Scott City hosts Holcomb in a Week 9 Playoff game

Scott City, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–For the fifth time in series history, Holcomb and Scott City will face off for a second time in a season. And for the third time in four years, the Longhorns and Beavers match up in the playoffs. Tonight’s 7 pm kickoff at Darner Field features the 21st meeting in the series between Holcomb and Scott City.

Holcomb enters tonight’s game at 4-4 on the season, and finished third in district play with a 3-2 record, after being shutout 22-0 at Hugoton last Friday night. The Eagles would take District 7 in Class 3A with the win. After a scoreless first quarter, Hugoton took an 8-0 lead at the break, before scoring 14 second half points. Despite the loss the Longhorns would outgain Hugoton 290-266, and had 194 yards through the air. This year, Holcomb averages 18 points a game and 230 yards of offense, while giving up 235 yards per game and 17 points a contest. They are once again balanced on offense, averaging 114 rushing yards and 116 passing yards per game. Kaden Johnson has thrown for 672 yards this season, while Kolby Johnson leads the ground game with 404 yards and three touchdowns. Both are sophomores. 

Scott City snapped a two-game losing streak in a 31-0 dominating win over Concordia last Friday night at Darner Field. The Beavers needed to win by 21 or more points in order to host a playoff game. They accomplished that, which put them in second place in District 8. It will be their 11th consecutive playoff opener at home. Scott City rushed out to a 21-0 hafltime lead and added 10 second half points in the win. Parker Gooden threw three touchdowns and rushed for another one in the win in his first start of the season.  The Beaver defense pitched their fourth shutout of the season. This year, Scott City has averaged around 350 yards a contest and 27 points, while giving up around 150 yards and eight points a game. Cale Goodman leads the ground attack with over 600 yards rushing and seven touchdowns, while Parker Gooden has over 500 rushing yards and Hunter Yager has over 200 receiving yards.

This will be the fifth time that Holcomb and Scott City have met up in the playoffs. Both teams have won two time each, and are 1-1 at each others places. The Longhorns won 34-13 in 2017 en route to the Class 4A, Division II State Championship, and Scott City’s last playoff win over Holcomb came in 2009 in a 54-6 win in Bi-District play.

The Beavers have won the last two in the series, including a 14-3 rally on September 13, and lead the all-time series 16-4.

Pregame coverage begins at 6:30 on AM 1030 KBUF for the Holcomb broadcast, and on Mix 94.5 for the Scott City broadcast. You can also listen online at westernkansasnews.com, on the KBUF or KSKL App or on TuneIn Radio.