Kismet-Plains-There were more flags than at a Veteran’s Day celebration but the Larned Indians struggled through for a hard-fought 14-7 victory over Southwestern Heights here Friday evening.
Larned was flagged for 165 yards in penalties which enabled the Mustangs to hang close in a game that Larned dominated on the statistical page. Two Larned touchdowns were negated by penalty, a one-yard touchdown run by quarterback Mason Miller and a 90-yard blast up the middle by Jimmy Gardner.
Despite the penalties, Larned was able to control the ball, the clock and, eventually, the scoreboard thanks to four turnovers by Southwestern Heights, three fumbles and a pass interception by Deacon Martin.
Larned coach Brady Keith lamented the penalties and commented, “We didn’t play well and the kids know it. We didn’t have to tell them after the game, they knew it. We did some good things on offense and defense but, boy, 165 yards in penalties is not acceptable. It makes it very difficult to win.”
The two teams battled to a 0-0 tie at the end of the first quarter, despite Larned’s first two drives starting in Mustang territory. With 10 minutes remaining in the second quarter, Larned’s Jimmy Gardner tackled Kyler Cox, causing a fumble that Gardner recovered. The Indians drove to the goal line and Gardner scored on a 5-yard run. The Indians failed on a two-point conversion and had a 6-0 lead. The Mustangs answered after receiving a short kickoff and a long pass play took them to Larned’s 10-yard line with 40 seconds left in the half but the Mustangs again fumbled, at the 5-yard line and after Larned recovered, they ran out the clock.
The Mustangs had a long touchdown pass negated by penalty in the second quarter and lost three fumbles in the first half, contributing to their trailing at the halftime break.
After an exchange of punts in the third quarter, Larned scored on a 41-yard touchdown run by David Colglazier and a two-point conversion pass to Deacon Martin was good and the Indians had a 14-0 lead and looked on their way to putting the game away but a rash of penalties stymied the Larned offense throughout the rest of the game.
With 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter the Mustangs finally got on the scoreboard when quarterback Manny Mendoza connected with Drezden Zimmerman on a 15-yard touchdown pass to trail just 14-7. Larned took the ensuing kickoff and went on a long, clock-eating drive that did not result in a score but left the Mustangs with the ball on their own 10-yard line and only 2:16 left in the game. A big sack by Angel Bowersox negated that last chance for the Mustangs and
Larned took over and used the “victory formation” to close out the penalty-filled and mistake-filled game.
Larned’s Jimmy Gardner, who had the 90-yard touchdown scamper negated by a penalty, finished the game with 16 carries for 108 yards and one touchdown. David Colglazier also passed the century mark as he rushed 15 times for 104 yards and a touchdown, helping Larned improve their record to 2-4, 1-1 in District play. Southwestern Heights drops to 2-4, 0-3 in District play.
Southwestern Heights will travel to Cimarron for a District game Friday while Larned will host Hoisington in another key District game.
Larned 0 0 0 0 — 14
SW Heights 0 0 0 0 — 7
Larned 1-4 0-1 District 8; SW Heights 2-3 0-2
L—
SW—
2A DISTRICT 8
Hoisington 2-0 2-4
Lakin 2-1 4-2
Larned 1-1 2-4
Cimarron 1-1 1-5
SW Heights 0-3 2-4
9-27—Hoisington 53, SW Heights 6; Russell 48, Larned 28; Lakin 38, Cimarron 20
10-4—Cheney 47, Hoisington 18; Lakin 64, SW Heights 0; Cimarron 33, Larned 8
10-11—Hoisington 48, Lakin 31; Hugoton 35, Cimarron 6; Larned 14, SW Heights 7
10-18—Hoisington at Larned; Lakin at Colby; SW Heights at Cimarron
10-25—Cimarron at Hoisington; Larned at Lakin; Holcomb at SW Heights
