BY BUDDY TABLER
LYONS — The Lyons Lion defense delivered back-to-back goal-line stands to hand Larned a heartbreaking 14-8 setback in 3A, District 6.
The Indians were poised to tie Lyons 14-14. Lyons defenders Gage Grizzle, Ethan Cereceres and Xander Young stopped Wilder at the Lyons 1-yard line.
On the next possession, Argenis Montanez intercepted an Owen Shaver pass on first-and-goal after Koby Lang's reception handed the Indians a first down at the Lyons 6-yard line.
Three trips into the Lyons Red Zone resulted in two turnovers and a failed 4th-down conversion.
“I am disappointed for the kids. They played so hard and our defense was outstanding against one of the best running backs in 3A," said Larned football coach Jason Duvall. "We had our chances but, for whatever reason, we couldn’t punch it in the end zone. We’ve got to fix that.”
Larned drove perfectly into Lyons territory on the opening drive, but a fumble by Matheu Wilder on the Lyons’ 16-yard line stopped that drive.
An interception by Larned’s Zev Cox led to a 1-yard touchdown by quarterback Owen Shaver on a crisp 35-yard drive. Jax Johnson’s conversion run led to an 8-0 Larned lead.
Lyons tailback Zander Young sprinted through the line and raced 65 yards for a touchdown but the 2-pointer failed.
Right before half, Lyons converted a 52-yard scoring drive. Quarterback Quanick Hamilton scored on a 15-yard scamper with 20 seconds until halftime. Young ran in the conversion for a 14-8 lead that held up.
After a Hamilton fumble at the Lyons 29-yard line, Larned drove the ball inside the 5-yard line but failed on a fourth down run at the 1-yard line.
Larned's defense responded and the Lyons punt handed the Indians the football at the Lyons 17-yard line.
But a Montanez interception of a Shaver pass at the 2-yard line spoiled the Indians' threat.
Lyons ran out the final few minutes after a late-hit Larned penalty. Lyons ran the time out on a disappointed Larned football team that had played an excellent defensive game.
Lyons’ Young rushed 13 times for 136 yards. Hamilton rushed nine times for 64 yards and passed for 44 yards.
Larned quarterback Shaver left the game with an injured shoulder in the fourth quarter. He completed 9 of 18 passes for 109 yards and rushed for 26 yards. Johnson had 10 carries for 32 yards.
Lyons improved to 4-1 on the season and Larned fell to 0-5. Larned will host Haven on Friday in a Central Kansas League contest.
Larned (0-5, 0-2) 8 0 0 0 — 8
Lyons (4-1, 1-0) 6 8 0 0 — 14
LAR—Shaver 1 run (Johnson run); LY—Young 65 run (run fails); LY—Hamilton 15 run (Young run)
3A, DISTRICT 6
Hoisington 2-0 3-2
Lyons 1-0 4-1
Pratt 1-1 2-3
Nickerson 0-1 1-4
Larned 0-2 0-5
10-2—*Hoisington 40, Pratt 16; *Lyons 14, Larned 8; Nickerson 46, Sedgwick 20
