HOISINGTON 26, CHAPMAN 20

HOISINGTON — Hoisington's Preston Merlau scored two touchdowns as the Cardinals outlasted Chapman 26-20 in a 3A football playoff thriller.

Merlau gained a career high 174 yards on 14 hard-earned carries.

Hoisington's Brody Corbett delivered the game's key defensive play by tackling Chapman tailback Audiel Becker to preserve a 26-20 lead. Corbett sparked the Cardinals' late-game defense.

Chapman's Becker bettered his 182-yard average with 189 yards on 25 carries and two touchdowns. Becker finishes with 1,831 yards with 24 rushing scores.

The momentum shifted back-and-forth with each team leading, then rallying to tie. The Cardinals fumbled inside Chapman's 5-yard line and handed Chapman a 22-yard drive with another lost fumble.

The Cardinals (8-2) journey to defending 3A state champion Andale (10-0) next week.

Chapman (7-3) 6 6 8 0— 20

Hoisington (8-2) 6 6 8 6 — 26

C—Audiel Becker 15 run (run fails); H—Holinde 65 pass from Hahn (pass fails); H—Cossel 2 run (run fails); C—Dominic Krogman 18 pass from Bo Rothchild (run fails); H—Merlau 2 run (Merlau run); C—Becker 22 run (Becker run); H—Merlau 22 run (run fails)

RUSHING—C—5 Becker; 20 DeWeese; 9 Bo Rothchild; 12 Colton Bell; H—13 Hahn; 23 Merlau; 8 Turner; 4 Cossel; 12 Chambers; 5 Staudinger.

PASSING—C—9 Bo Rothchild; H—13 Hahn; 5 Staudinger

RECEIVING—C—2 Dominic Krogman; 16 A.J. Scott; H—Hahn.