LINDSBORG --
Larned opened the game by attempting an onside kickoff that backfired when an Indian player touched the ball before it traveled the required 10 yards. That, coupled with a 15-yard penalty against Larned on the play, set up Smoky Valley for their first possession on Larned’s 38-yard line. At the 6:40 mark the Vikings cashed in as Trystan Stambaugh scored on a 3-yard burst up the middle. Kade Blanchat ran in the 2-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.
Following a Larned punt the Vikings’ scored at the 8:34 mark of the second quarter on a 17-yard run by the speedy Justin Austry and a 2-point conversion catch by Blanchat for a 16-0 score. The Indians battled back after a 45-yard run by Brady Hope and advanced to the Viking 13 but a Hope fumble stopped that drive. Autry then caught a pass from Karson Pihl and rambled 72 yards for a touchdown and the outcome was settled at 24-0.
With nine seconds remaining before halftime, Larned got on the scoreboard as quarterback Carson Shaver found Brady Hope with a 13-yard pass for a 32-6 halftime score.
Larned played the game without senior quarterback Riley Pontius and lost three defensive linemen to injuries in the first quarter which led to a patched-up lineup for the Indians.
“Yeah, we lost Riley to a shoulder injury," said Larned coach Tad Remy. "Carson Shaver came in and performed well. Losing the linemen hurt because Smoky Valley is such a run-oriented team. They are experienced and played well.”
In the second half the Vikings’ Autry scored on a shifty 26-yard run and the margin was 40-6 and Stambaugh broke up the middle at 3:58 of the third quarter and scored from 38 yards out to push the score to 46-6. Larned answered back on a number of short passes and with 11:17 remaining in the game Shaver connected with Jayden Smith for a 16-yard touchdown pass and the final margin of 46-12.
“In addition to being short-handed, we made a lot of mistakes" Remy said. "We gave up field position due to fumbles and an interception. Those two fumbles hurt. Smoky Valley had great field position all evening due to our mistakes.”
Smoky Valley ran up 307 yards rushing and added 79 yards passing for 386 yards. The threesome of Blanchat, Stambaugh and Autry allowed the Vikings to control the running game and the clock.
Larned produced 137 yards on the ground and 107 passing. Hope had 11 carries for 77 yards to lead the Indians. Quarterback Shaver completed 12 of 17 passes for 107 yards. Jayden Smith had eight receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown.
Smoky Valley (2-1) travels to defending 3A state champion Andale (3-0) and Larned (1-2) plays Nickerson (1-2) for Homecoming.
Larned 0 6 0 6 -- 12
Smoky Valley 8 24 14 0 -- 46
SV--Trystan Stambaugh 3 run (Blanchat run0; SV--Autry 17 run (Blanchat pass from Pihil); SV--Autry 72 pass from Pihl (2-pointer); L--Hope 13 pass from Shaver; SV--Autry 26 run; SV--Stambaugh 38 run; L--Smith 16 pass from Shaver
RUSHING--SV 49-307; Trystan Stambaugh 14-105; Autry 13-83; Blanchat 9-055; Gavin Stambaugh 5-28; Hawk 3-18; Pihl 2-13; Gustus 1-2; Miller 1-2; Able 1-1.
PASSING--SV--Pihl 2-2-0, 79
RECEIVING--SV--Autry 1-72; Blanchat 1-7
