PITTSBURG — It had been seven years since the Pittsburg-St. Marys Colgan Panthers have reached a football championship game. That drought came to an end Friday night as they slipped past Olpe for a 15-12 victory in the sub-state round of the Class 2-1A playoffs.
That victory extended the Panthers’ win streak to eight in a row. They improved to 10-2 overall and have advanced to their first title game since 2010.
Up next, Colgan will take on 11-1 Smith Center in the Class 2-1A state championship, which is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 25, at Fort Hays State University’s Lewis Field in Hays. The Redmen reached the title game by way of a 51-0 home win over Plainville in the other sub-state matchup Friday.
The Panthers will be seeking their first state championship in football since 2003 and eighth overall in program history — also winning in 1974, 1975, 1984, 2000, 2001 and 2002.
Colgan had to hold on for the win in the final minutes. Although the Panthers had a three-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, the Eagles — seeking their first title game appearance since winning it all in 2014 — had a chance to produce a game-winning drive late.
Olpe drove into Colgan territory in the closing minutes and had a first-and-10 at the Panther 26 with just two minutes remaining. Yet, the SMC defense stepped up when it needed it most. The Panthers were able to keep the Eagles away from the end zone and went on to preserve the win and a spot in the championship game.
Colgan took an early lead in the contest as Max Wilson’s two-yard touchdown run capped off a 13-play, 71-yard drive that chewed up nearly six minutes off the clock. After the kick, the Panthers had a 7-0 lead with six minutes left in the opening quarter.
SMC maintained that lead into the second quarter when it turned the ball over on a fumble inside its own territory. The Eagles had possession at the Panther 34 and drove the remaining distance, scoring on a fourth-and-goal play from a two-yard run by Kynden Robert. Olpe missed the two-point conversion, though, to leave the Panthers with a one-point edge.
Colgan appeared to have an answer to that score as Wilson broke loose on a 66-yard scoring scamper. Unfortunately for the Panthers, that play was called back on a chop block penalty, and the host team eventually went into the locker room up 7-6 at the intermission.
The Eagles took their first lead of the game midway through the third quarter on a seven-yard scoring run from Blaine Hinrichs to close out a 13-play, 66-yard drive over a 5:41 span. Olpe missed the conversion once again but still had a 12-7 edge with 6:07 left in the period.
Colgan came through with what proved to be the game-winning score later in the quarter. Bryce Hutchins punched in a touchdown on a one-yard dive with 59 seconds left in the third. Hutchins then completed the conversion pass to open up a three-point lead for the Panthers.
SMC — District 4 champion — had advanced to the sub-state round by way of a 48-6 regional win over Lyndon and a 25-18 sectional victory over Centralia.
Meanwhile, Olpe (9-3) earned the District 3 title and had reached the sub-state round by way of a 62-0 regional win over Yates Center and 7-0 sectional victory over Jefferson County North.
