BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
ROZEL — Pawnee Heights returns to the 6-man state football championship game after a 53-47 overtime victory over Weskan. Tailback Kade Scott rescued the Tigers with six touchdowns and 293 yards rushing.
The Tigers qualify for Saturday’s 6-man state championship against Cheylin (6-2). Kickoff is 4 p.m. Saturday at Dodge City’s Memorial Stadium. Weskan beat the Tigers 36-18 in last year’s title game.
“We set a goal last year to be back in the championship game and we’ve accomplished every goal,” said Pawnee Heights coach Jeff Chambers. “We were fortunate to win last week. We’ll have our guys ready this week.”
The Tigers learned a valuable lesson about respecting their opponent after beating Weskan 51-6 in their first meeting.
“We learned to never take a team lightly because they thought it would be easy,” Chambers said. “Weskan gave it their best shot. We finally realized the second game was a lot different.”
Weskan back Bailey McQuillan keyed the Coyotes after missing the first game.
“Give Weskan credit because they threw every trick play at us,” Chambers said. “But our guys proved they had what it takes to rally back. Our guys got the job done in overtime.’
Tiger TB Kade Scott (1,625 yards, 30 TDs) is averaging 232 yards per game. FB Dalton Hamby (332 yards), QB Trace Baker (532 yards, 7 TDs) and C Caleb Karst (233 yards receiving, 5 TDs) lead the offense. Baker averages 13 tackles.
Pawnee Heights defeated Cheylin 52-26 in their first meeting Sept. 29. Scott rushed for 250 yards and five touchdowns. RB Manuel Castillo scored two touchdowns and Cheylin gained 302 yards rushing. The teams combined for 804 yards.
Cheylin’s Castillo (1,395 yards, 23 TDs) and QB Colton McCarty (801 passing, 10 TDs; 615 rushing, 12 TDs) key the Cougars’ offense averaging 288 yards rushing and 78 yards passing.
PAWNEE HEIGHTS PLAYOFF HISTORY (6-5)
2017—6, Pawnee Heights 54, Weskan 47
2016—6, Pawnee Heights 73, Natoma 6; Pawnee Heights 42, Golden Plains 38; Weskan 36, Pawnee Heights 18
2008—8-D2—Pawnee Heights 52, Sharon Springs 26; Moscow 32, Pawnee Heights 30
2007—8-D1—Pawnee Heights 22, Palco 16; Pawnee Heights 42, Pretty Prairie 26; Macksville 38, Pawnee Heights 34
1993—8-D2—Claflin 50, Pawnee Heights 0
1980—8, Hanston 38, Pawnee Heights 16
PAWNEE HEIGHTS (8-0)
Coach Jeff Chambers
W—Western Plains, 51-0
W—Golden Plains, 54-6
W—Natoma, 2-0
W—Weskan, 51-6
W—Cheylin, 52-26
W—Wheatland-Grinell, 47-0
W—Folwerm 63-0
W—Weskan, 53-47, OT
PAWNEE HEIGHTS TIGERS
2—Junior Cordero, RB-LB
8—Caleb Karst, FB-DE-K
15—Dalton Hamby, C-NG-DE
18—Logan Williams, NG-DE
20—Trace Baker, QB-DE-OLB
22—Kade Scott, FB-MLB
28—Gage Myers, RB-S
30—Carlos Cordero. OL-DL
33—Gabe Oddo, TE-NG-OLB
40—Shawn Peterson, FB-LB
50—Aden Gilliland, OL-DL
55—Jackson Henbest, C-TE-DE
89—Preston Stonebarger, DE-NG
CHEYLIN (6-2)
Coach Chris Walden
L—Weskan 32-40
W—Wheatland-Grinnell 53-28
W—Golden Plains, 72-31
W—Fowler, 79-34
L—Pawnee Heights 26-52
W—Western Plains 40-0
W—Natoma 2-0
W—Golden Plains 38-27
CHEYLIN COUGARS
2—Andrew Shields, TE-DE
5—Colton McCarty, QB-DB
10—Elisar Cortez, OL-DL
11—Miguel Gonzalez, C-DL
12—Erik Perez, QB-LB
15—Sam Rodriguez, RB-DB
20—Laren Mellinger, TE-DE
21—Louis Reynoso, RB-LB
30—Joseph Melton, OL-DL
31—Tyler Sabatka, RB-DB
33—Manuel Castillo, HB-LB
34—Jordan Janike, TE-DL
42—Alex Dart, TE-DL
51—Gus Hespe, TE-LB
52—Jacob Serrano, C-DL
