Sunday, October 15, 2017

Tigers Clinch GRC Football Title for First Time Since 1984 With Victory

Worth County won its first GRC football title since 1984, as they toppled Stanberry from the ranks of the unbeaten 56-14 Friday. The win meant that they are now the top seed in the district, meaning they have a week off to prepare for East Atchison or North/West Nodaway. In the meantime, Stanberry is faced with a difficult road trip to Rock Port, which beat Mound City 40-38 in a nailbiter in Rock Port. It can work both ways, however; last year, Stanberry played during the first round of districts, Worth County had the week off, and Stanberry successfully invaded Worth County to end their season.

The winner of the game between Worth County and either East Atchison or North/West Nodaway plays the winner of Stanberry at Rock Port three weeks from Friday for the district title.

Should Worth County win out and Mound City win out, Worth County would host Mound City, since the top team on the bracket hosts during odd numbered years. Should North Andrew knock off Mound City, they would host, since they hosted fewer district games than Worth County.

During Worth County’s Senior Night, which took place before the game, seniors from different squads were recognized. Recognized from the football team were Tevin Cameron, Ryan McClellan, Wayde Parman, Brayden Welch, Devan Jackson, Drake Kinsella, Mason Hawk, and Bobby Lynch. Water girls were Shylea Moellenberndt and Alyssa Fletchall. Elizabeth Owens and Olivia Davidson were recognized from the cheer squad. From the band, Quentin Miller, Drew Martell, Elizabeth Owens, Riley Drury, and Olivia Davidson were recognized.

Worth County kicked off to start the game, and Stanberry sought to air it out on their first play from scrimmage. However, it fooled nobody and Bryant McCord came in on a corner blitz and sacked Cole Durbin untouched. Stanberry was forced to punt, and Worth County caught a break when Tevin Cameron was apparently stripped by a Stanberry player, only for the officials not to notice and Worth County got the ball deep in Stanberry territory at the 29. Worth County only needed one play to score as Cameron got a block from Ryan McClellan and converted a spread draw for a score with 9:52 left. He ran in the extra points as well to make it 8-0.

Stanberry started making headway on its next drive, until set back with a false start penalty. Then, Cole Durbin fumbled it and Ryan McClellan recovered on the 19 while Durbin was fighting for yardage and Worth County had another short field. On their second play, a keeper from McClellan fooled everyone and he took it around the right end and to the house with 7:42 left. Tevin Cameron ran in the extra points to make it 16-0.

Once again, Worth County stripped Durbin of the football and got the ball back on the Stanberry 19. Faced with third and one, Stanberry jumped offsides to the 5, and Tevin Cameron got a block from Isaac Alarcon to get in again with 5:57 left to make it 22-0.

Stanberry muffed the ensuing kick out of bounds at their own 7, and they were forced to punt. A holding penalty wiped out a touchdown for Worth County and they started at their own 35, but Isaac Alarcon took the carry and bounced it out and down the left sideline for a score with 4:09 left for a 45 yard run. Tevin Cameron ran in the extra points to make it 30-0.

Stanberry finally started making some headway on its next series, but a bad snap on second and three at the 40 set them back to the 32. Stanberry went for it in desperation on fourth down and 11, but the pass, intended for Levi Murphy, was incomplete as he slipped and fell. Worth County was stuck with third and 11 at the 33 and Ryan McClellan took a keeper around the right end. John Shanks seemingly had him in his sights, but a Tiger blocker slowed him down just enough for McClellan to get free and down the right side of the field for a score with 31.1 seconds left. A pass from Ryan McClellan to Mason Hawk on a guard eligible play made it 38-0.

Stanberry finally got its vaunted ground game going on its next series after starting at its own 15. They picked up three first downs and got to the Tiger 32 before Trey Schieber got loose on a counter with 7:23 left to put Stanberry on the board.

On the ensuing kickoff, Ryan McClellan was shaken up and Jacob New replaced him at quarterback. It didn’t matter, as Tevin Cameron shot up the middle for 33 yards into Stanberry territory at the 38. He picked up 3 more and then scampered 35 yards for a score with 6:07 left to quell Stanberry’s attempt to rally. Jacob New’s pass to Isaac Alarcon made it 46-6.

A holding penalty on Stanberry drove them back to their own 7 on the next series, setting up a safely as Mason Hawk sacked Durbin in the end zone with 5:41 left to make it 48-6. On the ensuing kickoff, Bryant McCord got a nice runback, but Hunter Johnson stripped him at the end of the run. Stanberry couldn’t do anything with it and Worth County looked like they would be stopped with fourth and 17 at the 40 with time running out in the first half. But then Tevin Cameron threw a halfback pass and aired it out to Mason Hawk on a guard eligible play and nobody was anywhere near him as he took it to the house with 1:53 left. Isaac Alarcon ran in the extra points to make it 56-6.

Trey Schieber got loose for 24 yards on a power sweep to the Tiger 36, but the Bulldogs stalled there and frustration set in as a Stanberry player was flagged for a late hit back to their own 34. Stanberry aired it out on fourth and forever, but Bryant McCord picked it off and ran it back to the Stanberry 23 before time expired.

The second half was played by the subs of both teams. Worth County’s JV made two goal line stands before Brian Medina scored for Stanberry with 1:34 left in the game from 5 yards out.

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