BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

CHASE — Pawnee Heights football coach Ty Josefiak witnessed the range of emotions from sadness, excitement and pure pride.

The Tigers honored a teammate Rylan Reece, who passed away recently by competing and battling past the Chase Kats 76-48 in a wild Thursday 6-man football shootout.

"I'm proud of the way they fought through injuries and cramps," Josefiak said. "We completed with a lot of players who handled themselves really well. The guys were excited, but exhausted."

Sports in Kansas posted, "The Tigers honored Rylan with a 76-48 victory over Chase, but this night represented far more than a final score. It was teammates standing together, a school supporting its students and a community continuing to honor and remember one of its own. Our thoughts remain with Rylan’s family, friends, teammates and the entire Pawnee Heights community."

Thomas Boese's fumble recovery helped the Tigers score three touchdowns in the final three minutes of the first half. Cooper Josefiak and Kale Amspacker combined for 10 touchdowns and Kaden Jones scored a touchdown in the victory.

Center Boese joined ends Roberto Cordero and Kale Hagerman, Bradlee Froetscher and Logan Nava up front.

"We ran the football extremely well. Our tailback Cooper (Josefiak) carried the load, and Kale (Amspacker) ran great when Cooper missed time," Josefiak said. "The guys blocked really after halftime. We settled in and played football."

Chase lightning-fast tailback Malik Carson scored five touchdowns and rushed for a school record 325 yards on 13 carries. Quarterback Aiden Hunter completed a 22-yard touchdown pass to Carlos Rincon and a 48-yard scoring strike to Elvis Martinez.

Martinez contributed 13 tackles and Hunter delivered 11 tackles.

"Carson is the fastest back we'll see," Josefiak said. "Chase kept battling. Their quarterback has improved."

Pawnee Heights 14 21 14 27 — 76

Chase 9 6 26 7 — 48

C—Safety; PH—TD (1-pointer); PH—Cooper Josefiak TD (Kale Amspacker run); PH—TD (1-pointer); PH—Amspacker TD (1 pointer); PH—Kaden Jones TD (Kale Hagerman run)

C—Carson TD; C—Carson TD; C—Carson TD; C—Carson TD; C—Carson TD; C—Rincon 22 pass from Hunter; C—Martinez 48 pass from Hunter

RSUHING—Chase—Carson 13-325; Rincon 1-25

PASSING—Chase—Huter 4-9, 72

RECEIVING—Chase—Martinez 1-48; Rincon 1-22