BY BUDDY TABLER
Special to the Tribune
PRATT -- The Pratt Greenbacks scored an amazing 48 points in the second quarter en route to a 70-0 thrashing of the Larned Indians Friday. The game's start was delayed 45 minutes by rain and lightning.
Five second-quarter Larned turnovers were converted to points in a disastrous second quarter. Three interceptions and two lost fumbles led to Larned trailing at halftime 64-0.
Larned played without quarterback Carson Shaver, who is out four weeks with a broken finger. Backup Mason Miller performed well with six completions.
Larned had scoring chances. Miller delivered perfect passes in the hands of two receivers, but both were dropped.
The Larned running game was stymied by Pratt's defensive line. Jimmy Gardner gained 39 yards.
“We’ve just got to get better," said Larned coach Brady Keith. "I’ve never seen a game where there were so many turnovers returned for scores. It was a weird night. We have to play with more fire and intensity. Now, we’ve got to get ready for Russell next week.”
Pratt's Owen Schmidt, a 5-10, 160-pound back and defensive back for the Greenbacks enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime experience as he scored six first-half touchdowns. He returned two interceptions and two fumbles for scores. He scored on a 9-yard run and a 66-yard pass.
The game started positively for Larned. The passing of Mason Miller and the running of Jimmy Gardner moved to the Pratt 34-yard line with a 6-minute drive. Pratt's first methodical drive ended with Taye Wilson's 9-yard run. Wilson's 77-yard touchdown run led to a 16-0 lead.
In order, Pratt scored on a “Pick Six” interception by Schmidt, a second “Pick Six” by Schmidt, a 66-yard touchdown pass to Schmidt, a 6-yard touchdown run by Kollyn Strong, a returned fumble run of 40 yards by Schmidt, a 6-yard fumble return by Schmidt and a 16-yard touchdown run by Schmidt.
The scoreboard exhaustively showed Pratt 64, Larned 0, 23 seconds before halftime.
The second half was played with a running clock and reserves for both teams played most of the rest of the game.
The only scoring in the second half came with 1:40 remaining in the game when Pratt’s backup quarterback, Yasir Gonzalez scampered 8 yards for a touchdown.
The 70-0 victory by Pratt tied the record for the most lopsided victory in this long-standing rivalry. On September 29, 2000, Pratt defeated Larned 70-0 at Pratt. If Pratt had been successful on the extra-point kick, it would have set a new record.
Pratt, now 3-0, will host Chaparral on Friday while Larned, 1-2 will host the Russell Broncos, also 1-2, for the Indians’ Homecoming events. Kickoff is scheduled for 7pm.
Larned 0 0 0 0 -- 0
Pratt 16 48 0 6 -- 70
P--Taye Wilson 9 run (Wilson run); P--Wilson 77 run (Winsor run); P--Owen Schmidt 40 interception return (kick fails); P--Schmidt 47 interception return (Thibault kick); P--Schmidt 56 pass from Cresten Pore (Thibault kick); P--Collyn Strong 6 run (Thibault kick); P--Schmidt 6 fumble return (Thibault kick); P--Schmidt 40 fumble return (Thibault kick); P--Schmidt 16 run (Thibault kick); P--Gonzalez 8 run (kick fails)
