Playoff bound! Scott City rolls over Lakin

Scott City, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Friday night’s game featured two teams that were heading in opposite directions. Scott City, who has dominated their opponents this year, was looking to move into prime position to clinch a playoff spot, while Lakin was trying to snap a two-game skid, and pull the big upset and remain alive for a playoff berth. The Beavers were once again dominant early on, scoring on all but one possession and clinched their ninth straight playoff berth in a 59-20 pounding of the Broncs at Darner Field. 

After forcing Lakin off the field early, Scott City scored on a four-play drive in 1:15, when Cooper Griffith rumbled in from five yards out with 9:46 left in the first quarter. The Tre Stewart PAT made it 7-0 Beavers. On their third drive of the quarter, Trey O’Neil found Brett Meyer on 14-yard pitch and catch with 4:13 left in the opening quarter to make it 14-0, following the Stewart PAT. Scott City’s next score came on special teams. With under two minutes in the first period, Wyatt Kropp returned a Bronc punt 75 yards to the end zone to make it 21-0. That was the second straight week the Beavers have scored a non-offensive touchdown.

In the second, Scott City (8-0, 2-0 District 16) put the game in doubt. Kropp would find the end zone for the second time in the game with 8:52 left before halftime on a six-yard run to make it 28-0 after the Stewart extra point. Lakin (4-4, 0-2) had their first sustained drive of the night on the ensuing possession. Nine plays later, the Broncs would be denied a score at the Beaver five yard line. On the very next play, Griffith was hit a the line, and took it right side for a 95-yard touchdown with 5:29 left before halftime. Stewart kicked in the extra point to make it 35-0 Beavers. Scott City scored once more before the break. On fourth and four from the Bronc seven, O’Neil hit Sloan Baker on a seven-yard pass play, and Stewart booted in the extra point to make it 42-0. Lakin drove down the field for their first score of the night. On the final play of the first half, Caleb Seeger hit Matt Armstrong on a 15-yard touchdown pass to make it 42-6, and the extra point would be blocked. 

The Beavers would score on their opening drive of the third quarter. Marshal Hutchins would get into the scoring column with a four-yard run with 8:26 left in the third quarter. Stewart would boot in the PAT too push the Scott City lead to 49-6. Nearly two minutes later, Lakin quickly responded with a four-play drive, as Seeger and Armstrong would connect for the second time on a five-yard pass play. Seeger converted the two-point conversion on a pass to Panch Klassen to cut the lead to 49-14. The Beavers would respond though, on an eight play drive, capped off by a Griffith 12-yard run with 3:35 remaining in the third quarter to grow the lead to 56-14, after the Stewart extra point. Scott City scored one more time late in the third quarter, on a Stewart 28-yard field goal to make it 59-14.

Lakin scored the final points of the game. With 4:37 remaining, Seeger and Armstrong connected on a scoring pass again, this time on a 67-yard pass play to make it 59-20, with the two-point conversion.

The Broncs dropped their third straight game, and finished with 253 yards of offense. They were minus-21 on the ground. Caleb Seeger was 20-of-36 for 274 yards for three touchdowns. Matt Armstrong caught 11 passes for 210 yards and three scores. Wyatt Burnett was the leading Lakin rusher with 15 yards on 13 carries.

Scott City saw Trey O’Neil go 10-0f-12 for 171 with two touchdown passes and one interception. Sloan Baker was the leading receiver with four catches for 70 yards and a touchdown. Cooper Griffith rushed for 124 yards on only six carries and three touchdowns. The Beavers accumulated 490 yards of offense, 281 were on the ground. 

In the win, Glenn O’Neil made history by becoming the winningest coach in Scott City history with his 82nd career win, passing Dave Dunham for most wins in school history. Dunham coached the Beavers from 1986-94. 

Lakin will host Southwestern Heights on Thursday, which will be the last game of the season for both teams, who were eliminated from playoff contention on Friday. Scott City hosts Cimarron for the District 16 championship on Thursday. The Blue Jays shut out Southwestern Heights 22-0 on Friday.

Scott City Coach Glenn O’Neil Postgame