Holcomb roasts Ulysses

The Holcomb Longhorn defense swarmed and the offense pounced as the Longhorns stampeded past the Ulysses Tigers 52-0 on Friday night in Holcomb. The Horns shut down a Tiger offense that came in averaging 265 yards a game, holding Ulysses to less than 100 total yards and just four first downs. The Longhorns also picked off three passes, the most spectacular being a pick-six by Brandon Stegman who raced 92 yards for the game’s second touchdown that put Holcomb up 14-0 in the opening period. Stegman would finish the night with two interceptions, while Michael Roth added the other pick.

Holcomb opened the game with a 9 play, 70 yard drive that culminated with Kaden Tichenor plunging in from 1 yard out. The big play on the drive was a 29 yard strike from Trey Gilbert to Andrew Morss. After missing the extra point Holcomb led 6-0. On the next possession, the Tigers’ most promising drive ended when Stegman picked off AB Romero at the Longhorn 8 and streaked down the right sideline for the TD. Stegman would pick off another pass off a ricochet on the next Ulysses possession and after a 39 yard return and 20 more yards penalties against the Tigers, Holcomb had a first down at the Ulysses 13. A Brayden Goddard TD run was negated by a penalty but Gilbert hit Chance Rodriguez from 17 yards out and Holcomb led 20-0 after one quarter.

In the second quarter, the Longhorns rolled out a 9 play, 72 yard drive, with Gilbert hitting Carter Blackburn for a 22-yard touchdown and a 26-0 lead. After a 31 yard punt return by Blackburn gave Holcomb a first down at the Ulysses 39, it took the Longhorns seven plays to score with Gilbert hitting Stegman from 15 yards out. Holcomb led 32-0 at halftime.

A fumble stalled Holcomb’s first drive in the second half, but on the next possession, the Longhorns marched 47 yards in 10 plays, capped by Goddard’s 1 yard push into the end zone, making it 39-0 after Chance Rodriguez’ point after kick. Then Ulysses turned the ball over on downs at midfield and the Longhorns scored three plays later as Gilbert hit Rodriguez down the middle for a 38 yard TD. The PAT made it 46-0 with 19 seconds remaining in the third quarter and the game was played with a running clock the rest of the way.

Back-up quarterback Peyton Ortner capped the scoring with a 15 yard TD run in the fourth quarter.

Trey Gilbert threw four TD passes with 1 interception for the Longhorns, who had two turnovers on the night but were plus-one in that category. Brandon Stegman had two TDs, one receiving and the other on the pick-six in the first quarter. Chance Rodriguez caught two TD passes, Carter Blackburn had one, and Kaden Tichenor, Brayden Goddard and Peyton Ortner each contributed a rushing TD.

Ulysses falls to 1-2, 0-2 in league play, while Holcomb improves to 3-0, 2-0 in the GWAC. The Longhorns will hit the road next Friday traveling to Goodland. Kickoff will be at 7:00 central time, with the pregame at 6:30 on AM 1030 KBUF.