HUMBOLDT Humboldt Highs vaunted offensive attack has garnered most of the teams headlines on its magical undefeated romp through the 2018 season.
But the Cub defense isnt too shabby, either.
Never was that more evident than on Friday, in the second round of the Kansas Class 2A state playoffs.
Humboldts defense shut down the Cubs most powerful foe yet, Osage City High, forcing four turnovers and making several other key stops in a 30-6 win.
Now, Humboldt (10-0) takes its show on the road for what promises to be a titanic clash next Friday at Rossville. The Bulldogs, state champions from 2014-16, stand at 9-2 after defeating Maur Hill-Mount Academy, 21-14 on Friday.
Rossvilles Rossville, Humboldt head coach Logan Wyrick said. They had a down year last year, but its obvious theyre back. You get to this point, youre going to play a good team.
That much was evident against Osage City (8-2), which entered Fridays contest averaging 38 points a contest, and keyed by the diminutive Trenton Plinsky.
The 5-3, 133-pound dynamo showed his elusiveness on several plays, eluding would-be tacklers long enough to target downfield receivers.
But the Cubs defensive secondary proved up to the task, limiting Plinsky (unofficially) to 13 of 31 passes for 146 yards, and keeping the Indians out of the end zone. (Osage Citys only score came on a Humboldt turnover.)
Hes a very good football player, Wyrick said. Hes proven over and over again that size does not matter. We knew what we were getting into coming into tonight.
That was the best weve played in our secondary. He kept looking and looking, and he found guys. Youre going to give up plays when hes that athletic, but we kept him in check for the most part.
Conversely, Humboldts offense rolled up plenty of yards in the first half, but mustered little to show for it.
The Cubs were held scoreless in the first quarter for the first time this season, even with flashes of its quick-strike ability.
Dagen Goodner scampered 59 yards on a keeper on the final play of the period before Conor Haviland opened the second quarter with a 26-yard touchdown run to push Humboldt in front, 8-0.
But the Cubs next drive ended at the Osage City 1, when Haviland couldnt find an opening on fourth-and-goal, and their ensuing possession blew a fuse when a holding penalty negated a Goodner touchdown run.
