MORAN — Sedan’s Huntur Cummings was a thorn in Marmaton Valley High’s side all evening Friday.
That thorn grew to the size of a stake, one that Cummings used to pierce — proverbially, of course — the Wildcats’ hearts.
Cummings got the Wildcat defensive secondary on a crucial fourth-down pass to break a 36-36 deadlock with 1:33 left in the game — his fifth touchdown of the night.
Cummings then slammed the door shut on defense, picking off a deflected pass on Marmaton Valley’s next play from scrimmage to seal the 44-36 win.
The loss drops Marmaton Valley’s record to 2-1 and leaves head coach Justin Hurley disappointed, but not discouraged.
“This was tough, but this is football,” he said. “You can’t get a better game than this.”
No doubt.
In a night featuring a number of wild momentum swings, big plays by both teams on offense and defense, and a pretty awe-inspiring lightning show along the southern horizon, Friday’s matchup was memorable for both squads.
The Wildcats started slowly, spotting Sedan an 8-0 lead 80 seconds into the contest, and unable to find their offensive footing until late in the opening quarter. Marmaton Valley marched 48 yards on 10 plays, the final 14 coming on Trevor Wilson’s third-down jaunt from the 14.
A pair of Sedan personal foul penalties aided another Wildcat drive, leading to Keagan Boyd’s 4-yard touchdown run with 4:13 left in the half.
The advantage didn’t last long.
Cummings raced his way for a 43-yard touchdown on Sedan’s next play from scrimmage. An eight-play Wildcat drive went nowhere, and the Blue Devils took over at midfield.
Cummings took a Burger swing pass and raced untouched 51 yards to the end zone for a 24-16 lead at intermission.
THE FUN was just beginning.
Austin Deer broke free for a 45-yard touchdown run on the Wildcats’ first drive of the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 24-22.
Sedan responded with a methodical march down the field for another Cummings score from 2 yards out: 30-22.
Boyd brought in a line drive kickoff at the Wildcat 5 — the only Sedan kick that didn’t go for a touchback — and zipped around, over and through a gaggle of Blue Devil defenders for a 75-yard touchdown return. His two-point pass to Wilson knotted the score at 30-30.
Again, the euphoria didn’t last long.
Burger ran the ensuing kickoff back 54 yards to the Wildcat 10, leading to Hunter Padgett’s touchdown run on the next play.
A crucial offsides penalty — one of four on the evening for Sedan — kept the Wildcats ensuing drive going, leading to Deer’s 11-yard run late in the period to knot the score again, 36-36.
Both teams missed on potential scoring chances twice more. The Wildcats twice failed to convert on fourth down, the final time coming with 3:31 left in the game.
That led to Sedan’s game-clinching drive, and the key Burger touchdown pass to Cummings.
“Our defensive back turned too soon, and we didn’t get on his hip like we were supposed to,” Hurley said. “We’d been defending the pass well. After we turned to look for the ball, we just lost him.”
A Sedan defender deflected Boyd’s pass attempt on the Wildcats’ final drive, leading to the Cummings pick.
“This is the type of game that gets us ready for districts,” Hurley said. “Our running game picked up in the middle of the first quarter and our defense picked it up and made some adjustments. They made some huge stops.
“The guys are in there hurting, but we’re going to play this way all season. We’re ready to fight.”
Boyd rushed for 90 yards and Deer 65 to lead the Wildcats.
Cummings rushed for 96 yards and had four receptions for 117 more as a receiver.
The Wildcats travel to Altoona-Midway next Friday.
