In the trenches the linemen wait for the snap of the ball.
The seniors from both teams meet up before the “Atchison County Super Bowl” begins.
Return man Gabe Minter #2 tries to get to the outside as Aaron Schlueter #64 wraps up.
Running back Braden Graves #32 takes the ball down the field.
East Atchison (EA) traveled to the west side of the county on Friday night to play Rock Port (RP) in what has become the Super Bowl of Atchison County. The stadium was full for the showdown.
The Wolves set the tone early and never looked back. To start, EA elected to receive the opening kick-off. With a short kick, EA would start on their own 36 yard line where senior quarterback Jake McEnaney hit sophomore receiver Josh Smith. Smith dodged one defender and took it 44 yards for a touchdown. Freshman runningback Braden Graves’ two-point conversion was good.
Joey Herron caught the kick-off from the Wolves and brought it back to EA’s 39 yard line before an illegal block was called and the ball was moved back to the Blue Jay 21 yard line. Runningback Joey Herron would pick up 10 yards, but it would get called back on a holding penalty. This gave the Jays the ball first and 12 from the 18 yard line. Herron and fullback Colten Stevens would manage to pick up the first down before the Jays were stopped on a fourth and five. The Wolves took over on Rock Port’s 38 yard line. Ian Hedlund, lined up in the fullback position, took the handoff from quarterback Jake McEnaney. Hedlund picked up eight on the play. EA moved the ball to the three yard line before Graves would add the second touchdown on the night. Graves’ two-point conversion pass from McEnaney was good, bringing the score to 0-14.
Gabe Minter was back deep to receive for the Jays, but he would get taken down on the 10 yard line. Freshman runningback Micah Makings would get little or no gain on a dive off the left side. Going to the air, quarterback Alex Burke threw a pass to receiver Gabe Abbott; however, Gabe Minter was hit before the ball arrived giving the Jays a first down with the penalty. Burke’s next pass would get picked off by EA’s defensive back Gus Hurst on their 30 yard line.
Jake McEnaney took full advantage with a dart to Hedlund for a 50 yard touchdown reception. McEnaney’s two-point conversion to Smith was good making the score 0-24 with 2:36 left in the first quarter.
Gabe Minter returned the ensuing kick-off to the 27 yard line before getting hit out of bounds. With the penalty the Jays got the ball on the 37 yard line. Stevens and Burke would move the ball to the Wolves’ 32 before time ran out in the first quarter. The next two runs were for losses and a penalty followed so the Jays were forced to punt the ball.
The Wolves brought the ball to the 19 yard line. With runs by Graves and McEnaney and receptions by Hurst and Smith, the Wolves moved the ball to the 10 yard line where quarterback Jake McEnaney kept the ball for a 10 yard touchdown run. Hurst’s two-point conversion reception from McEnaney was good, making the score 0-32.
The Jays’ next series was unsuccessful, gaining little to no yards and forcing a three and out.
The Wolves ran two off-tackle plays before running a screen that was picked off by Rock Port defensive lineman Kade Jones on the EA 20 yard line.
The Blue Jays found some success when quarterback Alex Burke hit tight end Trey Peshek on a 10 yard curl pattern. Peshek managed to take the ball to the one yard line. Two plays later fullback Colten Stevens punched it in for six points, Micah Makings’ two-point conversion was good. This brought the score to 8-32. That would end the first half.
Rock Port would receive the ball to start the second half. The Wolves’ defense held the Jays to another three and out, forcing a punt. Wasting no time, McEnaney hit Hurst in a crossing pattern. He took the ball to the Jays’ 10 yard line before getting brought down. The next play quarterback McEnaney would keep the ball and find the endzone for six. McEnaney’s two-point conversion was good bringing the score to 8-40.
The Jays went to the air and started moving the ball down to the 25 yard line of EA, before turning it over on downs.
In seven plays, EA moved the ball down the field, before runningback Braden Graves punched it in from three yards out. McEnaney’s two-point conversion was good bringing the score to 8-48.
Rock Port would go to the air one last time. Quarterback Alex Burke hit Gabe Minter for the last first down on the night, but the Wolves’ defense held once again forcing the Jays to punt.
On the next play, McEnaney would hit Hedlund for a great catch and touchdown run that would get called back for taunting. The ball was placed on the four yard line where quarterback Jake McEnaney would end the game on a keeper. The final score was EA 54, Rock Port 8.
