WILDCATS SEASON DONE, LOSE TO SMITH CENTER

LOST 14-22, FINISH 8-3

By Staff

          While it seemed like the season would continue for three quarters, Moundridge gave up one big run in the final quarter and lost to Smith Center, 14-22, in the Class 1A Sectional State Playoffs, closing their 2025 season.

          Smith Center, who came into the game ranked fifth in Class 1A and unbeaten, will now play undefeated and third ranked Sterling in the state semi-finals. If the Redmen win, they will play the winner of a matchup between top ranked and unbeaten (11-0) Jackson Heights and Rossville, 10-1 and ranked fourth, in the state championship game.

          Ironically, one of Moundridge’s two other losses came early in the season to Sterling, the team to face Smith Center on Friday, while the other loss was to county rival Inman, a loss they took back with a win over the Teutons in the state playoffs.

          Moundridge scored first in the game Friday with Smith Center, taking an early 7-0 lead on a 16-yard run and a Cyrus Blough extra point kick. Smith Center came back and punched a run into the end zone and after making a two-point conversion, they took back the lead 7-8 heading into the second quarter of action.

          The Redmen added a long scoring run in the second quarter to take a 7-14 advantage on the scoreboard into the halftime break. After halftime, the Wildcats fought back and when Paul Grill sprinted into the end zone from ten-yards out, after another Cyrus Blough extra point kick, Moundridge took a 14-14 tie into the fourth quarter with Smith Center.

          Smith Center scored and added a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter, giving Moundridge the final 14-22 loss.

          Directing the Moundridge offense at quarterback, Kaizer Kanitz, completed seven-of-twenty-two passes for 56 yards while Paul Grill led the running attack with 69 yards on 17 carries. The Wildcats ran 66 plays on offense and rolled up 272 yards total with 16 first downs while making five-of-seven fourth down attempts.

          Paul Grill, Easton Shahan, and Logan Wulf led the Moundridge defensive unit with seven, seven, and six tackles, respectively despite giving up 297 yards in offense to Smith Center on 48 offensive snaps.

FRIDAY, NOV. 14 vs. Smith Center at 8-Man Division I state playoffs.

SCORING = Wildcats lost 14-22

Wildcats = 7-0-7-0 = 14; Smith Center = 8-6-0-8 = 22

1ST QUARTER:

Wildcats = Scored on a 16-yard run (Cyrus Blough kick) 7-0

Smith Center = Scored on a 5-yard run (ran for 2-point conversion) 7-8

2ND QUARTER:

Smith Center = Scored on a 61-yard run (2-point conversion failed) 7-14

3RD QUARTER:

Wildcats = Paul Grill scored on a 10-yard run (Cyrus Blough kick) 14-14

4TH QUARTER:

Smtih Center = Scored on an 8-yard run (Ran for 2-point conversion) 14-22

TEAM STATS:

Wildcats = Total Offense (plays/yds) – 66/272; Passing Yards – 56; Rushing Yards – 216; 1st Downs – 16; 3rd Downs (made/atts) – 2/12; 4th Downs (made/atts) – 5/7; Fumbles Lost – 0; Interceptions thrown – 0; Penalties (#/-yds) – 7/-50.

Smith Center = Total offense (plays/yds) – 48/297; Passing Yards – 35; Rushing Yards – 262; 1st Downs – 15; 3rd Downs (made/atts) – 3/9; 4th Downs (made/atts) – 2/2; Fumbles Lost – 1; Interceptions thrown – 0; Penalties (#/-yds) – 1/-10.

WILDCAT INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS:

Passing (comp/atts/yds/td/int) = Kaizer Kanitz – 7/22/56/0/0; Easton Shahan – 0/1/0/0/0.

Rushing (atts/yds/td) = Paul Grill – 17/69/1; Brayden Elmore – 2/8/0; Logan Greenwalt – 2/5/0; Others – 16/135/1.

Receiving (rec/yds/td) = Easton Shahan – 1/11/0; Paul Grill – 1/5/0; Others – 5/40/0.

Defense (tackles) = Paul Grill – 7; Easton Shahan – 7; Logan Wulf – 6; Brayden Elmore – 5; Thomas Jenkins – 4; Fynn Burge – 4; William Broemmer – 2; Other – 28.

(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at macks.people.places@gmail.com)