Indians on the Road to State, Making School History
Launch the media gallery 1 playerPhoto by Bryce Culwell
The Indians celebrate being the first team in school history to go to state with a team picture holding the substate championship trophy.SAINT FRANCIS, KAN. -- Friday night, 1,000 fans filled Greene Field for the last time this year to watch the Saint Francis Indians take on the Spearville Royal Lancers in the Sub-State game. During the first half, the Lancers kept control of the game and when headed into the locker room for halftime the Lancers lead 16-8.
“We could’ve been down by two touchdowns going into the half, but we made them turn it over and that was big for us to keep our spirit alive going into halftime,” said Brock Waters, Saint Francis senior.
The Indians came back out after halftime stronger than ever and ready to fight.
“Just thinking that this could be it for us motivated me to not let that happen,” said Taylor Rogers, Saint Francis senior.
The Indians were predicted to lose the game. Spearville had a record going into the game of 34-1 since 2014.
“They came in saying that the two best offensive lines were meeting up and one had to prevail,” said Jeremiah Neitzel, Saint Francis senior. “We maintained the whole game. They’ve always been primarily a running team. We knew if we could stop their run we could win the game with our pass defense. They had to start passing and our pass defense is one of the best in the state when you have Taylor, Tate and Quinton back there, you’re not going to get very many passes completed against us.”
In the fourth quarter, Quarterback Quinton Cravens, Saint Francis senior, kept the ball after the snap and started running it in when all of a sudden something physically happened and he was in pain and started hopping across the goal line on one foot to seal the score for the Indians.
“We needed the touchdown and I thought I could lay down when we made it,” Cravens said about playing through the pain. “I can’t get myself to just not play. You’re not ever guaranteed another day of playing. You never know when your last day is, so I always give it all I’ve got. The team made a goal at the beginning of the season ‘Chasing Gold’ so I was trying to help in anyway I could to achieve it.”
Launch the media gallery 2 playerPhoto by C.J. Sherman
The Indians race onto the field to play the Spearville Lancers in the substate game on Greene Field. Saint Francis continues their team goal of 'Chasing Gold' by defeating the Lancers 36-30.“When I caught the ball and I was laying on the ground, it all of a sudden hit me we were actually going to state. I got up and hugged all my teammates and told them all I was proud of all of them. And that we actually did it,” said Rogers.
The game ended with a final score of Indians 36 and Royal Lancers 30. Saint Francis is headed to state for the first time in school history.
Katie Schmid, Saint Francis senior, said Rogers’ last catch made her cry. “I couldn't believe my eyes,” Schmid said. “As soon as Taylor caught that last pass, tears streamed down my face. I almost couldn't comprehend the moment. I am so proud of our boys and all their accomplishments. We're going to state.”
Rodney Yates, Saint Francis head coach, said, “It feels good [to take the Indians to state], it’s rewarding, it’s been a lot of hard work, a lot of sacrifice and it is quite the honor.”
The Indians, in the past, have made it to a sub-state game a total of six times, but never quite got the job done. This year the hard work the men put in is finally paying off. Many fans were so excited they rushed the field after the plaques were handed to the teams.
“I think the best part about the game was when it was all over everyone in the stands came down onto the field to congratulate the football team and to me that shows how close this community is and how supportive everyone is of everything kids in the school accomplish,” said Saint Francis junior cheerleader Madison Tice.
The community’s excitement of the game started before kickoff. Waters said he knew people really wanted to see the game because it was going to be the best game of the year. “I knew there would be more people there than I’d ever played in front of,” he said.
Nine and a half hours before kickoff, 34 cars were parked around the field and 44 blankets/chairs were taped in the stands reserving spaces. Six and a half hours before kickoff, 40 cars were parked around Greene Field and 67 blankets/chairs were taped down in the stands. Three hours before kickoff, 44 cars were parked around Greene Field and 100 blankets/chairs were reserving spaces in the stands in preparation of the game.
The state game will be no “walk in the park” but Coach Yates said he is going to have the team prepared for Saturday’s big game. “The first thing is we are going to do a lot of rest and recovery from, you know, the battle from Friday night, but it’ll be a normal week of preparation and opponent scout and breakdown, and, as a coaching staff, we like to know more about their team then they do and that has been one of our secrets to our success.”
The Division I 8-Man state championship game is going to be at Fischer Field in Newton, Kan. The Indians are going to take on the Osbourne Bulldogs at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19.
“No one expected us to win,” Neitzel said. “We had everything to lose. Knowing we beat a quality team and finally getting to go to the state championship game for the first time in school history is awesome. Our team has worked so hard for this. We are ready for state. Be there Saturday if you want to be a part of history.”
