Coming off a loss to the West Elk Patriots, the St. Paul Indians looked to rebound against the Marmaton Valley Wildcats. At stake in tonight’s contest would be the Three River 8-Man League title. With a lot on the line, both teams came to play and the fans would not be disappointed.
St Paul won the flip and elected to defer receiving the kickoff to the second half. Alex Mate kicked off to Collin Dudley for a 10 yard return. The Wildcats would run a couple of running plays, softening up the St Paul defense. QB Justice Pugh would find Brock Hall on a 50 yd TD pass. The extra point would be no good. Isaac Heskett would kick off for Marmaton Valley, Caleb Pecha would return it for a 10 yd return. St Paul QB Braven Born would look for Brenden Doherty in the open, but could not connect with him for a positive gain. St Paul would turn the ball over on downs. Marmaton Valley could not move the ball against the Indians defense and would have to punt. Adam Albertini would catch the ball on the 19 yard line. With 7:29 left in the first quarter, Born would hit Caleb Pecha for a 60 yd TD strike. Born would tack on the extra point.
On the kick off, Alex Mate would kick the ball out of the end zone for a touchback. The Wildcats would have a series of running plays, but would have to punt the ball back to the Indians. Adam Albertini would make a 5 yard return, placing the ball on the 26 yard line. Just as the Indian offense was getting the ball forward, a backwards pitch from Born to Collin Carlson was muffed and Justice Pugh would return the ball for a 45 yard TD. Trevor Wilson would run in the extra point. Again QB Braven Born would look for Brenden Doherty down field, the pass would go incomplete. This series of plays would lead to the Indians turning the ball over on downs. Trevor Wilson would have a couple of running plays and would break loose for a Wildcat TD. The extra point would be no good. Isaaac Heskett would kick off to Adam Albertini with 1:00 left in the first quarter. Albertini would break away for a 60 yard TD. Collin Carlson ran in the extra point. Marmaton Valley would lead 20 to 16 at the end of the first quarter.
To start the second quarter Marmaton Valley would punt to St Paul. Adam Albertini would have a 10 yard return. The Indian offense would move the ball down the field. Born would find Albertini for a TD pass. Carlson would run in the extra point. St Paul would lead 24 to 20. Mate would kickoff for a touchback. On the third play from scrimmage, the Wildcats would breakout for a 65 yard TD. The extra point was no good. Marmaton Valley short kicked off, Keaton Kennedy would recover the ball. On a pass from Born, Albertini would fumble and the Wildcats would recover. The Wildcats could not get anything going on the turn over and give the Indians the ball back. Born and Albertini would move the ball down the field. Born would find Pecha for a 25 yard TD. The extra point was no good. St Paul would lead 30 to 26. On this series of plays St Paul’s defense applied pressure on Pugh. He was sacked by Anthony Albertini and Hunter Pollman. Pugh would throw and interception to Born. The Indians would march down the field. With :53 seconds left, Collin Carlson would rush for a TD. Born would find Pecha for the extra point. St Paul would lead 38 to 26. Mate would again kick a touchback. The Wildcats would be 3 and out. St Paul would get the ball back with :24 seconds left. Born would find Pecha on a 25 yard TD pass play. Carlson ran in the extra point. On the kick off, Marmaton Valley and St Paul would each have a player ejected from the game for fighting. This would end the second quarter. St Paul would lead 46 to 26.
The Wildcats would kickoff to the Indians. Adam Albertini would return the ball for a 75 yard TD. The extra point was no good. St Paul 52 Marmaton Valley 26. Again Alex Mate would kickoff for a touchback. Justice Pugh and Trevor Wilson would bring the ball up the field. Wilson would be stripped of the ball by Braven Born, Hunter Pollman would recover the ball. Born would find Albertini for a 12 yard pass. Carlson would have a 15 yard run. Middle linebacker Koby Spielbusch, would get in on the offensive plays. Born would find Spielbusch for a 25 yard TD strike. Born finds Pecha for the extra point. St Paul 60 Marmaton Valley 26. On the kickoff, Pugh would run it back for a 20 yard gain. The Wildcats would move the ball down the field. Just as the Wildcats got rolling, Adam Albertini would intercept a pass for a 65 yard pick 6. Kennedy would score the extra point. St Paul 68 Marmaton Valley 26. Mate would kickoff for a touchback. With time running out the Wildcats were down to their last series of plays. Trevor Wilson would run the ball down the field. Carlson was able to stop Wilson behind the line of scrimmage, for a turn over on downs. On the first play, Keaton Kennedy would run for a 60 yard TD. St Paul 74 Marmaton Valley 26.
With the win St Paul clinched the Three Rivers League 8 Man Title. St Paul’s overall record is 6-1 and 3-0 in league standings. The loss moves Marmaton Valley to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in league. Next up for St Paul is South Coffey County.
