Pratt ends Holcomb’s title hopes

Holcomb’s quest to win back-to-back state championships was derailed Friday as the Longhorns fell at home to the Pratt Greenbacks 21 – 14. It was the second time Pratt beat Holcomb this season, winning a district match-up 35 – 28 on their home fielda month ago.

Holcomb turned two of Pratt’s four turnovers into points, but the Greenbacks took advantage of a Longhorn fumble in the fourth quarter to score the game-winning touchdown in the closing minutes.

Pratt struck first, driving 65 yards in 11 plays, capped by a flea flicker from quarterback Landon Studer to fullback Travis Theis to slot back Hunter Kaufman for a 28-yard touchdown pass on third and 27. Noah Meyers added the extra point and the Greenbacks led early 7 – 0. Pratt had a chance to double the lead in the 2ndquarter after a short Conner Van Cleave punt from his goal line set the Greenbacks up on the Longhorn 26. Michael Roth intercepted a pass in the end zone and returned it to the Holcomb 20, but on the first play from scrimmage, Dillon Williams fumbled the ball back to the Greenbacks after a 20-yard gain. Pratt then drove to the goal line and on fourth-and-inches, the Greenbacks got called for 12 men on the field. After the 5-yard penalty, Pratt elected to try a short field goal and Roth shot through untouched to block the kick. The half ended with Pratt up 7 – 0.

On the opening drive of the 2nd half, Conner Van Cleave picked off a pass and returned it to the Pratt 42. Three plays and one face-mask penalty later, Dillon Williams stormed in from 17 yards out. The PAT failed and the Longhorns trailed 7 – 6. Late in the 3rdquarter, Michael Roth would pick off another pass, but the Longhorn drive stalled at their own 43. Following a Longhorn punt to start the 4th quarter, Landon Studer fumbled the ball back to Holcomb at the Pratt 26. On the next play, Williams was grabbed around the helmet, but spun out of the tackle and sprinted straight up field for the 26 yard TD. A two-point conversion pass from Trey Gilbert to Conner Van Cleave gave Holcomb a 14 – 7 lead with 11 minutes left in the game.

Pratt responded with an 11-play, 76-yard drive, with Hunter Kaufman scoring from 7 yards out. The PAT tied the game at 14, with just over six minutes to play. On the next possession, Dillon Williams broke free for what appeared to be a 63-yard TD run, but it was called back for a holding penalty. Still the Longhorns seemed to be in business at the Greenback 42, but Williams fumbled for the second time in the game and Pratt’s Bryce Stegman scooped it and returned it to the Holcomb 24. The Longhorns forced a fourth down play, but Studer hit Kaufman, who slipped behind the secondary, for a 20-yard touchdown, with 2:49 remaining in the game. Holcomb moved the ball to the Pratt 41, but Trey Gilbert fumbled on the next play and Pratt ran out the clock.

Holcomb finishes the year at 10-2, while Pratt improves to 11-1 and will take on Topeka Hayden, a 20 – 8 winner over Holton, in the 4A-II state championship game.