BY BUDDY TABLER
Special to the Tribune
RUSSELL—The Russell Broncos parlayed an outstanding performance by senior quarterback Austin Price into a 48-20 victory over the winless Larned Indians Friday to close out the 2018 football season.
Larned (0-9) gained 394 yards rushing, led by Jacob Smith’s 129 yards and two touchdowns. Brock Skelton added 90 yards in 10 carries. Quarterback Dillan Smith was 5 of 18 passing for 79 yards but had three passes intercepted. Larned committed five turnovers.
“Mistakes killed us,” said Larned coach Tad Remy. “We had the ball inside their 20 four times in the first half and earned no points because of turnovers and penalties. That should have been a tie game. We hate finishing 0-9, but due to a number of unfortunate breaks with injuries this year, that’s what happened. We’ll work hard to get this fixed. I love these kids. They are fighters. We all hate losing!”
Price rushed 19 times for 167 yards and completed 10 of 16 passes for 161 yards. Rhett Pospichal returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to set the tone.
Larned’s promising first drive ended when Bronco Glenn Law ripped the ball out of the Brock Skelton’s hands and sprinted 35 yards to the Larned 11 yard line. Price scored on an 11-yard keeper for a 14-0 lead.
Larned answered with a 13-yard touchdown run by Jacob Smith. The drive was keyed by Smith and Skelton along with two pass completions by quarterback Dillan Smith.
Larned’s next four drives reached Bronco territory, but ended with penalties and four turnovers in the half. Russell raced to a 34-7 halftime lead on the legs of quarterback Price.
Russell scored two touchdowns within 12 seconds. Kyler Fritschen returned an interception 76 yards. Price hit Gavin Ewers with a 25-yard touchdown pass and Russell a 34-7 lead.
Both teams scored two touchdowns but Larned could not close the gap that had been created in that pivotal second quarter.
Russell (3-6) gained 496 yards of total offense. Russell won the turnover margin 5-2.
3A DISTRICT 7A
x-Pratt 5-0 9-0
x-Hugoton 4-1 4-5
x-Kingman 2-3 3-6 (9)
x-Nickerson 2-3 2-7 (-25)
Holcomb 2-3 4-5 (-34)
Larned 0-5 0-9
x-playoff qualifier
WEEK 1—Pratt 34, Hoisington 0; Holcomb 34, Goodland 12; Scott City 35, Hugoton 0; Smoky Valley 46, Larned 7; Halstead 22, Nickerson 7; Chaparral 49, Kingman 23
WEEK 2—Pratt 32, Halstead 16; Scott City 24, Holcomb 0; Colby 35, Hugoton 6; Hesston 28, Larned 21; Hoisington 28, Nickerson 14; Kingman 56, Belle Plaine 18
WEEK 3—Pratt 55, Hesston 0; Colby 38, Holcomb 34; Hoisington 50, Larned 13; Smoky Valley 8, Nickerson 6; Conway Springs 38, Kingman 21; Ulysses 29, Hugoton 6
WEEK 4—*Pratt 55, Larned 0; *Nickerson 27, Holcomb 7; *Hugoton 21, Kingman 17
WEEK 5— *Pratt 42, Kingman 0; *Hugoton 42, Nickerson 20; *Holcomb 26, Larned 14
WEEK 6—*Pratt 42, Hugoton 0; *Nickerson 20, Larned 6; Holcomb 18, Kingman 14
WEEK 7—*Pratt 51, Holcomb 15; *Kingman 31, Nickerson 14; Hugoton 23, Larned 7
WEEK 8—*Pratt 49, Nickerson 14; Hugoton 14, Holcomb 7; Kingman 40, Larned 10
FRIDAY—Pratt 52, Concordia 27; Colby 51, Kingman 21; Scott City 38, Nickerson 0; Holcomb 41, Goodland 23; Russell 48, Larned 20
CENTRAL KANSAS LEAGUE
Pratt 5-0 9-0
Smoky Valley 5-0 9-0
Hillsboro 2-1 7-2
Hoisington 2-1 7-2
Hesston 3-2 6-3
Halstead 2-3 5-4
Haven 1-2 2-7
Nickerson 1-4 2-7
Lyons 0-3 0-9
Larned 0-5 0-9
WEEK 1—*Pratt 34, Hoisington 0; *Hesston 42, Hillsboro 36; *Smoky Valley 46, Larned 7; *Halstead 22, Nickerson 7; *Haven 28, Lyons 10
WEEK 2—*Pratt 32, Halstead 16; *Hesston 28, Larned 21; *Smoky Valley 44, Haven 0; *Hoisington 28, Nickerson 14; *Hillsboro 42, Lyons 0
WEEK 3—*Pratt 55, Hesston 0; *Smoky Valley 8, Nickerson 6; *Halstead 64, Lyons 0; *Hoisington 50, Larned 13; *Hillsboro 32, Haven 24
WEEK 4—*Smoky Valley 28, Hesston 0; *Pratt 55, Larned 0; Halstead 52, Rock Creek 16; Hoisington 42, Hays-TMP 0; Hillsboro 45, Salina Sacred Heart 31; Andale 65, Haven 0; Nickerson 27, Holcomb 7; Sterling 55, yons 21
WEEK 5—*Pratt 42, Kingman 0; *Hesston 38, Halstead 22; Smoky Valley 46, Clay Center 14; Hoplcomb 26, Larned 14; Hoisington 48, Ellsworth 14; Hillsboro 32, Waubansee 6; Clearwater 49, Haven 12; Hugoton 42, Nickerson 20; Ellinwood 34, Lons 3
WEEK 6 —*Nickerson 20, Larned 6; Pratt 42, Hugoton 0; Smoky Valley 30, Chapman 22; Halstead 50, Clay Center 22; Hillsboro 18, Marion 14; Hesston54, Rock Creek 30; Cheney 36, Haven 12; SW Heights 34, Lyons 3; Hoisington 41, Minneapolis 6
WEEK 7—*Smoky Valley 20, Halstead 14; Pratt 51, Holcomb 15; Kingman 31, Nickerson 14; Hugoton 23, Larned 7; Hillsboro 66, Bluestem 22; Chapman 38, Hesston 28; Wichita Collegiate 46, Haven 8; Cimarron 60, Lyons 0; Phillipsburg 51, Hoisigton 21
WEEK 8—*Pratt 49, Nickerson 14; Kingman 40, Larned 10; Smoky Valley 32, Rock Creek 0; Chapman 30, Halstead 22 (OT); Olpe 28, Hillsboro 6; Hesston 54, Clay Center 0; Wichita Trinity 27, Haven 8; Lakin 46, Lyons 7; Hoisington 49, Norton 27
FRIDAY—Pratt 52, Concordia 27; Scott City 38, Nickerson 0; Russell 48, Larned 20; Smoky Valley 43, Cheney 6; Andale 35, Halstead 0; Hesston 42, Wichita Collegiate 28; Hoisington 38, Sterling 13; Hillsboro 75, Yates Center 20; Haven 22, Rock Creek 20; TMP 45, Lyons 12
