Scotties Earn Trip to Playoffs With Win Over Poplar

The Scotties prevailed over the Poplar Indians in another lopsided victory on Oct. 14. Following senior night festivities with recognition of 25 football, cheer and cross country seniors, the Scotties hit the field and scored a long series of touchdowns. By the time the first quarter came to an end, the Scotties had scored six touchdowns, finishing with a score of 49-0.

Benji Phillips scored the first touchdown with a short run into the end zone just minutes into the game. Trent Herbert lit up the scoreboard next with a 38-yard reception from Darrin Wersal for the touchdown.

Less than three minutes elapsed off the game clock before Phillips scored again with a 29-yard run, and halfway through the first quarter of the contest, the score was 21-0 in favor of the Scotties.

With less than four minutes left in the first quarter, the Scotties steamrolled over the Indians with four more touchdowns. Wersal completed two short passes, one to Herbert, and another to Luke Breigenzer to boost the score to 35-0.

To end the quarter, the Scotties scored twice off two back-to back fumble recoveries by Herbert (22-yard run), and Cache Younkin (25-yard run).

Poplar gathered themselves a bit for the second quarter, denying the Scotties until Phillips scored his third touchdown of the game with a short quarterback carry into the end zone with just 4:36 left in the half.

In the second half of the game, freshman Alec Boland was sent in to relieve Wersal as quarterback, and several other JV players were able to log some playing time.

Sophomore John McColly scored the final Scottie touchdown of the game with an eight-yard run into the end zone just minutes into the third quarter, bringing the score to 63-0.

Before the quarter came to an end, the Indians found the end zone with a 60-yard touchdown pass from Damon Sadler to Jeff Berger, although the following two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful.

There was no change in the score for the remainder of the game. When the dust and gunpowder settled, the final score was 63-6 in favor of the Scotties.

Wersal was 5 for 8 in the game with 103 passing yards and 32 receiving yards. Boland was 2 for 7 and had 23 passing yards and 2 rushing yards. Phillips had 5 carries and 3 touchdowns in the game with 56 rushing yards. He also logged 32 passing yards with some time at the quarterback position.

McColly finished with 3 carries and 7 rushing yards, and freshman Cordell Younkin had 2 carries and 10 rushing yards.

With his fumble recovery, Breigenzer had 9 receiving yards. Herbert finished with 3 receptions, 72 total receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Sophomore Kaden Fossum had one reception (6 yards), as did freshmen Tyler FitzSimmons (22 yards) and Cody Cronmiller (17 yards).

In addition to his fumble recovery touchdown run, senior Younkin nailed every PAT, adding nine total points to the score.

The boys will travel to Malta Friday, Oct. 21 to face the Mustangs for the conference championship game. Coming off two easy wins, Coach Greg Liebelt is more concerned about the boys' conditioning and their ability to withstand the competitive grind of a game against the Mustangs. "We still have to execute the same plays," said Liebelt. "We just need to make sure our timing is right and that we are where we need to be when we need to be there."

Going into the playoffs, he thinks the boys are mentally ready. "Malta lost a lot of seniors last year," said Liebelt, "but they are still capable of being competitive. We just need to look at the game as a stepping stone to the next playoff game."