MORAN – Marmaton Valley High squashed three prime scoring chances for St. Paul High Friday, and in so doing, secured a postseason berth.
On three occasions, St. Paul had first down inside the Wildcat 15-yard line, twice late in the first half.
Each ended with a turnover, including a pair of key stops late in the first half that secured a 10-point advantage for the Wildcats.
Marmaton Valley added a pair of third-quarter touchdowns and coasted from there in a 36-20 win.
The victory lifts Marmaton Valley’s record overall to 5-2 and 4-0 in Kansas Eight-Man Division I, District 2. That ensures the Wildcats a playoff berth regardless of how they fare on Thursday at Chetopa.
“Their turnovers made the difference,” Wildcat head coach Kent Houk said.
Marmaton Valley’s bruising defense played a large role in the St. Paul misfires. On numerous occasions, Indian ball carriers were met at the line of scrimmage by an avalanche of Marmaton Valley defenders.
That forced two fumbles by St. Paul, both of which were recovered by the Wildcats.
And with less than a minute left in the second quarter, Marmaton Valley’s Cole Becker stepped in front of an Indian pass at the Wildcat 5. Becker’s pick came one play after St. Paul corralled an interception on Zack English’s deflected pass and had hoped to regain some lost momentum.
But with Marmaton Valley back in possession, the Wildcats still led 24-14.
Becker was responsible for all three Marmaton Valley touchdowns in the first half, scampering 48 and 10 yards in the first quarter and 50 yards in the second.
The first erased an early 8-0 St. Paul lead. The second gave Marmaton Valley a 16-8 lead. The Wildcats never trailed again.
St. Paul scored early in the second period to close to 16-14, but Becker responded with his third touchdown to lead 24-14.
Nathan Fry scored on an 11-yard run early in the third period, and Carlos Gonzales scored on a 12-yard run to push the lead to 36-14.
St. Paul scored in the final 17 seconds for the final margin.
Becker wound up with 182 yards on 19 carries, 11 tackles on defense and a fumble recovery to go with his interception.
English completed one pass, an eight-yard toss to Lucas Hamlin.
Fry also had eight tackles and a fumble recovery for the Wildcats. Nathan Smart had 11 stops.
“The kids are real excited, but they’re still focused,” Houk said, noting Thursday’s contest at Chetopa determines whether Marmaton Valley will be District champs and likely play a home playoff game the following week.
Marmaton Valley 16-8-12-0-36
St. Paul 8-6-0-6-20
SP – Gard 25 yd run (Boaz run)
MV – Becker 48 yd run (Fry run)
MV – Becker 10 yd run (Fry run)
SP – Blackmore 2 yd run (run failed)
MV – Becker 50 yd run (Hamlin pass from English)
MV – Fry 11 yd run (PAT failed)
MV – Gonzales 12 yd run (PAT failed)
SP – Jacquinot 2 yd run (PAT failed)
SP MV
First Downs 10 10
Rushing-yds 44-211 44-273
Passing yds 0 8
Total Offense 211 281
Passing 0-7-1 1-6-1
Fumbles lost 2 0
Punts-avg. 6/33 7/28
Penalties 3-25 8-66
Wildcats down Indians to reach playoffs
