Beavers season ends in Clay Center
Clay Center, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Sometimes when it rains, it pours. For a stretch of the second half, it poured for the Beavers. Clay Center took advange of three turnovers and a blocked punt which fueled a 26-point third quarter, as the Tigers picked up a 47-29 victory to advance to next weeks Class 3A Regional game at Andale.
The Tigers opened the scoring up with a 10-play, 50 yard drive that burned just over four minutes. A two-yard run by Eisaac Girton put Clay Center up 7-0 with 7:54 left in the opening frame after the Cayden Good extra point. Scott City went on a 16-play drive that ended on third and goal at the Tiger five, as they would pick off a Metzger pass at the goal lin with under a minute left in the first frame.
Scott City was able to force a Tiger fumble early in the second quarter at the Tiger 42. The Beavers took advantage of short field for the game-tying score. Drew Metzger would hook up with Peyton Bergner from five yards out with 9:06 left before halftime to tie the game at 7 with the Pablo Solis PAT. Clay Center responded with a Girton 36-yard run wiht 6:32 left before the break to give them a 14-7 lead with the good PAT. Scott City came back with a four-minute drive, as Cayden Couchman scored from three yards out at the 2:20 mark of the second quarter to pull the Beavers to within 14-13, as the extra point missed. The next series saw Clay Center come back and put up one score before half, on a rare touchdown pass. Quarterback Drew Hoff found Ethan Leitzel on a 26-yard pass with five seconds left to put the Tigers up 21-13 with the Good extra point.
On the second play of the third quarter, a deflected pass would be intercepted by Jarrin Broomfield, and he would take the ball 49 yards for a Tiger touchdown in the first minute of the second half to extend the Clay Center lead to 28-13. The Tigers got a punt at the Beaver 21 on the ensuing drive, which led to a Hoffman 12-yard touchdown run wiht 7:41 left in the third quarter to push the lead to 34-13. Two plays after a Scott City fumble, the Tigers took over a tthe Scott City 45 and addded a Hoffman four-yard run with 3:26 remaining in the third stanza to extend the lead to 41-13 with the Cook extra point. After another Scott City turnover, Hoffman scored for the thrd time in the quarter on a 12 yard run with 2:17 remaining in the third qurater to add to the lead at 24-13.
Scott City would score two more times in the fourth quarter. Their first came on a Metzger four-yard run with 5:44 left. Metzger connected with Matthew Wheeler on the two point conversion to pull to within 47-21. Following a Clay Center punt, the Beavers would get one more score of the season on a 55-yard pass from Metzger to Couchman, and Kevin Wiebe would complete the extra point on the two-point confersion to make the final 47-29.
Clay Center rushed for 284 yards and finished with 342 yards of offense. Eisaac Girton had 133 yards on 16 carries and two tocuhdpwns. Drew Hoffman was 4-6 passing for 58 yards with a touchdown. Ethan Leitzel had two receptions for 34 yards. Hoffman added 78 yards rushing on 15 carries and three touchdowns.
Scott City had 300 yards of offense, using balance. They had 145 yards rushing and 155 yards passing. Drew Metzger threw for 155 yards on 15-23 passing, with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Cayden Couchaman had 97 receiving yards and a score, with 55 yards on 13 carries and a tochdown.
Clay Center has now won two straight in the series, as Scott City leads the series 3-2. The Beavers lost their third consecutive road playoff game, and are now 23-4 in the Week 9/Bi-District round. Their record is 58-26 in their 30th playoff appearance. The Tigers are in their 28th playoff appearance, and now hold a record of 16-27. They are 11-12 in the Week 9/Bi-District round, and now have won their fourth straight game in the opening round.
Clay Center is now 6-3 and will play at Andale next Friday. The Indians shutout Chapman 69-0 on Thursday. Scott City ends their year at 5-3.
Box Score
Scott City 0 13 0 16–29
Clay Center 7 14 26 0–47
Scoring Summary
1st QTR
CC 7:54 Eisaac Girton 2 Yard Run (Cayden Good Kick) 10-50, 4:06
2nd QTR
SC 9:06 Peyton Bergner 5 Yard Pass from Drew Metzger (Pablo Solis Kick) 5-42, `1:42
CC 6:32 Girton 36-Yard Run (Good Kick) 6, 62, 2:34
SC 2:20 Cayden Couchman 3 Yard Run (PAT No Good) 9-63, 2:12
CC :05 Ethan Leitzel 26 Yard Pass from Drew Hoffman (Good Kick) 7-54, 2:15
3rd QTR
CC 11:12 Jarrin Broomfield 49 Yard Interception Return (Good Kick)
CC 7:41 Hoffman 12 Yard Run (PAT No Good) 3:21, :42
CC 3:29 Hoffman 4 Yard Run (Good Kick) 9:45, 3:36
CC 2:17 Hoffman 12 Yard Run (PAT No Good) 3:48,:58
4th QTR
SC 5:44 Metzger 4 Yard Run (Matthew Wheeler Pass from Metzger) 9-74, 3:29
SC 1:22 Couchman 55 Yard Pass from Couchan (Kevin Wiebe Pass from Metzger) 6:80, 1:48
Scott City
Rushing
Cayden Couchman 13-55; Peyton Bergner 4-34; Drew Metzger 9-27; Matthew Wheeler 11-25; Kevin Wiebe 2-5; Total Yards: 145
Passing
Drew Metzger 15-23 155 2-3
Receiving
Cayden Couchman 6-97; Adan Tarango 6-73; Cooper Irvin 1-9; Peyton Bergner 1-5
Total Yards: 300
Clay Center
Rushing
Eisaac Girton 16-133; Drew Hoffman 15-78; Ethan Leitzgl 9-57; Jarrin Broomield 1-11; Jett Hays 3-4; Chace Kissinger 1-4; Team: 284
Passing
Drew Hoffman 4-6 58 1-0
Receiving
Ethan Leitzel 2-34; Noah Gibson 1-13; Eisaac Girton 1-11
Total Yards: 342