Goodland Beats Hugoton’s 31-28 in Battle of Quarterbacks

Hugoton, KS (westernkansasnews.com) The game between Hugoton and Goodland saw four lead changes, one tie and looked more like a track meet in the first half.  In the second half, the defenses took over and with a little more than two minutes left Goodland’s Evan Peter intercepted Hugoton QB Parker Titus putting a stop to a potential game winning driving and sealing up a 31-28 Cowboy win.  Hugoton turned the ball over three times on fumbles and twice on Titus’ interceptions.

Goodland (2-2, 1-2 conf.) won their 1st GWAC game under first year head coach Josh Stephenson and for Hugoton (1-3, 0-3 conf.) head coach Todd Fulton it was an opportunity that slipped away.

Goodland’s senior quarterback Kolt Trachsel and Luke Avila connected on three touchdown passes of 21, 56 and 22 yards.  The Cowboys final touchdown came with a little more than five minutes left to give the Cowboys their biggest lead at 31-20.  Titus answered back a little more than a minute later on a three yard touchdown run, his second rushing TD of the game.  

Game Highlights

The game shaped up to be a battle of 1st year quarterbacks.  Trachsel’s running late kept Hugoton from getting the ball one last time.  Trachsel’s 33 yard run sealed up the win in the game’s final minute.  Hugoton had trouble with Trachsel throughout the game.  He ran for a career best 121 yards on 14 carries and went 14-28 for 253 passing yards.

Titus was successful through the air going 15-29 for 225 yards and two interceptions. Titus found Tyler Goode three times for 91 yards.  Both teams combined for 135 yards in penalties, but it was Hugoton’s flags that came at the worst time, even negating a big 40 yard pass play in the fourth quarter to sophomore Zack Leininger.  Seven different Eagle receivers had a reception in the game.

Goodland improves to 8-0 against Hugoton since 2004.  Scott City travels to take on Hugoton next week while Goodland returns home to play Ulysses.