Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
The Kimball High Longhorn Football Team suffered a 62-20 loss to the visiting Garden County Eagles in the season opener for both teams in 8-man football action this past weekend. It took parts of two days to get the game completed as the contest was called off Friday evening due to lightning delays that wouldn't go away.
After a 30 minute delay to the start of the game Friday, the game got underway at around 7:30 p.m., but was handled again due to lightning with 4:15 remaining in the first quarter of play. While the Administration waited to see if the weather would clear, a final decision was given at 9:30 p.m. to postpone play until Saturday evening at 6 p.m.
When play began on Saturday, the contest began right where it had halted on Friday, with 4:15 showing on the clock, 1st quarter, and the score tied at 6-6. The Eagles had taken the kickoff Friday night on a quick drive to the end zone with Cole Cross going in from 11 yards out with the clock showing 9:33.
Kimball tied the game on a 49 yard touchdown pass play from Brendan
Walker to Jacob Withrow, and like Garden County, the Longhorns failed to convert the PAT leaving the game tied at 6-6, and that was the final play of the night as it was at this point
it was halted, with 4:15 to play, 1st quarter. When play began Saturday evening, it didn't take Garden County long to establish themselves in taking a quick lead as Chesney Stanczyk finished a 56 yard drive with a 3 yard touchdown run and Austin Dormann ran in the 2 point conversion to put the
Eagles on top 14-6, the score at the quarter break.
Stanczyk scored again in the 2nd period to increase the lead to 20-6 with a 6 yard carry. Lots of scoring by the Eagles in the 2nd quarter, but Kimball tried to keep pace with their passing game as Walker connected with Beau Hanks on a 48 yard touchdown pass to make it 20-12.
The Eagles returned the ensuing kickoff for a 75 yard TD and ran in the conversion to go up 36-12, and then following a Kimball punt by Christian Van Pelt to the Eagle 4 yard line, Stanczyk broke loose on the very next play for a 76 yard touchdown run that closed out first half scoring with Garden County leading 42-12.
Kimball scored first to start the second half with Walker connecting with Beau Hanks once again on a 10 yard scoring strike to close to 42-20 when the PAT pass failed.
The Eagles would score twice more in the 3rd period on a 17 yard run by Austin Formann and a 9 yard pass from Dormann to Dillon Christansen with Stanczyk running in the PAT to lead 56-20 heading into the final quarter with a running clock due to the 35 point margin rule.
The winners would score once more in the final period on an 8 yard run by Ty Cross to account for the final tally of 62-20.
A big night for Stanczyk, as the 170 pound junior rushed 20 times for 258 yards and scored 3 touchdowns. Austin Dormann had 72 yards on 15 carries and scored a touchdown. Cole Cross ended up with 64 yards on 6 carries with 1 touchdown and Ty Cross had 27 yards on 3 carries with a touchdown.
The Eagles kept the ball on the ground throwing only 2 passes and completing 1 for a 9 yard•touchdown. The Eagles had 426 yards total offense on 50 plays compared to 240 for Kimball on 46 plays. Kimball was the larger team on the field but Garden County was quicker and more aggressive overall. The Longhorns had some success throwing with senior Brendan Walker completing 9 of 14 attempts for 144 yards and 3 touchdowns.
The Horns had 96 yards rushing on 32 attempts. Kimball held their penalties to 3 for 20 yards compared to 4 for 40 for Garden County. Kimball had 2 turnovers on interceptions and just 1 for the winners, on a lost fumble.
Ethan Ratzlaff led Kimball's rushing with 55 yards on 15 carries and showed some aggressive running as did Christian Allen-VanPelt with 16 yards on 3 rushes. Austin Lulf also played with gusto and led the receiving with 4 catches for 23 yards. Jacob Withrow had 3 catches for 63 yards and 1 touchdown, and Beau Hanks had 2 catches, for 58 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Lulf and Withrow had some good kick returns.
Lulf also led the Kimball defensive stats with 5 solo tackles and 5 assists. Allen-VanPelt had 5 solo stops, Ethan Ratzlaff 4 tackles and 2 assists, Beau Hanks was 3 and 3, Javon Coyle 2 and , Jacob Withrow 2 and 3, Brayden Tyan 2 and 2, Stephen Bateman 2 and 1, Izaak Rohde 2 solo tackles, Brendan Walker 1 and 1, Dakota Lewis, Trey Schindler, and Justin Klosterman all had solo stops.
Kimball was without the services of senior lineman Ethan Greenwood, who was sitting out with a groin pull. Javon Coyle looked good Friday night but didn't play on Saturday as he nursed injuries, and several Kimball players were in and out all Saturday night with what appeared to be minor injuries. The Horns have a bye week this week and will return to play September 13 at Southwest with kickoff time at 6 p.m. Mountain Standard time. This gives them a week to heal up some of those injuries.
Garden County 16 28 14 6---62
Kimball 6 6 8 0---20