Ethan Lininger Scores Three Touchdowns; Junior High Tigers Complete Undefeated Season

Worth County's junior high team beat Stanberry 74-0 to complete their second straight undefeated season as Ethan Lininger scored three touchdowns. He was a one man wrecking ball for the Tiger defense and even got in on an offensive play. The last Tiger team that went undefeated in back to back seasons was the same team that won state in 2017 with Tevin Cameron, Drake Kinsella, Mason the Hawk, Ryan McClellan, and plenty of other horses. This year, the Tigers outscored their opponents by a combined total of 366-76.

The Tigers started off strong as Bo Collins ran back the opening kickoff with 7:46 left in the first quarter to make it 6-0. On Stanberry's second play, Caleb New recovered a fumble and Cole Ruby only needed one play to score as he took an option pitch and ran through the Stanberry defenders like they weren't even there with 6:50 left. Bo Collins got in on a quick hitter to make it 14-0. 

Worth County had a big hit on the ensuing kickoff, and Stanberry started at their own 21. From there, they moved backwards as Lininger had a tackle for a loss, Lininger and Ryder Smyser dropped a Stanberry back for another loss, and Reyen Hansen pounced on a loose ball at the 10. From there, Lininger scored on a hook and ladder as Hayden Sanders threw a strike to Caleb New, who lateraled it to Lininger, who walked in for the score. Bo Collins ran in the extra points to make it 22-0.

Dylan Smith had a big hit on the ensuing kickoff; at only 80 pounds, he was one of the biggest hitters on the team and would have started for a lot of other junior high teams. He showed some skill running with the ball later in the game. Stanberry tried the quarterback sneak, only to be met by a wall led by Reyen Hansen. Another quick hitter got nowhere as Jude Archer made a tackle. Then, Cole Ruby and Jude Archer broke up a pass. On the ensuing punt, Ethan Lininger blocked it and Jude Archer returned it to the Stanberry 23. On the ensuing play, Hayden Sanders carried out a perfect fake to Bo Collins, and as the Stanberry defense collapsed on Bo, Hayden took off with it, got a block from Caleb New, and took it to the house with 2:17 left to make it 28-0.

Worth County nearly recovered Bo Collins' squib kick; he was placing it perfectly, where Stanberry's return men couldn't get it. It caromed out of bounds at the 24. Stanberry tried a jet sweep, but Ethan Lininger was there to blow it up for a loss back to the 20. Stanberry then tried to get their biggest guy on the team, Wes Bashor, the ball, but he ran into a wall led by Bo Collins, Ryder Smyser, and Reyen Hansen. Cole Ruby broke up a third down pass, and then Stanberry couldn't get the punt away as Bo Collins and Ethan Lininger came through unblocked. Lininger scooped up a fumble and scored with 9 seconds left in the first quarter. The extra point try was a busted play as the blocking broke down, but Hayden Sanders managed to find a hole and run it in to make it 36-0.

Once again, Bo Collins placed a squib kick perfectly, and Stanberry had no choice but to fall on it at the 13. Bo shot the gap perfectly on an attempted keeper around the end and dropped him after one yard. Stanberry finally managed to complete a short pass, but it was fumbled and Hayden Sanders recovered it. A bad snap and a block in the back moved it back to the 25, but then Bo Collins caught a short pass, shed a defender who had him wrapped up perfectly like he wasn't even there, and took it to the house with 6:59 left in the half. Olivia Pruett showed some skill at the runningback slot as she ran in the extra points to make it 44-0. 

Bo Collins placed another squib kick perfectly, and once again, Stanberry had no choice but to fall on it at the 13. Stanberry tried a keeper around the end, but Ryder Smyser kept the edge and Cole Ruby shot the gap to clean up. They tried a quick hitter, but Hayden Sanders shot the gap to blow it up. Caleb New broke up a pass to set up fourth down. This time, Stanberry tried a fake punt, but Reyen Hansen forced a fumble and Ethan Lininger scooped and scored for his third touchdown. Bentley Frisch ran in the extra points to make it 52-0 after he got a block from Toryn Privett.

Chase Allen hit a squib kick that Stanberry recovered on the 39. Ethan Lininger had two more tackles for loss, and Stanberry was forced to punt. On the return, Jude Archer bobbled it, but picked it back up and took it to the house with 1:53 left. Bo Collins' catch and run made it 60-0 at the half.

The clock ran the entire second half, even during scores. An incomplete pass and two more Ethan Lininger tackles for loss forced another punt. Once again, the Tigers shot through unblocked as Ethan Lininger got the strip and Bo Collins got a scoop and score to make it 66-0 with 4:25 left. Cole Ruby recovered Dylan Smith's squib kick. The reserves ran some plays and didn't get it together the first time, but after Bo Collins recovered a fumble to set them up, Dylan Smith showed some skill, running hard and breaking free for runs of 23 and then 30 yards for a score with 3:14 left. Luke Findley bulldozed his way into the end zone to make it 74-0. Wesley Brown blew up a quick pitch as time wound down for the reserves.