BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
LARNED — The Larned Indians were seven yards away from a chance at an upset victory over unbeaten state-ranked Phillipsburg in the Class 3A state football playoffs. The Panthers survived 14-7 when Larned’s two pass attempts
were batted down.
The Indians (3-8) lost to Phillipsburg 50-0 when the teams met earlier this season.
The Panthers handed the Indians good field position when tthey failed to convert a 4th-and-4 from their own 44-yard line. The Indian defense held and Larned had its chance.
The Indians moved into scoring position on a 22-yard halfback pass from Shevin Martin to Damontay Phillips. When a 12-yard roughing penalty was added, the Indians had a first down at the 12-yard line.
Larned coach A.B. Stokes said the Panthers were stacking so many players on the running game, a pass play was their best option.
“It was open and we took our shot,” Stokes said. “We were just not fortunate. It’s hard to run when they are stacking nine players in the box. We knew has to throw because they were loading up in the box.”
Larned won its first playoff game since 1985 when the Indians upset Cimarron 35-30.
“I couldn’t be more proud of a bunch of young men. They fought their hearts out and gave it everything they had,” said Stokes. “We had a chance to win or tie. We had a 2-point play ready to go. We laid it on the line. We just came up a little short.”
The Indians’ final chance started at their own 29-yard line with 1:38 remaining. Phillipsburg’s Nathan Moon intercepted a desperate Carson Smith pass and the Panthers were finally able to breathe a little easier for the first time.
Larned finished 3-8 after an 0-6 start. Phillipsburg (11-0) plays CKL member Hesston (8-3) at home Friday in the Class 3A quarterfinals.
Larned trailed 7-0 when Anthony McConnell gave the Indians the football with a fumble recovery. Dalton Bright caught a 45-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Carson Smith for a 7-7 tie after Logan Demond’s extra point kick with 8:15 left in the third period. Shevin Martin caught a 39-yard pass from Smith to set up the score.
Phillipsburg back Treylan Gross scored the game-winning touchdown on a 25-yard touchdown with 10:53 left in the game. Gross scored the Panthers’ first touchdown on a 4-yard run after Larned lost a fumble at its own 18-yard line. Jon Hunnacutt added the extra point kick with 10:35 left in the second period,
Larned gained 52 yards rushing and 118 yards passing. Anthony McConnell gained 36 yards and Nate Williams rushed for 35 yeards. Smith completed three passes for 96 yards.
The Panthers gained 328 yards rushing. Kirk Coomes gained 146 yards and Gross added 84 yards.
“We expected a dogfight and we got it,m,” said Phillipsburg coach J.B. Covington. “We knew this would be way different than our first game.”
Buddy Tabler contributed to this article.
PANTHERS 14, INDIANS 7
PHS 0 7 0 7 — 14
Larned 0 0 7 0 — 7
P—Treylan Gross 4 run (Jon Hunnacutt kick), 10:35
L—Dalton Bright 45 pass from Carson Smith (Logan Demond kick), 8:15
P—Gross 25 yd run (Hunnacutt kick), 10:53
RUSHING—Larned 32-52—Anthony McConnell 4-36; Nate Williams 8-35; Kolby Keith 9-16; Johnathan Herter 1-2; Damontay Phillips 1-2; Shevin Martin 2-(-5); Carson Smith 7-(-34); PHS—57-328; Kirk Coomes 19-146; Gross 12-84; Mark Coomes 13-46; John Gower 7-29; Trey Sides 6-23.
PASSING—Larned—Smith 3-12-1, 96; Martin 1-1-0, 22; Phillips 0-1-0; PHS—Sides 0-4-0.
RECEIVING—Larned—Bright 1-45; Martin 1-39; Damontay Phillips 2-34.
LARNED PLAYOFF HISTORY (3-7)
2016, 3A—Larned 35, Cimarron 30; Phillipsburg 14, Larned 7
2013, 4A—Andale 60, Larned 0
1985, 4A—Larned 10, Haven 6; Norton 35, Larned 7; Norton finishes 1st
1982, 4A—Chaparral 23, Larned 14
1977, 3A—Goddard 6, Larned 0
1972, 3A—Goodland 24, Larned 14
1971, 3A—Larned 30, Pratt 28, OT; Wichita Kapaun-Mt. Carmel 28, Larned 14
CLASS 3A
WEST BRACKET
FIRST ROUND
Garden Plain 12, Wichita Independent 7
Halstead 36, SE Saline 22
Hoisington 56, Lakin 13
Norton 28, Marysville 20
Hesston 48, Sterling 8
Chaparral 48, Douglass 16
Phillipsburg 49, Riley County 27
Larned 35, Cimarron 30
SECOND ROUND
Garden Plain 34, Halstead 20
Hoisington 20, Norton 0
Hesston 35, Chaparral 20
Phillipsburg 14, Larned 7
FRIDAY’S SEMIFINALS
Garden Plain 10-1 at Hoisington 11-0, 7 p.m.
Hesston 8-3 at Phillipsburg 11-0, 7 p.m.
EAST BRACKET
FIRST ROUND
Nemaha Central 61, Pleasant Ridge 6
Silver Lake 50, Mission Valley 0
Wellsville 54, Humboldt 6
Galena 42, Fredonia 14
Rossville 41, Perry 14
Sabetha 62, Maur Hill 28
Caney Valley 51, Riverton 14
Osage City 20, Jayawk Linn 14
SECOND ROUND
Nemaha Central 21, Silver Lake 14
Wellsville 27, Galena 22
Rossville 34, Sabetha 28
Caney Valley 43, Osage City 16
FRIDAY’S SEMIFINALS
Wellsville 10-1 at Nemaha Central 11-0, 7 p.m.
Caney Valley 9-2 at Rossville 10-1, 7 p.m.
