Holcomb eliminated from playoff contention
For the first time since 2010, the Holcomb Longhorns won’t be competing in the football playoffs, after falling to the Hugoton Eagles 14-7 on Senior Night at Holcomb. In Coach Kent Teeter’s first four seasons, the Longhorns never lost more than two games, winning at least 10 every season, advancing as far as the state semi-finals every year and capturing two state championships. But not this year.
The Longhorns were plagued by turnovers all night, coughing up the football four times in the loss. The first came on Holcomb’s second play of the night as quarterback Peyton Ortner and running back Jayson Lambert mishandled the read option and Hugoton recovered the fumble at the Longhorn 47 yard line. Five plays later, on third down, Eagle quarterback Riggs Martin hit Jagger Hertel for a 31-yard touchdown pass and Hugoton was up 7-0 after the extra point.
The Longhorns answered with a six-play, 79-yard drive, when Ortner hit River Amos for a 55-yard TD strike. Edgar Ramirez added the PAT to tie the game at 7, still in the 1st quarter.
Early in the 2nd quarter, Amos muffed a Hugoton punt and the Eagles recovered at the Longhorn 44. But on the second play of the series, Sebastian Munoz stripped the ball from Martin and the Longhorns were in business on their 38. After a pass completion gave Holcomb a 1st down at the Hugoton 47, Ortner fumbled again and the Eagles took over at midfield.
The Longhorns would hold on downs, but were forced to punt on their next possession. Holcomb would get the ball back with 1:13 to play in the half and drive to the Eagle 27, before a penalty, two incompletions and a sack ended the scoring opportunity. The two teams went to the locker room tied at 7.
Holcomb put themselves in a hole to start the 3rd quarter with back-to-back penalties and eventually had to punt. But Dawson Kerbow fumbled on the return and the Longhorns took over on their 49. They would move the ball to the Eagle 30, but a penalty and an incomplete pass ended the drive.
On the next series, Jaden Blansett picked off an errant pass and returned it to the Hugoton 25. This drive stalled at the 5 and a field goal attempt went awry, leaving the score knotted at 7.
After a Hugoton three-and-out, Holcomb would get another opportunity, driving to the Eagle 15. The drive was stymied by a penalty and a 7-yard loss. Then, on 4th down Ortner’s pass was intercepted by Hertel who returned it to the Longhorn 48.
That fourth turnover would be the difference as the Eagles drove the 48 yards in 8 plays, capped by a Kerbow run, a fumble at the goal line and a recovery by a lineman in the end zone. The extra point made it 14-7.
Holcomb had one last chance, driving from their 19 to the Hugoton 7, but a 4th down play fell two yards short and the Eagles ran out the clock.
The Longhorns racked up 277 total yards to the Eagles 209, but committed four turnovers, compared to three. Senior Peyton Ortner led the rushing attack with 72 yards on 14 carries. He also completed 14 of 24 passes for 184 yards, 1 TD and an interception. Senior River Amos caught 5 passes for 79 yards, including the 55-yard TD in the 1st quarter. Another senior, Caleb Clumsky, caught 4 passes for 47 yards. Hugoton’s Dawson Kerbow led all rushers with 134 yards.
Hugoton improved to 4-4 and, most importantly, 4-1 in district play to advance to the 1st round of the playoffs. The Longhorns fell to 3-5, 2-3 in district play to finish 5th in the district. Holcomb will play its final game of the season at Goodland, a team the Longhorns beat 34-12 in the season opener.
