WILDCATS NIPPED IN PLAYOFFS

LOSE BY 10, 36-26

By Staff

MOUNDRIDGE – The storybook ending for first-year head coach Tyler O’Connor and the Moundridge football team did not go as hoped as they were nipped in the 8-Man Division I State Playoffs by Chase County by 10 points on Friday, losing 36-26.

It was the first loss of the season for the Wildcats, leaving them with a final mark of 9-1.

“It was a hard-fought game in the trenches and momentum played a huge role in the game,” noted Wildcat head coach Tyler O’Connor. “Chase County is a hard-nosed team and was extremely physical all night. We fought hard all night and kept ourselves in it throughout the night. Much credit to Chase County in a hard-fought win.”

After Moundridge scored early with a 38-yard run by Henry Hecox, Chase County took the ensuing kickoff back for a score and then followed up with a long pass play for another score, giving the Bulldogs a 14-6 edge at the end of the first quarter.

Both teams scored in the second quarter, leaving the Bulldogs with an eight-point, 20-12, lead over the Wildcats heading into the halftime break.

Henry Hecox connected with Kaizer Kanitz for a 60-yard scoring play in the third quarter, making the contest a dead even 20-20 tie heading into the final quarter.

After Hecox scored again on a short run early in the fourth, giving the Wildcats a brief 26-20 advantage, Chase County scored two more times to earn the final 10-point, 36-26 victory to end the Wildcat season.

Moundridge ran 41 offensive plays which was good for 294 yards in the game while the Bulldogs snapped it 71 times good for 342 yards. Both teams played a well-balanced attack as Chase County threw for 139 yards and ran for 203 while Moundridge threw for 128 and ran for 166. The Bulldogs turned the ball over three times with the Wildcats turning it over five, including three on fumbles.

Hecox led the Wildcat offense with 217 yards, 128 throwing and 89 running, while Kreighton Kanitz contributed 169 yards, 72 running the ball and 97 yards on two pass receptions.

Lane Durst led the Wildcat defense recording 12 tackles, with Kreighton Kanitz had eight and both Hecox and Kaizer Kanitz each had six.

First-year Wildcat coach O’Connor concluded his reflections on the game and season by saying, “This year was a great learning experience for everyone. Our kids put the time and effort in week in and week out to put ourselves in position to win games. I am proud of all of them. We only had one senior (Kreighton Kanitz) on the field for Friday’s game and I look forward to next season as we look to continue our success.”

Kreighton Kanitz, the senior transfer from McPherson, and Joaquin Huff (not playing on Friday) were the only seniors on the roster for 2023 as the team was made up of five juniors, 13 sophomores, and six freshmen.

MOUNDRIDGE WILDCAT FOOTBALL

vs. Chase County – 8-Man, Division I Playoffs

(All stats/roster information from Hudl.com)

SCORING > Chase County = 14-6-0-16 = 36; WILDCATS = 6-6-8-6 = 26.

1st Quarter >

WILDCATS > Henry Hecox on a 38-yard run (Conversion Failed) 0-6

Chase County > Scored on a 77-yard kickoff return (Made 2-Point Conversion) 8-6

Chase County > Scored on a 36-yard pass play (Conversion Failed) 14-6

2nd Quarter >

WILDCATS > Kreighton Kanitz on an 8-yard run (Conversion Failed) 14-12

Chase County > Scored on a 29-yard pass play (Conversion Failed) 20-12

3rd Quarter >

WILDCATS > Kaizer Kanitz on a 60-yard pass from Henry Hecox (Hecox to Moddelmog pass for 2-Point Conversion) 20-20

4th Quarter

WILDCATS > Henry Hecox on a 1-yard run (Conversion Failed) 20-26

Chase County > Scored on a 1-yard run (Ran for 2-Point Conversion) 28-26

Chase County > Scored on a 37-yard pass play (Passed for 2-Point Conversion) 36-26

TEAM STATS > Chase WILDCATS

1st Downs > 20 14

Plays/Yards > 71/342 41/294

Passing Yards > 139 128

Rushing Yards > 51/203 30/166

3rd Downs/Made > 17/5 7/5

Fumbles Lost > 1 3

Interceptions > 2 2

Penalties/Yards > 5/17 5/7

WILDCAT INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS >

Passing (comp/atts/yds/td/int) > Henry Hecox – 7/10/128/1/1; Kaizer Kanitz – 0/1/0/0/1.

Rushing (atts/yds/td) > Kreighton Kanitz – 10/72/1; Henry Hecox – 13/89/2; Kaizer Kanitz – 7/25/0.

Receiving (rec/yds/td) > Kaizer Kanits – 2/97/1; Bear Moddelmog – 3/19/0; Kreighton Kanitz – 1/7/0; Fynn Burge – 1/5/0.

Defenses (tackles/solo/assist/sacks) > Lane Durst – 12/12/0/0; Kreighton Kanitz – 8/4/4/0; Henry Hecox – 6/5/1/0; Kaizer Kanitz – 6/4/2/0; Fynn Burge – 5/5/0/0; Bear Moddelmog – 4/3/1/0; Braden DenHartog – 3/2/1/3; Layton Schmidt – 3/3/0/0; Thomas Jenkins – 2/2/0/0.

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