CLAFLIN — With multiple momentum shifts and six turnovers, the first home football game in Central Plains High School history wasn’t pretty at times.
Otis-Bison was able to run away with the game at the end, winning 50-14.
“I tell the kids all the time, it’s like a roller coaster,” Otis-Bison head coach Travis Starr said. “You’re going to have ups and downs. You’re going to put the down plays and get ready for the other plays. We made some good things happen out of bad plays, and our kids kept their heads up and played hard all game.”
Otis-Bison (2-0) jumped ahead quickly, scoring three touchdowns before the Oilers put any points on the board.
A 4-yard run from Dylan Wissman put the Cougars up 8-0 after the first quarter.
After a few three-and-outs, the Oilers found themselves in good field position after a fumbled snap on a punt attempt by Patrick Piper left Central Plains with first-and-goal on the 8-yard line.
However, the Oilers (1-1)failed to seize the opportunity as quarterback Skyler Turner fumbled the ball.
The resulting Cougars possession ended with a 35-yard TD connection between quarterback Trevor Keller and Zach Stejskal.
“We thought we could get some things, and we didn’t do so good in the passing games and that’s our fault,” Starr said of Keller. “I thought he did well. He managed the game well, not only in the passing game, but in the run game. He’s a good leader for us out there.”
Otis-Bison’s next touchdown was a result of two turnovers.
Keller threw an interception to Oilers linebacker Nick Shepmann, who returned the ball to the 18-yard line before fumbling the ball into the arms of Piper. He then returned the fumble 62 yards for the score, putting the Cougars ahead 24-0.
The Oilers, who were held to only 83 rushing yards in the game, found some success throwing the ball.
Turner threw a pass into the arms of Patrick Hubbard for a 47-yard touchdown before the half, making it 24-8.
“We knew that was going to be there,” Oilers head coach Chris Steiner said. “We talked about running that play all week long, double-safety coverage, splitting the middle of it. He throws a good ball. Some poor decisions tonight, but that’s because he was throwing on the run. The protection wasn’t there at times.
“When his protection was there and he could step up into the pocket, he made good throws.”
Turner, who was 0-for-1 passing in the season opener at Word of Life in Wichita, completed eight of 19 passes for 111 yards and one touchdown while throwing four interceptions.
In the third quarter, the Oilers seemed rejuvenated by the first-half touchdown, holding back the Cougars offense while scoring on a 51-yard keeper by Turner.
“We just did the things we were supposed to be doing in the first half, honestly,” Steiner said. “Drew up some things, reminded them that we had those things there. We knew the passing game was there. We just needed to hit some wide open receivers, honestly.
“We dropped some balls we shouldn’t have, and there were a couple of picks we shouldn’t have thrown.”
Otis-Bison scored on the following drive on a 62-yard pass from Keller to Matthew Crotinger, and put the clamps down on the Oilers offense.
Piper ran for two more touchdowns, a 5-yard scamper and a 42-yard run. The Cougars combined for 264 rushing yards with Piper leading the way with 147.
Wissman added 69 yards.
Stejskal also scored in the fourth quarter on a 28-yard interception return.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
At Claflin
Friday
Otis-Bison 50, Central Plains 14
Otis-Bison 8 16 12 14 — 50
Central Plains 0 8 6 0 — 14
First quarter
Otis-Bison — Wissman 4 run (Piper run)
Second quarter
Otis-Bison — Stejskal 35 pass from Keller (Stejskal pass from Keller)
Otis-Bison — Piper 62 fumble return (Wissman run)
Central Plains — Hubbard 47 pass from Turner (Kirmer run)
Third quarter
Central Plains — Turner 51 run (pass fail)
Otis-Bison — Crotinger 62 pass from Keller (run fail)
Otis-Bison — Piper 5 run (run fail)
Fourth quarter
Otis-Bison — Stejskal 28 interception return (Wissman run)
Otis-Bison — Piper 42 run (run failed)
