Humboldt (6-2) lost a heartbreaker 34-30 against Jayhawk Linn on Friday night. They fall to 1-1 in district play and the Jayhawks became the district champions as a result.
“People might say I’m crazy but it was fun,” head coach Logan Wyrick said. “That’s what you live for right there. You want to win each and every game. They’ll look back on it and it hurts. Those hurt more than anything. We had fun, but we got to cut out the mistakes.”
In what was a sloppy game for Humboldt, they were right in the hunt until the very end. The Cubs trailed 20-16 entering the second half and it appeared they were about to take the lead. However, a fumble on the snap by quarterback Kyler Allen resulted in a turnover on downs right at the goal line.
Despite the turnover, the Cubs forced a three and out, but the Jayhawks called a fake punt as running back and punter Harley Stone converted a 4th and 8 from the back of his own end zone. Jayhawk Linn went 99 yards for the touchdown, creating a 14 point swing with the score as 28-16.
With 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Cubs responded quickly by scoring a touchdown on a run by Jacob Barker as Hesston Murrow took over at quarterback late in the game.
Humboldt’s defense forced a fast three-and-out, giving them the chance to take the lead for the first time since the second quarter. A shanked punt gave the Cubs a short field and they took advantage as Murrow executed a pitch on the option to Barker again, where the Cubs led 30-28 with four minutes to go.
The defense failed to get a stop on the ensuing possession where there was a fourth down conversion. Jayhawk Linn quarterback Treyton Compton connected on a deep pass to Brandon Gray for his third touchdown of the night, where the last one went for 69 yards.
Allen threw an ill-advised pass into traffic and was intercepted, but the Jayhawks couldn’t run out the clock and botched another punt as the Cubs had the ball on the opposing 21-yard line.
With 10 seconds left, Allen couldn’t hit a receiver and threw three straight incomplete passes to end the game.
Humboldt had three turnovers on the night including the interception. They also had costly penalties which held them back.
“We had penalties and a big fumble on the goal line where we couldn’t punch it in,” Wyrick said. “Those things can’t happen against a one-loss ball team like them. They’re a good team.”
Both sides traded touchdowns in the first half. Jacob Barker carried the load for Humboldt and he scored two touchdowns, getting the majority of the carries.
Humboldt converted both of their two-point conversions in the first half while Jayhawk Linn didn’t.
The difference maker was a bad snap by Humboldt center Flint Turner led to a turnover after they were driving. The Jayhawks had a short field to work with as they recovered the ball on the Humboldt 42-yard line.
“Sometimes the stage gets big and we stop thinking,” Wyrick said. “I preach to our guys that the biggest part of the football play is the snap. If we can’t get that, then nothing happens. You gotta make a play sometimes.”
Gray caught a touchdown pass from Jayhawk Linn running back Harley Stone on a trick play to begin the second quarter from the following possession.
