The game could not have started any worse for Worth County as they fumbled the ball away on their first possession deep inside their own territory and South/Nodaway-Holt took it in and scored on a 20 yard swing pass. Specters of the game from two years ago, when the Spartans came in and beat the Tigers in the first game of the season loomed. But then Worth County picked themselves off the carpet and showed why they were the defending state champions as they recovered to win 74-28.
Trailing 6-0, Worth County got a long drive going as they rode Caleb Parman’s back; the shifty Tiger back was spinning, juking, and dodging tackles all night long and making it look effortless. One play in particular saw Parman spin through tackle after tackle as he gained 17 yards to the Spartan 3. Finally, Jacob New took it to the house and Parman ran in the extra points to put Worth County up 8-6.
The Spartans went three and out as quarterback Andrew Quinlin threw one too far on third down. Worth County got the ball on their own 31, and Parman got a power sweep down the field for a 45 yard touchdown, getting blocks from Isaac Alarcon and Austin Welch. He cut it upfield for the two points to put Worth County up 16-6 with 5:13 left.
But the Spartans came right back as Quinlin threw a swing pass to Eric Ottman from 52 yards out to make it 16-12. That gave them hope for a while. But after the Tigers got the ball back on the 33, Andrew Alarcon, channeling his older brother, shed tackle after tackle, dragging defenders for 17 yards down to the Spartan 30. That set up Caleb Parman’s cutback run for 26 down to the four. He was dropped for a loss of 5, but Jacob New got four yards back to the five and Andrew Alarcon’s counter took it to the house with 2:50 left. Caleb Parman took an option pitch from Jacob New to make it 24-12.
South/Nodaway-Holt set themselves back with an ineligible man downfield and went three and out again. This time, Austin Welch blocked a punt, but Worth County couldn’t convert as Jacob New misfired three passes and two false starts set Worth County back. But Isaac Alarcon batted down a screen at the Spartan 20 on third and 13 and Bryant McCord took off through a big hole down the right side with 10:58 left in the second from 51 yards out to make it 32-12 after Caleb Parman added the extra points.
Jeremy Wimer, the littlest guy on the team, showed that his wrestling skills were paying off as he delivered the biggest hit of the night on the ensuing return as the Spartans started on their own 20. The Spartans tried a fake punt, but the pass to an open Eric Ottman was too far, and Worth County took over on the Spartan 24. Quarterback Jacob New came under a heavy rush and was hurried on his first throw, but then Caleb Parman followed with a punishing run that left two Spartans shaken up in the hot, humid playing conditions; it was 95 degrees at gametime with a heat index of 104. Caleb Parman sprung loose with a block from Jacob New from 19 yards out and Isaac Alarcon caught a pass in the right corner as he flared out away from the crowd to make it 40-12 with 9:02 left.
Reagan Morris caught an 11 yard pass for a first down for the Spartans, but then they ran into trouble. Jaxon Anderson, who earned a spot at defensive end this year, batted down a pass. Then, on second down, he batted one up in the air, and this time, Isaac Alarcon caught it and took it back for a backbreaker. On the extra point, a fake to Isaac Alarcon fooled everyone; meanwhile, Caleb Parman took it in to make it 48-12, knocking over two defenders in the process.
Another disaster struck for the Spartans as Reed McIntyre recovered a fumble at the Spartan 26. Caleb Parman faked the jet sweep to Bryant McCord and then took off for 11 to the 15. Andrew Alarcon was driven back two, and a holding put it back on the 23. But then, as quarterback Jacob New was under a heavy rush, Andrew Alarcon blew by a defender and caught the touchdown pass. Caleb Parman picked up a block by Isaac Alarcon on a power sweep to make it 56-12 with 6:26 left in the half.
The barrage of turnovers continued as Jacob New picked off a pass and returned it to the Spartan 20. A holding penalty set Worth County back to the 23, but then Andrew Alarcon started inside, got a block from Isaac Alarcon, and bounced outside for 18 down to the seven. A false start put them back to the 12, but then Isaac Alarcon blocked tackle after tackle as he bulldozed his way into the end zone to make it 62-12.
There were a lot of fireworks right before the half. The JV fumbled it on their own 28, and the Spartans came back and scored on a three yard pass to Morris with 1:28 left. Quinlin ran in the extra points to make it 62-20. The JV fumbled it again at the 31, but Reed McIntyre picked off a pass and ran it back to the Spartan 18. This time, the Tigers got in as Alex Rinehart took a pitch, broke several tackles, and scored from 13 yards out with 1:03 left. Ryan Burtnett scored a 65 yard pass play and Quinlin ran in the extra points to make it 68-28 at the half.
The first string started for the second half, and Bryant McCord got a pick right off the bat. Caleb Parman picked up eight to the 14, then spun around tackle after tackle to the 1, then took it to the house to get the game called with 11:31 left in the third quarter.
Worth County had some short fields to work with as the Spartans turned the ball over six times. Caleb Parman had 15 carries for 171 yards. Andrew Alarcon and Alex Rinehart had 4 carries for 27 yards teach. Isaac Alarcon had 3 carries for 17 yards. Jacob New had 2 carries for 6 yards, Aydan Gladstone had 1 carry for 16 yards, and Jeremy Wimer had 1 carry for 1 yard. Worth County had 30 carries for 265 yards.
Jacob New had 1 completion in 6 attempts for 23 yards. Andrew Alarcon had the lone reception.
Caleb Parman also led the Tigers on the other end, with 7 tackles. Reed McIntyre, Colton Wilmes, and Isaac Alarcon had 5 each. Jaxon Anderson and Alex Rinehart had 4. Jeremy Wimer and Jacob New had 2 each. Bryant McCord, Andrew Alarcon, Nathan Adwell, and Dakota Auffert each had 1 tackle.
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