Wildcats End Coffeyville’s Season

by Jim Woods

In a football contest worthy of a regional playoff game, the Louisburg Wildcats defeated an evenly matched Coffeyville Field Kindly Golden Tornadoes 29-26 Saturday night at Wildcat Stadium. It was untimely turnovers by both teams that determined the winner, with the Wildcats coming out on top and advancing to sectional play against Perry-Lecompton next Friday night.

In the first quarter it appeared the Wildcats would have no trouble with the Tornadoes of Coffeyville, quickly scoring on a 65 yard pass from quarterback Kody Cook to receiver Cris Cook taking a 7-0 lead with only two minutes elapsed in the game. The Tornadoes offense began having to punt after three consecutive three and outs. Shortly more than four minutes later, it was Ryan “run-away” Roberts scoring on a first and five to make the score 14-0 in favor of the Wildcats. At that point, it did not look good for Coffeyville.

The beginning of the second quarter, a pass interference call against the Wildcats gave the Tornadoes their first, first down of the game. However, their next play resulted in a Chris Cook Louisburg interception. Not able to move the ball, the Wildcats had to punt with 9:26 remaining in the second quarter. At that point, Coffeyville came alive and looked like playoff contender. They scored on a pass from junior quarterback Ethan Corday to wide receiver Cameron Craig to make the score 14-6. The Tornadoes extra point failed.

With 1:58 remaining in the 2nd quarter, a foolish Louisburg personal foul gave Coffeyville a 15 yard advance and first down, leading to a Cordray to senior Cris Caresio 28 yd pass for Coffeyville’s second touchdown. The Tornadoes were unsuccessful on a two point conversion attempt, and the half time score was 14-12.

The second half began with a muffed snap on a Coffeyville punt, deep in their own territory. With a little more than two minutes having elapsed, on first down, freshman Garrett Griffin rushed for 10 yards to make the score 21-7, Louisburg.

Coffeyville was not done. Midway through the third period, facing fourth and four, the Tornadoes gambled [after all it is a play off game] and converted to keep an important drive moving. It resulted in keeping the chains moving, and after a couple of exchanges in possession, Coffeyville scored on a half yard run to make the score 21-8 with 58 seconds remaining in the third period. The two point conversion again failed and the score remained 21-18.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, a Wildcat bad snap for a seven yard loss and a short punt gave the Tornadoes another chance to win. In two minutes Coffeyville scored, and with 9:46 remaining in the game took the lead for the first time, making the score 26-21 in their favor.

To the Wildcats credit, they did not let down and came back and played like a team who deserved to be in the playoffs and win. Griffin scored again on a third and one with 6:40 left on the clock, and Louisburg successfully went for two, to make the score 29-26.

The excitement was not over. Louisburg intercepted a Coffeyville pass with 1:57 left in the game and then the Wildcats gave the ball back to the Tornadoes, deep in Wildcat territory on a fumble with 1:33 left in the game. At that point, Coffeyville was out of time outs and was unable to mount a drive that could win the game.

Louisburg prevailed in a hard fought football game based on control of the defensive line of scrimmage by their four down lineman, Ryan Dvorak, Kyle Nauman, Nathan Phillips and Patrick Dixon, who perhaps haven’t received the credit due them all season. The Wildcats are now 8-3 Regional Champions and move on to Sectional play against Perry-LeCompton next Friday at Louisburg.