yards for a Trojan touchdown with 9:26 left in the first quarter to go up 6-0, after the failed two-point conversion. The Beavers would lose yardage on their second series, and would give Beloit a short field after a punt return to the Scott City 31. Six plays later, Grant Arasmith scored from three yards out to give the Trojans a 12-0 lead at the 3:52 mark of the opening period. Hudson Gray connected with tight end Brennan Walker for the two-point conversion to make it 14-0. The Beavers drove down the field late in the first quarter, only to fumble at the Beloit two yard line at the end of the opening period.

Scott City’s defense forced a three and out and took over at the Trojan 30. The Beavers would strike quickly on a four-play drive, finished off on a one-yard Cale Goodman run with 9:17 left in the first half to pull to within 14-6, after the missed PAT. That would be the score at the break. Beloit picked off a Scott City pass and made it to the Beaver nine yard line before turning the ball over on downs late in the second frame.

There would be no scoring in the third, as the Trojans maintained a 14-6 lead. However, they would have one big play that would flip the field, and perhaps, the rest of the game. Carson Cox would pick up a 61-yard gain on third down, and rushed for 12 more yards to set them up just outside the 10 yard line to begin the fourth quarter.

On the first play of the final period, Hudson Gray took the option keeper in from 12 yards out to go up 20-6 with 11:54 left. The extra point kick was no good. Just when the Trojans had all the momentum, Scott City would take it right back on the ensuing kickoff. Parker Gooden would score from 88 yards out with 11:39 left to pull the Beavers to within 20-13 with the Alexis Reyes PAT.

That was the 16th non-offensive touchdown by Scott City since 2013, and the first kickoff return since Jarret Jurgens’ 81-yard kickoff return against Ulysses in 2016. 

Beloit would be faced with fourth down in the first couple minutes of the fourth period. On a fourth and long, Gray executed a fake punt, and found a wide open Cox, who took it to the 45 yard line. That would swing the momentum back into the favor of the Trojans. Beloit would convert two more fourth downs on the drive. Their second fourth down conversion on the drive would be a fortunate tip, as a Beaver tipped the ball, but to a sliding Vahle at the Scott City nine yard line, setting up a first and goal. On fourth down from the two, Cox rushed it in on the 13th play of the drive to put Beloit up 26-13. The two-point conversion would be controversial. It initially looked as if Gray tossed the ball forward at the one, and fell incomplete in the end zone. The officials ruled that he was hit and fumbled the ball forward, and Beloit’s Vahle recovered the ball in the end zone to make it 28-13 with 3:37 left. The Trojans ran over eight minutes of the fourth quarter clock on that drive.

Scott City would be sacked twice in three plays, and punt with 1:49 left from their own one yard line. The Trojans would run out the clock and come away with a big win 28-13.

Beloit finished with 199 yards rushing. Carson Cox led the way with 152 yards on 23 carries with one touchdown, while Hudson Gray added 59 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown. Gray was 4-7 passing for 63 yards. Brennan Walker, who had not caught a pass all year, had two receptions for 28 yards. The Trojans finished with 262 yards.

Scott City finished with a season-low 208 yards of offense, with 165 coming on the ground. Cale Goodman had 15 carries for 87 yards and a touchdown, while Brandon Winderlin had eight carries for 43 yards. Harrison King went 2-8 passing for 43 yards with one interception. Parker Gooden had a 24-yard reception, while Hunter Yager had an 11-yard catch. 

The Beaver were just 2-9 on third downs and 1-2 on fourth downs, while the Trojans were 2-10 on third down, but 3-5 on fourth downs. 

With the win, Beloit tied up the all-time series 3-3. They are 2-1 in Scott City, while the Beavers are 2-1 in Beloit.

Scott City saw some streaks snapped on Friday night. They saw their 35-game district winning streak come to an end, which started in week nine of the 2008 season. It was their first time they have lost at home in district play, since their 43-15 loss to Hoisington on October 19, 2007, a run of 18 straight home district wins. The loss snapped a 13-game home win streak, that started in 2017.

Scott City is now 5-1 overall, and 2-1 in district play. They will head to 6-0 Colby on Friday night. They are 3-0 in district play after a 55-12 win over Russell on Friday night. Beloit is 4-2 on the year, and 2-1 in district play, as they will head east to take on long-time rival Concordia on Friday. The Panthers are 3-3 overall and 2-1 in district play, as they had to rally from a 34-28 hafltime deficit to knock off Goodland 42-34 on Friday.

Assistant Coach Landon Frank Postgame