BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbribune.com
CALDWELL — Caldwell shocked Central Plains at the start and finish to upset the Oilers 36-34 in Friday's 8-Man Division 2 second round football playoff game.
Bluejay Jude Stow scored the game-winning touchdown and intercepted the game-ending pass by Oiler quarterback Michael Laymon. The Bluejays trailed 34-22, but scored the game's final two touchdowns. The Oilers committed turnovers on their final two drives.
Oiler Michael Menges scored back-to-back second-half touchdowns for a 34-22 lead, but the Oilers missed both 2-point conversions. Oiler tackle Tyler Holmes recovered a Caldwell fumble to set up the Oilers' 26-yard scoring drive.
Caldwell quarterback Deiondre Smith converted time-after-time on clutch pass plays against the Oilers' defense. He started the Bluejays' late surge with a 39-yard run.
One of the game's critical plays occurred when game officials missed a clear Oiler fumble recovery. Michael Laymon covered a fumble when Smith dropped a shotgun snap. Caldwell took advantage when Trey Strnad caught a fourth-down conversion. Strnad grabbed a 7-yard touchdown pass for a 34-30 score after Smith's conversion.
The Oilers were still poised to put the game away when Caldwell's Matrix Earnes recovered an Oiler fumble at the Bluejay 18-yard line.
"It was a very untimely turnover, but we were running the ball like we wanted," said Central Plains coach Chris Steiner. "We didn't get a call when we recovered a fumble. But we had plenty of other opportunities to win the ballgame."
On the game-winning drive, Smith converted a 3rd-and-12 pass to Bristor and 3rd-and-14 pass to Stow. Strnad caught a clutch 5-yard pass on 4th-and-3 from the Oiler 13-yard line. Stow caught the game-winner with 1:27 despite excellent Oiler coverage.
The Oilers advanced to the Caldwell 18-yard line when Stow intercepted a pass on first down in the final 30 seconds.
"It was within our grasp," Steiner said. "We were the better football team, but we didn't play like the better football team. We didn't win on special teams. We missed some 2-point conversions that were available. We missed some plays tonight."
Caldwell (8-2) travels to St. Francis (10-0) for the quarterfinals while Central Plains ends with a 6-2 record.
Michael Menges gained 130 yards to spark a 228-yard ground game. Michael Laymon passed for 94 yards and rushed for 53 yards.
Bristor shocked Central Plains twice with kickoff returns for touchdowns before the Oilers battled to a 22-22 halftime tie. Bristor sprinted 68 yards on the opening kickoff and hustled 67 yards on his second return.
"We didn't come ready to play and that was evident on the opening kickoff," Steiner said.
The Oilers forged a halftime tie by running 40 plays to 19 offensive snaps by the Bluejays. Cole Lamatsch scored on a 5-yard run to cap an opening 47-yard drive. Michael Laymon scored on a 4-yard run to finish an 11-play, 65-yard drive for a 16-14 score.
Caldwell answered with a lightning quick 3-play, 72-yard drive. Bristor caught a 44-yard pass and Smith gained 25 yards to set up Strnad's 3-yard touchdown.
The Oilers rallied with a 13-play, 56-yard scoring drive capped by Michael Laymon's 1-yard touchdown. Laymon converted the 2-point play for a 22-22 tie.
Michael Laymon intercepted a pass and Matthew Donecker made a key tackle to stop two Caldwell drives. Cole Lamatsch and William Laymon each accounted for 11 tackles.
Central Plains 14 8 6 6 — 34
Caldwell 16 6 0 14 — 36
C—Dawson Bristor 68 kickoff return (Deiondre Smith run)—11:40
CP—Cole Lamatsch 5 run (run failed)—6:37
C—Bristor 67 kickoff return (Trey Strnad run)—6:15
C—Michael Laymon 4 run (Karter Beck pass from M. Laymon)—1:31
C—Strnad 3 run (pass failed)—0:50
CP—M. Laymon 1 run (M. Laymon run)—3:38
CP—Michael Menges 3 run (pass failed)—1:12
CP—Menges 3 run (run failed)—11:18
C—Strnad 10 pass from Smith (Smith run)—9:10
C—Jade Stow 7 pass from Smith (run failed)—1:27
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—CP—57-228; Michael Menges 30-136, M. Laymon 15-53, Lamatsch 7-20, Dawson McNeal 5-10; C—31-124; Smith 21-109, Strnad 7-13, Stow 3-2
PASSING—CP—M. Laymon 10-16-1, 94; Lamatsch 0-1-1; C—Smith 10-16-1, 145
RECEIVING—CP—Menges 5-53, Lamatsch 4-43; McNeal 1-(-2); C—Bristor 3-84, Stow 3-39, Strnad 4-22
