Scott City pulls away from Holcomb

Garden City, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Since 2015, Scott City and Holcomb have played 10 times. While the Beavers have won six of those, both teams entered Friday’s contest scoring 184 points in the series. Odds were that it would be another close game. It would turn out to be a one-score game until late, as Scott City outscored the Longhorns 22-7 in the second half, en route to a 28-14 victory at Broncbuster Stadium in  Garden City.

Following a scoreless first quarter, the Beavers would strike first on the opening play in the second quarter. Brady Welker punched it in from one yard out with 11:53 left in the first quarter to put Scott City up 6-0. The PAT was no good. Holcomb would strike back in a hurry, needing just four plays. After converting a third down, Manny Reyes rushed it in from 34 yards out to give the Longhorns a 7-6 lead, with the Chris Palacios PAT with 10:31 left before halftime. 

Scott City would block a Holcomb punt and had the ball at the Longhorn three yard line late in the first half, but couldn’t convert on fourth and one. The Longhorns drove to near midfield to end the half up 7-6.

To open the second half, the Beavers marched down the field to take the lead back. A six-play, 67-yard drive was capped off by a Brady Welker 13-yard run with 9:05 left in the third quarter. Dylan Metzger connected with Collin McDaniel for the two-point conversion to put them up 14-7. On Holcomb’s opening drive of the second half, the Longhorns converted two third downs that set them up for the tying score. Keegan Johnson scored from five yards out to tie the game up at 14 with the Palacios PAT with 3:26 left in the third quarter. Scott City responded for the go-ahead score on the final play of the third quarter, as Dylan Metzger found a wide open Lawson Bailey for a 33-yard touchdown pass to go up 21-0, after the Aldo Munoz PAT.

The Beavers would have a chance to put the game away with a 30-yard field goal, but a missed field goal kept the door open for Holcomb. On the Longhorn ensuing drive, they would convert a fourth and nine at their own 21 yard line, and marched down the field. Holcomb committed their first turnover at the Scott City 34 yard line with 1:58 left in the game. Needing a first down to put the game on ice, Scott City would get that and more. Welker would score for a third time, scoring from 66 yards out, as he was spun into the end zone on a Holcomb tackle attempt. Munoz kicked in the extra point to make the score 28-14 with 1:46 left. The Longhorns had one final chance, as they would be intercepted, and the Beavers kneeled down once to come out with the 28-14 win.

Scott City finished with a season-high 404 yards of offense, with 243 coming on the ground. Dylan Metzger was 8-9 passing for 161 yards with a touchdown. Alex Tarango had two catches for 51 yards, and Lawson Bailey added 41 yards on two receptions and a touchdown. Brady Welker rushed for 205 yards on 25 carries and three touchdowns. 

For Holcomb, Keegan Johnson went 10-19 for 115 yards with an interception. Domoonique Orosco had four catches for 50 yards, and Manny Reyes had 15 carries for 92 yards. The Longhorns had a total of 288 yards, with 115 yards passing and 173 yards on the ground. Holcomb’s leading rusher, Damon Mesa, finished with 14 yards on five carries, and left the game in the first half due to an injury. 

With the win, Scott City improved to 19-5 in the series, and have won back to back games against the Longhorns, and have won five of the last six. It was the first time these two teams faced off in district play, and it was also the first time that the game was played on a neutral field. Scott City’s district win not only improved them to 2-0 in district play, but it was also their 100th district win in program history. Since 1981, the Beavers are 100-33 in district play, and have never had a winless season in district play. It also wraps up a stretch for the Beavers that saw them face four teams with at least a 2-0 record or better in the last five weeks.

At 5-1 overall, 2-0 in district play, Scott City will host Goodland on Senior Night next Friday night. The Cowboys are coming in with a 2-4 record, and a 1-1 record in district play, after they defeated Colby 34-8 on Friday night at home. It was Goodland’s first win over their rival since 2013. Holcomb is 5-1 and 2-1 in district play, as they will host Hugoton in their regular season home finale on Friday. The Eagles stepped out of district play, and defeated Cimarron 30-6 to improve to 5-1 on the year.

Coach Jim Turner Postgame