Indians Lose Yoke to Rawlins County
The St. Francis Indians suffered their first loss of the season on Friday, October 6. The Rawlins County Buffaloes came to St. Francis with a purpose and played well enough to earn a 32-40 victory over the #1-ranked Indians. The game possessed several momentum changes due to big defensive stops as well as some large-yardage offensive plays. The main feature of the game was the hard-hitting action. The game was played on a very wet field due to a good rain before the game. The start time was delayed 10 minutes to allow for weather conditions to improve.
Rawlins County won the coin-flip and elected to defer. St. Francis received the opening kick-off. The kick went into the end-zone. St. Francis set up offense at the 15 yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, a flee-flicker play from quarterback Brady Dinkel to receiver Tate Busse moved the Indians to the Rawlins County (RC) 20 yard line. A run by Jordan Raby to the right side was nullified by a holding penalty on the next play. After the mark-off, Raby was stopped short of the line of scrimmage by Maverick Green (185 lb. Sr.). On 2nd-&-21, Raby sprinted into the end-zone for the first Indian touchdown. Raby also ran for the conversion points. Just one minute into the contest, St. Francis led 8-0.
Rawlins County returned the kick-off to their own 21 where Nick Paulsen made the stop. After a first down loss of 1 yard, Tayton Weeter tackled the RC quarterback, Maverick Green, after a 3 yard gain. On 3rd-&-8, Green hit Nick Withington (171 lb. Sr.) for a 58-yard touchdown pass. The conversion pass from Green to Withington was also successful. with 9:30 left in the first period, Rawlins County had tied the contest at 8-all.
The Rawlins County kick-off entered the end-zone. Jordan Raby gained 4 yards on a run to the right side before being tackled by Green. Tate Busse earned a new set of downs running to the RC 35 going left. Raby made a key block on the play to spring Busse for big yardage. After a Raby run up the middle gained two, Brady Dinkel passed to Busse in the right flat gaining 5 yards. On 3rd-&-3, Raby ran left, but fumbled. The ball was recovered by Rawlins County's Sohn Domsch (163 lb. Sr.) and returned to the RC 30. A personal foul penalty on the Indians advanced the field position to the SF 35 yard line.
On the first play of the RC possession, Braden Leitner (150 lb. Sr. running back) ran for a good gain. Luke Lampe made the tackle, but not before Leitner had earned a 1st down at the 24. On the next play, Dalton Straub stopped Green for a 2-yard gain. Straub then tackled Leitner in the right flat after he caught a pass from Green on 2nd down. On 3rd down, Leitner tried the left side and was met by Lampe limiting the gain to three yards. On 4th-&-3, Green was forced to scramble due to defensive pressure and was tackled by Straub short of the line-to-gain.
The Indians took over on their own 16 yard line. Jordan Raby earned 6 going left on first down, and Brady Dinkel gained two more on the same side on the following play. On 3rd-&-2, Dinkel earned a new series at the RC 24. On the next play, Raby tried the middle of the RC defense, but fumbled.
The Buffaloes recovered the football on the 23 yard line. After an incomplete pass on first down, the Buffs committed a procedure penalty and used their first time-out. On 2nd-&-15, Tayton Weeter tackled Green after a two-yard gain going right. On the next play, Maverick Green passed to Cyrus Green (195 lb. Fr.) in the left flat. Tate Busse made the stop after a 6-yard gain. On 4-&-7, the Buffs punted.
The ball rolled dead at the SF 25. On the first play of the series, Wyatt Hackler tried the right side, but lost two yards. On the ensuing play, Brady Dinkel's pass intended for Dalton Straub was intercepted by Maverick Green.
Rawlins County set up on their own 13 yard line. Leitner gained six on first down before being tackled by Straub and added a gain of two more on the following play. On 3rd-&-2, Green passed to Withington earning a first down at the RC 24. The first quarter closed with the play. Green's pass to Leitner on the next snap was on target, but dropped. Green then ran left gaining three yards before the Buffs spent their 2nd time-out at 11:14. The Indians got good defensive pressure on Green on the next play. Forced to scramble, Green's pass was nearly intercepted by Brady Dinkel, but fell incomplete. On 4th down, RC punted the ball way.
The ball rolled dead at the SF 8 yard line. Brady Dinkel scrambled for a new first down at the SF 22 on the first play of the possession and gained 3 more on the following play. After an incomplete pass intended for Dalton Straub, the Indians committed a procedure penalty. On 3rd-&-13, Dinkel was sacked by Will Crouse (205 lb. Sr.) at the 13. On 4th down, the Indians punted.
Braden Leitner returned the punt to the SF 31 where he was tackled by Adam Krien. A procedure penalty on the Indians made matters worse. Leitner cruised around the left side all the way to the 1-yard line before being forced out-of-bounds by Dinkel. On the next play, Maverick Green dove up the middle for a RC touchdown. A pass from Green, intended for Leitner, fell incomplete on the conversion play. The Indians trailed 8-14 with 9:33 left in the first half.
Tate Busse returned the RC kick-off to the SF 19 yard line. A run by Raby was stopped for no gain on first down, but Busse earned 6 around the right side on the following play. On the next snap, a run by Dinkel ended when he was driven back by a strong tackle by Green. A procedure penalty on the Indians was declined, and on 4th-&-6, the Indians' punt was blocked by Lane Hemel (235 lb. Sr.).
With 7:14 left in the first half, the Buffaloes took possession on the SF 22 with momentum flowing. The Indians took their first time-out to regroup. Jordan Raby tackled Leitner for a 1-yard loss going left on 1st down. Green scrambled right and was dropped by Tayton Weeter on the next play. Facing 3rd-&-16, the Buffs went to the air. A pass from Green to Withington was well-defended by Raby and fell incomplete. Green was forced to scramble on 4th down. A holding penalty on the Buffs on the play was declined, and the Indians took possession on their own 25 yard line with 6:08 left in the first half. The Indian defense had made an important defensive stand.
A pass from Brady Dinkel intended for Tate Busse fell incomplete. Raby tried the left side on second down, but a holding penalty on the Indians backed them up even more. On the repeat down, another pass fell incomplete. Raby gained one yard on 3rd down. Facing 4th-&-19, Dalton Straub punted the ball for the Indians.
Leitner returned the punt to midfield and then gained five more around the right side on the first play of the series before being tackled by Wyatt Hackler. Before the next snap, a procedure penalty backed the Buffaloes up 5 yards. Green gained 9 yards on a quarterback draw preceding a tackle by Trayton Doyle. On 3-&-1, Hackler stopped Green for no gain going left. Green earned a new set of downs at the SF 28 on the next play. Green rambled around the left side picking up another first down before being forced out-of-bounds by Tate Busse and Tayton Weeter. Another good gain by Green set up 1st-&-goal at the 4. On the next play, Leitner scored around the left side with 2:08 left in the half. Green's conversion run was stopped short by Weeter's tackle. The Indians trailed 8-20.
Tate Busse returned the Buffs' kick-off to the SF 26. After an incomplete pass on first down, Brady Dinkel's pass found Busse in the left flat. The Indians called time-out with 1:46 on the clock and the ball on the SF 39. Two Dinkel runs set up a 3rd-&-6 inches situation with 1:34 remaining. Another run by Dinkel earned a new set of downs at the RC 26 where he was tackled by Green. Going to the air, Dinkel's pass attempt to Wyatt Hackler fell incomplete on 1st down. Dinkel's next attempt was batted down by Lane Hemel. On 3rd down, a pass to Hackler was dropped creating a 4th-&-10 situation. The final play of the drive, a hook-and-ladder play, resulted in a St. Francis touchdown. A pass to Busse was lateraled to Adam Krien for the TD. The conversion pass from Dinkel to Raby was short. With 50.2 seconds left in the half, the Indians had trimmed the margin to 14-20.
Nick Withington returned the SF kick-off to the 30 yard line. Leitner gained 4 yards on the first play of the series before being stopped by Raby. On the next play, Luin Norris tackled Green going around the right end, but not before Green had earned enough for a 1st down at the SF. 39. The clock expired before the next play was snapped. St. Francis trailed 14-20 at halftime.
Rawlins County received the second half kick-off. Leitner returned the kick to the RC 25 where he was stopped Shadryon Blanka. A Raby tackle stopped Leitner after a 2-yard gain on the first play from scrimmage. With a strong twisting run, Maverick Green earned a new first down at the SF 32 on the next play. Leitner's next carry around the left end resulted in another 1st down at the SF 21. On the next play, Green ran a keeper play to the right scoring a touchdown for the Buffaloes. The Buffs had emerged from the locker room ready to compete. Leitner tried the middle of the St. Francis defense but was stopped short on the conversion try. With 10:49 left in the 3rd period, Rawlins County led 14-26.
Tate Busse returned the ensuing kick-off to the SF 18. A Raby slip on the damp grass resulted in a loss of 4 yards on first down. Three plays later, facing 4-&-14, the Indians punted. A good punt by Dalton Straub was returned by Leitner to the RC 28 where he was met by Busse's tackle.
Green tried the left side on a cut-back and was tackled by Dinkel, but not before Green had earned a new set of downs at the SF 34.. On the next play, Leitner gained three around the left side before being met by Luin Norris and Tayton Weeter. On 2nd down, Green earned six yards in the middle of the defense. On 3rd-&-1, Leitner scored on a lead play over the left side. The conversion pass from Green to Withington fell incomplete. With 7:27 left in the third period, the Indians trailed 14-32.
The Indians needed to answer--and they did. Busse returned the kick-off to the SF 17 where he was tackled by Colton Tiemeyer (130 lb. Sr.). A keeper by Dinkel only earned one yard, but a personal foul penalty on the Buffaloes moved the ball to the SF 33 and gave the Indians a new set of downs. On the next snap. Jordan Raby broke a tackle near the left sideline and sprinted 57 yards for an Indian touchdown. A Raby run to the left was stopped short of the goal line on the conversion try. The Indians had closed the deficit to 20-32 with 6:47 left in the third period.
The SF kick-off traveled out-of-bounds and was re-kicked. The Indians' on-side kick was recovered by Jalen Kruep (160 lb. Sr.) at the RC 39. Leitner gained 5 yards before being tackled by Trayton Doyle on first down. Green lost two trying the left side being stopped by Jordan Raby and Dalton Straub. On 3rd-&-7, a counter play going left gained 4. Facing 4th-&-3, RC called time-out with 4:51 left in the third period. A lead play, carried by Leitner over the left side, earned the Buffs a new set of downs at the SF 30. Green's carry on the following play earned another 1st down at the 15. The Indians were needing to make a stand. Will Crouse (205 lb. Sr.) banged for one yard up the middle. Leitner was met by Luke Lampe, Shadryon Blanka, and Dalton Straub on the snap limiting the gain to 1 yard. A naked bootleg by Green lost a yard after a Busse tackle. On 4th down, Green was forced to scramble and was sacked by Raby and Luin Norris. The Indians had completed another important defensive stand.
St. Francis took possession on their own 17 yard line. On the first snap, Raby sprinted around the right side to the SF 34 where the run ended on a tackle by Kreup. A Dinkel keeper going left earned 4 yards, and an encroachment penalty on the Buffs moved the situation to 2nd-&-1. With three plays to make one yard, the Indians took a shot at the end-zone. Dinkel's pass was too deep for Busse to catch. On the next snap, Raby earned a 1st down at the RC 34. With 1:08 left in the period, Wyatt Hackler scored on a 34 yard touchdown run around the left end. St. Francis used a time-out to discuss the conversion play, but the pass intended for Straub fell incomplete. The Indians had narrowed the margin to 26-32.
Leitner returned Tayton Weeter's kick-off to the RC 21. Raby stopped Leitner for no gain on the first snap of the possession and again made the tackle on Leitner's next carry, a gain of four, along with Busse. On 3rd down, Green was sacked by Luin Norris and Dalton Straub ending the third period. The 4th down punt rolled dead at the SF 20.
The Indians needed to advance the football to trim the deficit. On first down, Wyatt Hackler tried the right side, slipped and fell, losing 2 yards. Raby's 2nd-down run was nullified by an illegal block penalty creating a 2nd-&-21 situation. A Dinkel run to the left picked up 12 yards, but on 3rd down, Dinkel's pass intended for Straub was incomplete. Facing 4th-&-9, the Indians punted.
Rawlins County began at their own 21 with 10:13 left in the game. Under good defensive pressure, Green scrambled for one yard on the opening play of the series. Dalton Straub met the RC ball carrier at the hand-off mesh point for a 1-yard loss on the ensuing snap. After a swing pass attempt to Leitner fell incomplete, the Buffs punted again. The punt was high and went out-of-bounds on the left sideline at the SF 33.
Wyatt Hackler gained 8 yards on the first play of the Indian possession by running to the left. The next snap was low, and Dinkel was forced to scramble losing two yards. On 3rd down, a pass from Dinkel to Straub earned a first down at the RC 32 with 7:13 remaining. On the reception and tackle, Straub was injured and left the game. A Raby run was stopped for no gain, and a scramble by Dinkel gained one on the subsequent play. A pass from Dinkel to Raby in the right flat earned a new set of downs on the following snap. Threatening from the RC 15, Dinkel was sacked by Withington for a 7-yard loss. On the next play, a pass intended for Raby, an interference penalty advanced the field position to the 11 yard line. The next play resulted in a Raby touchdown around the left end with 4:37 left in the game. The conversion pass attempt fell incomplete. The game was now tied at 32-all.
Tayton Weeter's kick-off went out-of-bounds causing a re-kick. The second kick stopped rolling approximately 6 inches into the end-zone causing a touchback instead of possibly pinning the Buffs deep in their own territory. Green's run on first down was erased by a holding penalty. On the next play, Green tried the middle gaining two and creating a 2-&-17 situation at the 8 yard line. The Buffs gained some breathing room when a pass from Green to Withington picked up 12 yards. A drag route competed to Cyrus Green advanced the Buffs to the SF 38 with just over 3 minutes remaining. Jordan Raby made the tackle preventing a larger gain. Trayton Doyle sacked Maverick Green for a 2-yard loss on the next play. An extended scramble by Green on the next snap finally ended in a tackle by Blanka, but also resulted in an illegal-block penalty on the Buffs. On 2-&-28, the next scramble by Green resulted in a Leitner 56-yard touchdown. The Buffs rolled right, but threw left to Leitner for the conversion points. With 1:13 left to play, Rawlins County took at 32-40 lead.
The kick-off was returned by Busse to the St. Francis 21 where Tiemeyer made the tackle. With little time left, the Indians took to the air. A pass from Dinkel, intended for Hackler, was incomplete deep on the right side of the field. Before the next snap, the Indians committed an encroachment penalty. The next play sealed the Buff's win when Sohn Domsch intercepted Dinkel's pass.
The Buffs set up at the their own 25 with 50.7 seconds remaining. Not wanting to risk a hand-off, Green ran twice gaining just over 5 yards. The Indians used a time-out with 2.4 seconds left. On the last snap, Leitner ran left and kneeled expiring the clock. The Rawlins County Buffaloes had played aggressively and defeated the #1-ranked Indians 32-40.
After the contest, the Indians presented the Yoke Bowl Trophy to the Rawlins County Buffaloes. The traveling trophy will reside at Rawlins County High School for the next year. The Indians have an open date on October 13 but will play Quinter, in Quinter, on Friday, October 20.
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