Indians Move to 7-0
The St. Francis Indians moved their season record to 7 wins and 0 losses with a 60-12 victory over the Trego Community (Wakeeney) Golden Eagles on Friday, October 18. Trego Community (TC) entered the contest sporting a record of 4-2, but the Indians dominated the contest from the outset. The Indians scored on every possession but one, usually in three plays or less. The contest was played on Greene Field in St. Francis.
Before the contest, seniors involved in the football program and dance team along with their parents were recognized. The evening was also "Military Appreciation Night." Veterans were given free admission to the game and were asked to stand with the team as the National Anthem was played before the game. St. Francis Community Schools would like to thank all veterans for their service.
Trego received the opening kick-off. Senior Jamie Opat returned the kick to the TC 26 yard line where he was tackled by Shannon Rethke. Senior running back Hunter Price earned 5 yards over the right side on the first play from scrimmage before he was met by Shadryon Blanka and Brady Dinkel. Jesse Baxter applied good pressure to junior quarterback Kobi Shubert on the next two snaps and both plays ended in incompletions. Facing 4th-&-5 deep in their own territory, the Eagles punted.
The punt came to rest on the St. Francis 23 yard line. Adam Krien dove into the right side of the line were he was met quickly by Hunter Price. The play resulted in a 1-yard gain. Shadryon Blanka ran around the right end gaining 8 yards on second down. On the next play, Blanka sprinted over the right side for a 48-yard touchdown run. With a powerful run, Krien earned the two-point conversion. With 10:04 left in the first period, St. Francis led 8-0
Shadryon Blanka's second kick-off sailed into the end zone for a touchback. The Eagles talented running back, Hunter Price, banged up the middle on first down earning 5 yards before being tackled by Brady Dinkel. On the next play, Price picked up good yardage before a tackle by Jayce Nider and Adam Krien slowed the progress. The play was good enough for a new series at the 28 yard line. Price powered all the way to mid-field on his next carry. The Eagles were looking as if they would be difficult to contain. Quarterback Kobi Shubert earned a difficult yard over the right side but was corralled by Krien. Price followed with two carries, but the Indian defense was stiffening. On 4th down, a pass from Shubert intended for senior Cooper Desormiers fell incomplete in the right flat.
St. Francis took over on downs at their own 36. Shadryon Blanka skirted the right end and sprinted to the Trego 25 on the the first play of the possession. Brady Dinkel scored around the left end on the next play. The conversion snap was mishandled, and the try was unsuccessful. St. Francis led 14-0 with 5:43 left in the first period.
Jamie Opat returned the kick-off to the Trego 30 where he was stopped by a tackle by Preston Witzel. Three consecutive runs by Hunter Price; middle, left, then right, resulted in a 4th-&-6 situation. On 4th down, a slant pass intended for Cooper Desormiers fell incomplete.
St. Francis took possession at the Trego 31. A run by Brady Dinkel around the left end earned two yards, and a carry by Shadryon Blanka around the right end earned four. On 3rd-&-4, Dinkel ran right, cut back left, and burst 43 yards for the third St. Francis touchdown of the period. Adam Krien sprinted around the left end to score the conversion points. St. Francis led 22-0 with 2:26 left in the first quarter.
Hunter Price returned the Indians' kick-off to the Trego 26. Price ran right for no gain on first down and tried the left end on the next play losing 5 yards. After a holding penalty was accessed on TC, the Eagles faced 2nd-&-20. A pass into the left flat was complete and earned good yardage, but a tackle by Brady Dinkel and Jayce Nider prevented a first down. On 3rd-&-6, Price gained 5 yards before being stopped by Nider and Adam Krien. On 4th-&-1, Price's run was ended by Nider and Shadryon Blanka. The measurement showed the Eagle just short of a first down.
St. Francis took possession at the Trego 36 after a good defensive stand. Shadryon Blanka ran the left end to the Trego 25 on the first snap. On the second play of the possession, Brady Dinkel ran straight up the middle for the fourth Sainty touchdown of the first period. Running powerfully, Adam Krien scored the conversion over the right side. St. Francis led 30-0 with 2.1 seconds left in the opening period.
As the first period closed, a light sprinkle began to fall. Hunter Price returned the kick to the Trego 21 yard line. The Golden Eagles' pass was incomplete on first down, and Jesse Baxter batted down a second pass attempt with good pressure. Baxter sacked Kobi Shurbert on third down for a 1-yard loss. The Eagles punted the ball away.
Brady Dinkel returned the punt to the Eagles' 25 yard line. On the first snap of the possession, Dinkel rounded the right end and cut back across the field to score another quick touchdown for the Indians. Adam Krien followed good blocking over the left side for the conversion points. With 10:44 remaining in the first half, St. Francis led 38-0.
Jayce Nider's tackle ended Kobe Shuberts' kick return at the Trego 26. Shurbert ran around the right end to the St. Francis 15 yard line earning big yardage for the Eagles. The Eagles blasted up the middle for five more on 2nd down before being stopped by Shadryon Blanka. Hunter Price banged for four-plus yards on second down. On 3rd-&-1/2 yard, Shubert followed a strong block by Price for a touchdown. The conversion pass attempt was intercepted by Blanka. St. Francis led 38-6 with 9:06 left in the half.
It did not the Indians long to answer. As they had done on each possession thus far, it took the Indians less than four plays to score. Jayce Nider returned the Eagles' kick-off 18 yards to the SF 30 yard line. Brady Dinkel accounted for five yards on a run around the right end. Shadryon Blanks then banged up the middle to the Trego 37. Nider scored the touchdown sprinting 37 yards over the left side for the 6th SF touchdown of the half. Punishing would-be tacklers along the way, Adam Krien scored the conversion points. St. Francis led 44-6 with 8:02 left in the second quarter.
The kick-off rolled out-of-bounds twice before the third attempt was returned. Kobe Tice made the tackle on Jamie Opat at the St. Francis 39. Hunter Price powered for two yards on first down and was tackled by Josiah Sims. Price earned 6 more on the next play before being stopped by Tice. On 3rd-&-2, Price broke several tackles with a powerful run moving the ball to the Indians' 5 yard line. Another Sims tackle saved a touchdown. Before the Eagles could run another play, a procedure penalty backed them up 5 yards. It was now 1st-&-goal at the 10. Kobi Shubert tried the middle and was stopped by Shadryon Blanka. Price ran over the right side and also met Blanka. On 3rd-&-6, Shubert powered over the right side moving the football within inches of the goal line. A 4th-down run by Shubert going right resulted in another Trego touchdown. A conversion pass from Shubert to Cooper Desormiers fell incomplete on the left side. The Eagles were showing a bit more prowess, but still trailed 46-12.
Showing his elusiveness, Josiah Sims returned the Eagle kick-off all the way to the Trego 16 yard line. On the first snap, Brady Dinkel sprinted over the left side for another Indian touchdown. Adam Krien ran right stretching for the pylon to score the conversion points. The scoreboard clicked to 54-12 with 3:16 remaining.
Brady Dinkel assumed the kick-off duties for the Indians and promptly placed the kick-off in the end zone. Beginning at the 15, Hunter Price ran the ball twice and was smacked by Nider on the first carry and then popped even harder by Colton Neitzel and Shadryon Blanka on the second attempt. Facing 3rd-&-5 at the 20, Trego used a time-out with 1:51 left in the half. On the next snap, Jesse Baxter hit quarterback Shubert forcing an incomplete pass. On 4th-&-5, the Eagles punted. The punt was high and short but rolled to the SF 20.
The Indians need but one more score to end the contest at halftime, but this possession would be the only Indian possession of the contest that lasted more than three plays. With 1:36 remaining, the Indians were penalized for an illegal block backing them up to the 10 yard line. Carries by Shadryon Blanka and Brady Dinkel moved the ball to the SF 22. Dinkel's next carry advanced the ball to mid-field. A quarterback draw play moved the ball to the 32 with 35.7s left. Dinkel was forced out-of-bounds by senior Kolby Walt at the 20 on the next play (28.1s). Adam Krien the powered to the 3-yard line setting up 1st-&-goal. Dinkel tried the right side and was stopped by Hunter Price for a 2-yard loss. With 15.2 seconds left, Krien scored around the left end in what appeared to be a game-ending touchdown. A crack-back block against the Indians nullified the score and backed the Indians up to the 16 yard line. A pass into the end zone by Dinkel was well-defended by Cooper Desormiers and fell incomplete. With 0.5 seconds left, Dinkel attempted a pass to Krien that was deflected by Desormiers. Halftime had arrived. The Indians headed to the locker room leading 54-12.
Opat's kick-off went into the end zone for a touchback. Adam Krien banged up the middle on the opening play gaining 14 yards. Krien then tired the left end, but was met by Kolby Walt after a gain of 6. A procedure penalty on the Indians backed them up 5 yards before the next snap. Shadryon Blanka then powered up the middle gaining good yardage. A shoe-string tackle by Desoremiers delayed another Indian touchdown. From the Trego 27, Dinkel then ran left and cut back to the right to score the final St. Francis touchdown with 10:54 left in the third period. St. Francis defeated Trego Community 60-12.
The Indians will play Rawlins County, in Atwood, on Friday, October 25.
Photos to be added soon!
