Storm struck by Lightning on game’s final play

Dodge City, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–For the first time in over three weeks, the Southwest Kansas Storm played at home, as they faced off against the Oregon Lightning inside the United Wireless Arena on Sunday evening.

In a game that saw a swing of points by both teams would come down to the final play, it was the Lightning would struck last, as a 40-yard hail mary was converted in the back of the end zone on the game’s final play, pushing Oregon pas Southwest Kansas 41-40.

Both teams scored on fourth down on their opening drives. The Lightning struck first on a 29-yard pass from Dalton Cole to Maurice Ashley with 12:21 left in the first quarter to give them the early 7-0 lead after the extra point. From there on, the Storm would score 33 straight. They tacked on two touchdowns in the first quarter, one on a 36-yard pass to Charles Hull IV from Jalen Morton, and on a Morton eigh-yard run, both on fourth down. Dillon Burkhard would knock in one of two PAT’s to give Southwest Kansas a 13-7 lead.

Southwest Kansas (2-2) scored twice in the first five minutes of the second quarter. They both were on the first play of the drive, as Morton connected with Demarius Washington twice, one from 38 yards out and the other from 31 yards out to extend the lead to 26-7. Logan Wright added a six-yard touchdown run wiht 6:34 left before hafltime to extend the lead to 33-7.

At that moment, it looked as if the Storm would be running Oregon out of the building. That’s when the Lightning got back into the game. They scored the final 16 points of the first half, starting with a 50-yard kickoff return and a two-point conversion to pull to within 33-15, picked up a safety, and got a Cole one-yard run late in the first half to pull to within 33-23 at the break.

Southwest Kansas missed a scoring opportunity on their next four possessions. They ended the half stopped short of the goal line, would turn the ball over on downs at the Oregon one yard line to open the second half, and throw two interceptions in the third quarter.

The Lightning scored on tehir opening drive of the third quarter to pull to within 33-29 on a Cole four-yard run, after the extra point was blocked. Southwest Kansas would get two big defensive stops in the third and fourth quarter, stopping Oregon (1-2) inside the Storm five yard.

Stepping onto the field for the first time after a nearly nine-minute drive, the Storm offense burned over five minutes of clock and scored with 1:41 left on a Morton to Hall IV score with the Burkhard PAT. Oregon responded on the first play after the one-minute warning with a five yard pass from Cole to Marquis Sampson to pull to within 40-35 after the missed two-point conversion with 56 seconds left.

Southwest Kansas would only be able to burn off just over 50 seconds after recovering the onside kick. A bad snap on third down would stop the clock, and an incompletion would give the ball back to Oregon at their own 15 yard line.

Following a false start penalty, the Lightning would see Cole connect with Nicolas Brassell five yards deep in the back of the end zone on the games final play to walk out with a 41-40 win.

Jalen Morton threw for 227 yards and four touchdowns and two picks in the loss, as the leading receiver was Charles Hall with 108 receiving yards on four receptions and two touchdowns. Southwest Kansas finished with 73 rushing yards and 300 total yards.

Dalton Cole passed for 258 yards with three touchdowns and one intercepton. Their leading receiver was Kris Lewis, who had 84 yards on five receptions. Oregon finished with 61 rushing yards and had 319 yards of offense.

Southwest Kansas had a bye week coming up before they face Salina on the road on Saturday, April 12.