HOLCOMB 43, LARNED 13

BY BUDDY TABLER

Special to the Tribune

HOLCOMB – The Holcomb Longhorns surprised Larned with a potent passing attack to forge a 43-13 district win Friday. Holcomb (5-0, 2-0) plays Cheney (5-0, 2-0) and Larned (0-4, 0-2) is idle next week after Nickerson’s team is in quarantine.

Holcomb quarterback Kaden Johnson completed 12 of 21 passes for 233 productive yards and four touchdowns. Holcomb was averaging 100 yards passing. Levi Knoll was the big recipient with five receptions for 120 yards and two touchdowns.

Holcomb struck first when at 5:45 of the first quarter quarterback Kaden Johnson connected on a 51-yard touchdown pass and run by Levi Knoll. The extra point kick was good by Edgar Ramirez and the Longhorns grabbed a 7-0 lead they would not relinquish. That score was set up by a Larned fumble by quarterback Dillan smith at the Larned 40 yard line.

Later Larned’s Jack Stelter would intercept a Johnson pass and Larned was on the Holcomb 30. With 2:17 left in the first quarter Larned’s Dillan Smith connected on a 2-yard touchdown pass to Andreus Tucker and the Indians had knotted the score 7-7.

A key play happened when Larned quarterback Dillan Smith was sacked for a safety and a 9-7 Holcomb second-quarter lead. Larned lost its spark and the Longhorns scored 34 consecutive points. Holcomb led 16-7 at halftime.

Larned coach Tad Remy lamented the safety.

“We’ve got to make better decisions in those situations,” Remy said. “We were in that place because of penalties. Penalties, big ones, cost us a ton throughout the game.”

Holcomb would come out after halftime and score 27 straight points to balloon their lead to 43-7 before Larned would score again on a Smith 8-yard touchdown run to close out the scoring. 

Larned improved its running game. Logan Erway gained 117 yards in 14 rushes and Andreus Tucker 44 yards six carries. The Indians finished with 207 yards rushing after averaging 60 yards. Holcomb’s Kolby Johnson led the Longhorns’ ground attack with 111 yards on 14 carries.

The Indians had four turnovers and were penalized 138 yards, putting roadblocks in front of their offense.

“Penalties and mistakes killed us tonight,” he said. “It’s so frustrating because this team is capable of being 4-0 instead of 0-4. We have to help these kids figure out how to fix these things.”

Larned’s usually potent passing attack stalled as Smith had 20 completions in 39 attempts for 159 yards and a touchdown, but the Longhorns intercepted three passes. The three interceptions plus a lost fumble and too many penalties doomed the Indians’ chances.

Larned 7 0 0 6 – 13

Holcomb 7 9 12 15 – 43

H—Levi Knoll 51 pass from Kaden Johnson (Edgar Ramirez kick)

L—Andreus Tucker 2 pass from Dillan Smith (Fernando Herrera kick)

H—Safety (Smith tackled in endzone)

H—Knoll 51 pass from Kaden Johnson (Ramirez kick)

H—Kolby Johnson 12 run (kick failed)

H—Ramirez 53 pass from Kaden Johnson (kick failed)

H—Kolby Johnson 24 run (Chris Palacios run)

H—Kolby Johnson 10 pass from Kaden Johnson (kick)

L—Smith 8 run (pass failed)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—H—28-197; Kolby Johnson 14-111; Khai Cosner 6-64; Levi Knoll 1-17; Kaden Johnson 4-14; Damon Mesa 1-0; Alex Rodriguez 1-(-3); Manuel Reyes 1-(-6); L—34-207; Erway 14-117; Tucker 6-44; Smith 10-31; Jace Snyder 3-10; Herrera 1-5

PASSING—H—Kaden Johnson 13-21-1, 241; L—Smith 20-39-3, 159

RECEIVING—H—Knoll 5-120; Edgar Ramirez 2-71; Cooper Henson 2-21; Kolby Johnson 1-10; Chris Harris 1-9; Mesa 1-7; Chris Palacios 1-3; L—Tucker 8-62; Jack Stelter 3-36; Herrera 3-20; Snyder 4-16; Luke Wilson 2-16; Erway 1-8