Top-ranked Longhorns pick off Bluejays

Holcomb, KS (westernkansasnews.com)-After a sluggish start, the Holcomb Longhorns ripped off two touchdowns in the final minute of the 1st quarter and turned 2 first half interceptions and a fumble recovery into 3 TDs on their way to a 48-8 rout over the Cimarron Bluejays.

The Longhorn ‘D’ kept the Bluejays at bay most of the night forcing 4 straight 3-and-out possessions in the opening quarter to give the offense time to find its rhythm.

Following a Cimarron 3-and-out on the game’s opening series, Holcomb quickly marched into the red zone, only to be thwarted when Cimarron’s Colton Lumpkins picked off a Trey Teeter pass inside the 5-yard line.

On their next two series, the Longhorns punted and turned the ball over on downs. Finally, with 47 seconds left in the opening stanza, Teeter hit Brandon Stegman for a 38-yard TD strike.

A fumble on the kickoff return gave the Longhorns the ball back at the Bluejay 7-yard line. Teeter then floated a pass toward the left front pylon, into the waiting hands of Conner Van Cleave who tiptoed across the goal line for Holcomb’s second TD in 22 seconds. The 2-point conversion made it 14-0.

Holcomb got it back 10 seconds later on the 1st of 4 Cimarron interceptions and scored again 2 minutes later when Stegman sprinted in from 10 yards out. Another interception two plays later, set the Longhorns up on the Bluejay 36 and Teeter hit Stegman again for the TD.

Holcomb closed out the 1st half scoring on a 5-yard run by Tanner Mongeau, making it 35-0 at halftime.

Cimarron’s highlight came early in the 4th quarter, when Lumpkins scooped up a Van Cleave fumble and raced 40 yards to the end zone. Holcomb answered on its next two possessions, with back-up QB Trey Gilbert hitting Braden Showalter for a 31-yard TD and then Gilbert scooted 60 yards around left end for the final TD of the night.

Although they forced 6 Bluejay turnovers, 4 interceptions and 2 fumbles, the Longhorns coughed the ball up twice and had double digits in penalties, leading Coach Kent Teeter to tell his team to bring their running shoes on Monday.

Up next for the 1-0 Longhorns is a trip to Goodland to face the Cowboys on Friday. Pregame 6:30 p.m.; kickoff 7 p.m. on AM 1030 KBUF