Indians awarded state runner-up
Launch the media gallery 1 playerphoto by Cassidy Busse and Ellee Krien
The St. Francis Indians and Canton-Galva Eagles both went into the state championship game undefeated. It would be the first state championship for either school. Both schools had been to the state championship game before but lost.
The Indians got on the board quick scoring 36 straight points. With close to two minutes left until halftime, the Eagles got the ball back and quickly scored 14 points before halftime.
In the second half the momentum changed a lot. Two major key players went out of the game and did not return for the Indians. Senior Jayce Nider went out of the game due to a concussion. Nider led the team in tackles out of the defensive back position. Junior Jesse Baxter also went out of the game in the second half due to a knee injury. Baxter is a force on both sides of the ball and without him on the front line the Indians could not stand their ground.
Launch the media gallery 2 playerphoto by Cassidy Busse and Ellee Krien
The Indians already struggled with depth on their team and with Nider and Baxter going out, led to less experienced players going into the game.
Junior Shadryon Blanka said, “It was a tough played game but when they had the momentum it was hard to stop them.”
The Eagles held the Indians scoreless throughout the rest of the game and made some big plays to continue to score 66 points before the final quarter ended.
Senior Brady Dinkel said,”The game was a lot of fun but the ending was very depressing.”
The final score was 36-66; the Eagles won the state championship.
