Scott City shuts out Hugoton–with audio and highlights
Scott City, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Scott City has not been used to losing during the regular season. In fact, it’s been 41 regular season games since it has occured, dating back to 2008. Coming off a tough loss to Ulysses last week, the Beavers forced five Hugoton turnovers, and shut out the Eagles 28-0 on Homecoming night at Darner Field.
Scott City took the opening drive of the game, and used a 13-play, 65-yard drive in 4:52, capped off by a one-yard run by Paco Banda. Tim Bolle’s extra point made it 7-0 Beavers. That score would stand at halftime. The Beavers ran 24 first quarter plays, compared to four for Hugoton. Ball control would be a big story of the first half, limiting the Eagles only three first downs. In fact their lone third down conversion of the game was the final play of the half, on a 10-yard run by Michael Baeza.
In the second half, Hugoton had poor field position, and Scott City would take advantage. The Eagles’s first five possessions of the second half saw them start no better than their own 20 yard line. The Beavers defense would take the day, forcing three second half turnovers. Their second turnover of the half was a fumble recovery in the end zone by Chantz Yager with 6:51 left in the third quarter. Bolle’s kick gave Scott City a 14-0 lead.
After a kickoff return miscue by Hugoton, and a five yard punt, the Beavers only needed nine yards and two plays to find paydirt, as Banda pushed his way in from two yards out at the 4:05 mark of the third quarter, and Bolle’s extra point made it 21-0 Scott City after three quarters.
In the fourth quarter, Scott City put the dagger in. After a Brett Meyer interception return to the Beaver 32, a 13-play, 68-yard drive capped off the scoring, with a 30-yard pass play from Trey O’Neil to Sloan Baker with 4:17 remaining. Bolle’s final extra point kick made it 28-0. Scott City burned 7:01 off the fourth quarter clock. After giving up one more Eagle first down, the Beavers forced a turnover on downs and ran out the final two minutes of the game.
Scott City saw Trey O’Neil go 10-of-16 passing for 130 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Paco Banda was the leading ground gainer with 38 yards on 13 carries and two scores. Seven different players had at least two carries for the Beavers. Hugoton, who came in averaging 343 yards on the ground per game, was held to only 74 yards on the ground and 107 total yards of offense. Yates Sutton had 39 yards on 15 carries, caught a pass from Nick Frederick for 27 yards. Frederick caught both of Sutton’s completions for eight yards. Sutton threw three interceptions.
After Friday night, Scott City improved to 4-1 overall, 3-1 in Great West Activities Conference play, while Hugoton dropped to 3-2 overall, 2-2 in GWAC play. The Beavers host Goodland in their league finale next Friday, while Hugoton hosts Southwestern Heights for their final tune up before district play begins October 18.
