Holcomb rallies to knock off Scott City
Scott City, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–In the first meeting of the year at Holcomb, it turned out to be a defensive battle with a 9-0 win for Scott City in Week 6. Five weeks later, the two teams met up in the Sectional round of the Class 3A Playoffs at Darner Field for the chance to advance one more round. Much like the first meeting, it would be a defensive battle. This time around, the Longhorns would get the win, as they defeated the Beavers 10-7 to advance to the Class 3A Sub-State round next Friday.
The opening half would see the teams play a majority of the half, favoring Holcomb with the field position. Holcomb would see their second drive go to the Beaver 13, before a sack ended the drive on fourth and 10. Scott City would get no further than their own 42 yard line in the first half.
To begin the third quarter, Scott City (9-2) put together perhaps their best drive of the season. They converted all five of their third downs, on an 86-yard drive that went eight minutes. On third down from the Longhorn 14, Camden Vulgamore found Jackson Rumford for a 14-yard touchdown pass with 3:48 remaining in the third quarter to give the Beavers a 7-0 lead with the Rumford PAT. Holcomb would convert both of their third downs, including a third and 10 early in the series. The Longhorns would tie the game with just under minute left in the third quarter on a four-yard pass play from Keegan Johnson to Cooper Cranston. Emmanuel Anguiano’s extra point kick tied the game.
Early in the final period, Scott City went three-and-out. Holcomb (9-2) would flip the script of the game on a long punt return by Cranston, setting the Longhorns up at the Beaver 29 yard line. It took Holcomb 10 plays and five minutes to go ahead, as Anguiano’s 25-yard field goal put htem up 10-7 with 5:58 left.
The Beavers had two more chances, but an interception at the Holcomb 33 yard line, and a turnover on downs at the Longhorn 45 with 1:30 remaining would close things out, as Holcomb would escape with a 10-7 win.
Keegan Johnson was 6-11 passing for 45 yards with a touchdown pass. Cooper Cranston had three receptions for 37 yards and a touchdown. The Longhorns rushed for 119 yards and finished with 164 yards. Korbin Johnson had 15 carries for 72 yards.
Scott City had Camden Vulgamore go 9-16 for 60 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. He was also the teams leading rusher with 42 yards on 12 carries. Alex Tarango had 19 yards on four receptions. The Beavers rushed for 103 yard and had 163 yards of offense.
The win for Holcomb snapped a four-game losing streak to the Beavers. Scott City now leads the all-time series 21-6. The playoff series is now 3-3 It was just their second-ever win in Scott City, and the first since the Regional round of the Class 4A, Division II playoffs in 2016. Since 2020, Scott City is now 0-3 when in a game where neither team has scored at halftime. They lost at Cimarron in 2020, and host at home to Millwood 6-0 in 2023. The Beavers close their 29th playoff appearance with an all-time playoff record 57-25, and are now 5-8 in the Sectional round.
Holcomb advances to the Sub-State chapionship game for the first time since 2017. They’ll face Andale, who dethroned defending 3A chapmion Cheney 52-14 at home on Friday night. The Indians have now won 81 straight home games.
Coach Jim Turner Postgame
Box Score
Holcomb 0 0 7 3–10
Scott City 0 0 7 0–7
Scoring Summary
3rd Quarter
SC 3:48 Jackson Rumford 14-Yard Pass from Camden Vulgamore (Rumford Kick) 15-86, 8:12
HO :37.9 Cooper Cranston, 4-Yard Pass from Keegan Johnson (Emmanuel Anguiano Kick) 8-68, 3:11
4th Quarter
HO 5:58 Anguiano 25-Yard Field Goal 10-23, 5:33
Holcomb
Rushing
Korbin Johnson 15-72; Keegan Johnson 19-48; Cooper Cranston 2-2; Team 3-(-3); Total: 39-119
Passing
Keegan Johnson 6-11 45 1-0
Receiving
Cooper Cranston 3-37; Jareht Herrell 2-4, Korbin Johnson 1-4
Total Yards: 164
Scott City
Rushing
Camden Vulgamore 12-42; Kevin Wiebe 3-27; Kelton Cook 9-24; Cayden Couchman 5-10; Total: 29-103
Passing
Camden Vulgamore 9-16 60 1-1
Receiving
Alex Tarango 4-19; Cayden Couchman 1-18; Jackson Rumford 1-14; Kevin Wiebe 2-7; Kelton Cook 1-2
Total Yards: 163
