MORAN — Marmaton Valley High was clicking on all cylinders in the first half Friday in their gridiron battle with visiting Yates Center.
The host Wildcats were able to move the ball on the ground consistently against their namesakes from the west, rolling up 229 rushing yards in the first half and sprinting to a 38-0 lead.
But Yates Center’s Wildcats weren’t interested in letting the game go without a fight.
They put the clamps on Marmaton Valley’s offense after intermission, while connecting on a number of big plays of their own.
In the end, the 38-point deficit certainly was too high a deficit to overcome as Marmaton Valley came out on top 60-34.
“I don’t know if it’s because of homecoming, but the second half was a big letdown for us,” Marmaton Valley head coach Kent Houk said. “We just didn’t play with the intensity we had earlier.”
By then, the outcome had been decided.
Marmaton Valley needed only five plays on their first drive and four plays on their second to grab a quick 14-0 lead, both scores coming from tailback Cole Becker (eight and 15 yards).
Yates Center’s biggest scoring opportunity in the opening quarter went for naught when a fumbled rush on fourth down wound up losing 17 yards, giving Marmaton Valley possession. Yates Center’s second possession ended with a punt.
Marmaton Valley put together its third scoring drive of the first period, traveling 65 yards on eight plays, capped by a two-yard touchdown run by Tanner Lewis.
The 22-0 lead grew to 30-0 when Daylen Houk scored on an eight-yard run Daylen Houk.
Yates Center lost a pristine scoring opportunity when Brent Rice was stripped of the ball as he was about to plow into the Marmaton Valley end zone. Cole Becker recovered for Marmaton Valley to end the drive.
Seven plays later, Becker scored his third touchdown of the night on a 19-yard run and a 38-0 lead.
Yates Center scored its first points with 5 seconds left in the half, when Dalton Smith found Rice on a six-yard touchdown pass.
The score put momentum on the visitors’ side, as Smith threw three more touchdowns after halftime, a 12-yard touchdown pass to David VanHoose, a 45-yard strike to Garrett Petit and finally another six-yard touchdown pass to Rice. In between, Austin Knoblock rushed for a 40-yard touchdown for Yates Center.
“We gave up too many big plays in the second half,” Coach Houk said.
Marmaton Valley was able to reach the end zone three times in the second half, on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Lewis to Landon Hammond and two more touchdown runs by Houk, covering 11 and eight yards.
Houk wound with 155 yards on 18 carries. Becker carried 16 times for 152 yards. Hammond — who was crowned homecoming king prior to the game — rushed for 53 yards on 10 carries. He also had three catches for 47 yards.
Lewis completed 5 of 10 passes for 76 yards. Houk had a 21-yard reception and Gage Stewart pulled in a 26-yard reception.
Ryan Stephens had eight tackles (five solo) and a quarterback sack. Justin Holeman had five solo tackles, four assists and a fumble recovery. Four of Stewart’s nine tackles were unassisted. Becker also had a fumble recovery.
Smith completed 9 of 14 passes for 182 yards for Yates Center, which lost two fumbles in the contest.
The game marked the start of Kansas Eight-Man I, District 2 play for both teams. Marmaton Valley travels to Pleasanton next Friday. Yates Center travels to Chetopa.
Maggie Meiwes was crowned Homecoming Queen in pregame ceremonies with Hammond.
Yates Center 0-6-14-14—34
Marmaton Valley 22-16-8-14—60
MV — Becker 8 yd run (Becker run)
MV — Becker 15 yd run (PAT failed)
MV — Lewis 2 yd run (Hammond run)
MV — Houk 8 yd run (Hammond run)
MV — Becker 19 yd run (B. Smith pass from Lewis)
YC — Rice 7 yd pass from D. Smith (PAT failed)
MV — Hammond 9 yd pass from Lewis (Houk run)
YC — VanHoose 12 yd pass from D. Smith (PAT failed)
YC — Petit 45 yd pass from D. Smith (D. Smith run)
MV — Houk 11 yd run (PAT failed)
YC — Knoblock 40 yd run (Knoblock run)
MV — Houk 8 yd run (B. Smith pass from Lewis)
YC — Rice 6 yd pass from D. Smith (PAT failed)
