Scott City rallies for district championship over Concordia

Concordia, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Whether it was the cold weather, or the long bus ride, something was different with Scott City’s football team on Friday in Concordia. It felt early on as if the Panthers were in their huddle and knew what was coming. While the dominant rushing game of the Beavers was grounded for the first time all year, it was the passing game that made the difference, as Scott City rallied for 28 straight points in a 28-12 win over the Panthers Friday night at Harold M. Clark Stadium.

Concordia would score the first 12 points of the game, taking advantage of short field. Their first came with 19 seconds left in the first quarter on a one-yard pass play from Dyelan Reed to Tyler Stupka to give them the 6-0 lead. The two point conversion would fail.

The Panthers went up 12-0, taking advantage of a short field yet again. After holding Scott City short of the first down at the Beaver 41, Concordia went on a seven-play drive, capped off by a 20-yard scoring strike from Reed to Garrett Lawrence with 7:21 left in the first half. Scott City would show some life late in the first half. It was a two-play, 81-yard drive, all from Parker Gooden to Parker Vulgamore. The second connection was good for a 55-yard strike with 1:16 left in the half to pull to within 12-7 after the Moses Hinojos extra point.

In the second half, the Scott City defense made the proper adjustments, giving up only three first downs, which were all on the last drive. The Beavers eventually took the lead with 3:03 left in the third quarter on a 38-yard strike from Gooden to Marshal Faurot, who barely stayed inbounds on the rout. the Hinojos kick gave Scott City the 14-12 lead after the third quarter.

Concordia would try a fake punt on fourth down with 9:11 left. They would lose seven yards, setting the Beavers up with excellent field position. Five plays later, the second Gooden to Faurot connection was successful with 6:16 left, from 13 yards out. Hinojos would tack on the PAT for the all-important point to push the score to a two-possession lead at 21-12. The Panthers would be shut down on four plays, giving Scott City the ball at the Concordia 19. With 3:09 left, Wyatt Hayes scored the games lone rushing touchdown from three yards out, and Hinojos knocked home the extra point to make the final 28-12.

The Panthers had one final big drive, converting a pair of fourth downs and got to the one yard line. Hunter Yager would intercept a pop pass from the lineman Austin Higbee in the end zone for the game’s lone turnover with 16 seconds left, ending any hope of a Concordia score in the second half. Scott City’s longest scoring drive given up this year is still 61 yards.

Parker Gooden was 8-11 passing for 172 yards and three touchdowns. Parker Vulgamore was the leading receiver with 88 yards on three receptions and a touchdown, while Marshal Faurot added three catches for 63 yards and a touchdown. Scott City had just 45 rushing yards, led by Wyatt Hayes with 22 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown. The Beavers finished with a season-low 217 yards of offense.

Concordia would outgain the Beavers in the end, and it was just the third time all season that Scott City surrendered over 200 yards of offense. Billy Bechard rushed for 91 yards on 23 carries for the Panthers. Dyelan Reed went 7-15 passing for 83 yards. Garrett Lawrence had two catches for 48 yards and a touchdown. The Panthers finished with 224 yards of total offense.

With the win, Scott City is 9-0 for the 11th time in school history, and for the seventh time in the last 10 seasons. It was their 28th consecutive district win, dating back to week nine of the 2008 season. They clinched their ninth straight district championship with the win. The Beavers improve to 10-1 all-time against teams from the North Central Kansas League, including a 2-0 record against Concordia.

Scott City will host the Kingman Eagles in Regional play next Friday night at Darner Field. The Eagles upset the defending Class 4A, Division II Champions Pratt Greenbacks 39-25 on Friday. Kingman is 5-4 on the season. Concordia finished their year at 4-5.

Assistant Coach Landon Frank Postgame