Scott City shuts out Ulysses

Scott City, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Friday night’s game saw the 65th consecutive meeting between Scott City and Ulysses was one that was not the prettiest of games to witness. After all, it was the season opener with many different effects leading up to the game, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A game that was well-attended, the two long time rivals forgot what was going on outside of sports and battled. In the end, it would be the Beavers pulling away with 11 second half points, winning 17-0 over the Tigers at Darner Field.

It didn’t take long for Scott City to find the end zone. On their opening series on third down, Harrison King found Loren Faurot on a 15-yard touchdown pass to go up 6-0 with 7:24 remaining in the first quarter. The extra point was blocked. It was a drive for the Beavers that went 37 yards on six plays in 2:51. Scott City found themselves starting their second series of the game in the red zone at the Tiger 17, but a turnover on downs at the Ulysses eight yard line stopped the drive late in the first quarter. The Tigers found a little fortune late in the first quarter. On a low and bobbled snap in the end zone, Oscar Martinez looked to either fumble the ball for a Beaver touchdown or take a safety. Instead, he was able to run it out of the end zone for a first down to the 20.

Ulysses would run over six and a half minutes on the the next drive, aided by two Scott City penalties, but saw their drive stall at the Beaver 23 yard line. Scott City didn’t have much luck move the ball either, as their possessions ended in punts in the second quarter. The Tigers had short field and drove it to the Beaver 16 yard line late in the first half, before an Isaac Tarango interception in the end zone late in the first half on fourth down ended the drive, as Scott City led 6-0 at the break.

To open the third quarter, the Beavers would find themselves in a fourth and short near midfield, but a sack ended the drive at their own 40. Ulysses made another push down the field to try and tie the game, only to see their drive end the Beaver 13 yard line, resulting in a Blaine Culp Interception with 7:03 left in the third frame. Scott City would take advantage of the turnover and drive it 80 yards in nine plays that took 4:23 off the clock. Six plays after a 30-yard pass play to Kevin Serrano that kept the drive alive, Kale Wheeler punched it in from two yards out with 2:40 left in the third frame. Harrison King connected with Ronnie Weathers for the two point conversion to push the lead to 14-0.

Scott City had a bad snap with 10:13 left, that left the door open for the Tigers as the Beaver 27 yard line. Like they did all game, the Scott City defense would rise to the occasion, forcing a turnover on downs at the Beaver 31. On the ensuing drive, the Beavers would convert a fourth down, and a third down, and burned nearly six minutes of the fourth quarter clock. Facing a fourth down, Scott City called on freshman Brady Welker, who would drill a 31-yard field goal with 2:05 left to put the Beavers up three scores at 17-0. Ulysses would get it to the Beaver 46 yard line, when Loren Faurot would intercept a fourth down pass with under a minute left. Two rushes would end the game at 17-0.

For Scott City, Harrison King went 6-10 for 88 yards and a touchdown pass. Loren Faurot had two receptions for 30 yards, and Kevin Serrano also had a 35 yard reception. Sawyer Stevens led the ground attack with 68 yards on 13 carries. The Beavers finished with 98 yards on the ground and 88 yards through the air for 186 yards. They had eight first downs and had seven penalties for 89 yards.

Ulysses saw Ben Scott got 9-22 passing for 74 yards and three interceptions. Oscar Martinez had four catches for 49 yards. The Tigers ended up with 49 yards on the ground, led by Jessie Rosales with 25 yards on 11 carries. They finished with 10 first downs and 123 yards of offense, with only 23 second half yards, and had 55 yards on 10 penalties.

With the win, Scott City has now won seven straight in the series, and now carry a 42-30-1 advantage in the series all-time. The win for the Beavers was also their fourth straight week one win, and their third straight season-opening shutout.

Scott City will be on the road for two straight weeks, starting off with a game at Holcomb next Friday night. The Longhorns are 1-0 after a 29-19 road win at Cimarron. It was Cimarron’s first game as a GWAC member. Ulysses will head to 0-1 Hugoton next Friday. The Eagles were shut down by Colby 35-6 on Friday at home.

Assistant Coach Dakota Hayes Postgame