NEWTON – The battle of Claflin High classmates swung Victoria High’s way.
The Knights converted a blocked punt and two takeaways into three touchdowns for a 52-8 Eight-Man II state championship victory over the Titans.
“The turnovers were the biggest difference in the football game an gave us the momentum,” said Victoria coach Doug Oberle, who captured his second state title. “Our offensive line did a great job controlling the football game.”
Oberle is a 1989 Claflin High graduate while Argonia-Attica assistant coach Monte Haxton is also a 1989 Claflin High graduate. They were college roommates at Kansas State University and Oberle is married to Haxton’s sister.
“It was a fun run,” Haxton said. “Our kids kept playing hard today.”
Argonia and Attica finished with a 12-1 record after an improbable run to the state championship for the co-op football program. Victoria (12-1) captured its sixth state football championship.
Victoria tailback Bryan Dome rushed for 210 yards and scored on 73- and 32-yard second half touchdowns. Quarterback Brady Dinkel scored three touchdowns.
Victoria led 36-0 at halftime behind a blocked punt by Brady Dinkel, an interception by Noah Dreiling and a fumble recovery by Bryan Dome.
“The turnovers were huge,” said Argonia-Attica co-head coach Luke Greenwood, who leads the Titan offense. “You can’t make turnovers. Victoria played hard and they capitalized on our mistakes.”  
Quarterback Alec McDaniel completed 10 passes for 130 yards and one score, but was under heavy pressure. At one point, Victoria’s Eric McAlonan had three consecutive sacks.
“They came out and shocked us, especially on D,” McDaniel said. “They flew to the football. They did a lot of blitzes and had a lot of penetration. By the time, we got our offense going, it was too late.”
McDaniel completed nine passes the second half for 129 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown to Andrew Mages. Mages caught four passes for 66 yards. Garrett Wells had five catches for 59 yards.
The Titans finished with 757 points as the second-highest team in Kansas eight-man history behind Osborne’s 2013 team.
The Knights swung the early momentum on a poor snap from center on an attempted Titan punt. Dinkel blocked Garrett Wells’ punt. Joe Dortland scored on a 4-yard run for an 8-0 Victoria lead.
Victoria converted twice on fourth down, keyed by a pass to Noah Dreiling for a 14-0 lead after Dinkel’s touchdown run.
Dreiling made the game’s next big play with a 27-yard return of an interception. Dinkel scored three later for a 22-0 lead.
Dinkel capped a 12-play drive for a 30-0 lead and the Titans fumbled the football away on its next two chances. Victoria’s Dreiling forced a fumble that Dome recovered. Taylor Corley caught a tipped pass for a 38-yard touchdown from Dinkel.  
McDaniel completed six consecutive passes at one point to cap a 47-yard drive for the Titans’ score.
Dome capped a second half with his two touchdown runs. The Knights finished with 296 yards rushing on 55 attempts and 62 yards passing.

Kansas Eight-Man Division II
State Championship

Saturday

Newton
Fischer Field

VICTORIA 52, ARGONIA-ATTICA 8

Argonia-Attica      0    0   8   0  –  8
Victoria                14  22  0  16 – 52

SCORING SUMMARY
V—Joe Dortland 4 run (Bryan Dome run); V—Brady Dinkel 3 run (pass failed); V—Dinkel 2 run (Dinkel run); V—Dinkel 1 run (Dome run); V—Taylor Corley 38 pass from Dinkel (Dinkel run); AA—Andrew Mages 19 pass from Alec McDaniel (Garrett Wells pass from McDaniel); V—Dome 73 run (Dome run); V—Dome 32 run (Noah Dreiling pass from Dinkel)