Holcomb advances with big win over Colby

Holcomb, KS-The Holcomb Longhorns stampeded to a 46-15 victory over the Colby Eagles in the opening round of 4A-Division 2 playoffs Friday night.

Kaden Tichenor led the offensive barrage with a 155 yards on 10 carries in the 1st half and two touchdowns. Tichenor became the first Longhorn this season to rush for more than 100 yards and finished the night with 157 yards on 11 carries. Reece Morss also ran for two touchdowns and Trey Gilbert three two TD passes, one to Andrew Morss and the other to Chance Rodriguez. To top it off, Carter Blackburn returned a kick-off 79 yards for a TD.

Calvin Stapp led Colby with 142 yards rushing, but he was the only bright spot for the Eagles.

After forcing the Eagles to go three-and-out on the game’s first possession, the Longhorns drove 63 yards in seven plays, with Reece Morss scoring from one yard out. Kaden Tichenor had runs of 14 and 29 yards on the drive. Chance Rodriguez added the extra point and Holcomb led 7-0.

Colby went three-and-out again and Holcomb marched 58 yards in eight plays, capped by Tichenor’s 27-yard TD run. The PAT was no good and Holcomb led 13-0 after one quarter.

After the Eagles turned the ball over on downs at the Longhorn 36, it took Holcomb just four plays to score with Tichenor running it in from 18 yards out. A 2-point conversion failed and Holcomb led 19-0.

After another Colby punt, Holcomb went 62 yards in four plays, with Trey Gilbert hitting Andrew Morss on a 41-yard bomb to make the score 26-0 after the Rodriguez PAT.

Caeden Spencer picked off a Colby pass on the next play, returning it to the Eagle 23. Four plays later Reece Morss scored on a 1-yard run and Holcomb led 33-0.

Colby got one of its few highlights on the first play after the kick-off with Calvin Stapp breaking through the line and racing 65 yards for the Eagles’ first score of the game. That made Holcomb’s lead at halftime 33-8.

Carter Blackburn opened the 2nd half fielding the kick-off at the 21 and then scooting 79 yards for the TD. Later in the 3rd quarter, Gilbert three a 21-yard TD pass to Chance Rodriguez.

Colby finished the scoring for the night, with Zach Hart scoring from 1 yard out with 23 seconds remaining and the extra point made the final score 46-15 in Holcomb’s favor.

Colby ends its season at 6-4. Holcomb will next face Smoky Valley, a 12-2 winner over Wichita Collegiate. Both teams are 9-1. That game will be played in Lindsborg, with pregame at 6:30 and kick-off at 7:00 on AM 1030 KBUF.