LINDSBORG – Smoky Valley’s Kyle Anderson scored three touchdowns as the Vikings rallied past Larned 19-12 in Friday’s Central Kansas League football game that was delayed 30 minutes by lightning.
Larned rushed for 229 yards and gained 84 yards passing, but was slowed by 11 penalties for 83 yards. Brandon Bartz led the Indians with five carries for 62 yards.
“The penalties were costly in key moments on potential scoring drives,” said Larned coach A.B. Stokes. “It’s a learning lesson. You can’t continue to make those mistakes over-and-over.”
Smoky Valley (1-1, 1-1 CKL) travels to Haven next week. Larned (0-2, 0-2 CKL) plays at Hesston.
Smoky Valley rushed for 201 yards, keyed by Anderson’s 144 yards. The Vikings played turnover-free football.
Larned’s first offensive drive marched to the Smoky Valley 34-yard line, but on 4th-and 1, the Indians lost yardage.
Smoky Valley answered with a 66-yard scoring drive keyed by Anderson. The Vikings punched in a touchdown with 4:56 left in the first quarter. A 2-point run failed.
Larned overcame several offensive penalties before Kolby Keith scored on a 17-yard run. Larned failed on a 2-point conversion for a 6-6 halftime tie.
With 1:28 left in the third quarter Larned set up to punt the ball from the Viking’s 48-yard line but a fake punt was called and the Indians executed it perfectly. Brandon Bartz rambled 48 yards for a touchdown. Larned failed to convert a two-point conversion run and led 12-6.
Smoky Valley’s powerful running game seized control as Anderson broke through the Larned defensive line for important gains.
The Vikings’ seized control on a 4-yard touchdown by Anderson and kicker Skyler DeMott converted the extra point for a 13-12 lead.
An interception by Garrett Forsberg ended Larned’s next driveto set a 48-yard scoring drive. The Vikings methodically pounded with their running game and Anderson’s 9-yard touchdown run with 5:04 remaining left the score at 19-12.
Larned drove the ball across midfield behind the running of Nate Williams and the slashing style of Wes Davis. But another penalty the Indians were left with two unsuccessful pass attempts from the 28-yard line with less than a minute left. Taking over on downs the Vikings ran out the clock.
SMOKY VALLEY 19, LARNED 12
Larned 0 6 6 0 – 12
Smoky Valley 6 0 0 13 – 19
SCORING SUMMARY
SV—Kyle Anderson 2 run; L—Kolby Keith 17 run; L—Brandon Bartz 48 run; SV—Anderson 16 run (Skyle DeMott kick); SV—Anderson 9 run
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Larned 42-229; Bartz 5-62; Keith 10-49; Nate Williams 11-45; McConnell 6-30; Wes Davis 7-26; Shevin Martin 2-10; Carson Smith 1-7; SV—40-201; Anderson 22-144; Riley Odell 14-53; Brett Heitschmidt 3-5; Kaj Sjogren 1-(-1)
PASSING—Larned—Smith 8-17-2, 84; SV—Heitschmidt, 3-3-0 26; Andrew Peters 0-1-0.
RECEIVING—Larned—Dalton Bright 6-78; Martin 1-6; Damontay Phillips 1-0; SV—Jacob Adams 2-21; Garrett Forsberg 1-5.
TACKLES—Larned—Jon Herter 7; Bartz 6.5; Bright 3.5; Davis 3; Keith 3.
