Late burst gives Fort Scott victory over LCHS

Herald-Tribune

ALTAMONT, Kan. -- Injuries and suspensions didn't keep the Tigers from striking quickly both early and late in a Southeast Kansas League battle with Labette County at Lucas Field here Friday night.

The Tigers (1-2 SEK, 2-2 overall) scored on their first three possessions in going out to a 20-6 lead. But LCHS fought back to tie the game in the third quarter before Fort Scott exploded for 26 unanswered points in going on to a 46-28 victory.

Fort Scott had to work with a makeshift offensive line due to injuries and suspensions as only two regular starting linemen played.

The Tigers scored just two plays into the contest when Stoughton broke a run over the right side from 65 yards out. Jonathan Karleskint's interception set up the next score, an 18-yard scamper by quarterback Aaron Judy that came at the end of an eight-play, 77-yard drive.

Fort Scott rushed for 141 yards in the first quarter alone, Stoughton for 93 of them.

Labette County, however, always plays the Tigers tough and the Grizzlies answered Fort Scott's second score with their own scoring drive. LCHS drove 60 yards finishing things off with a three-yard plunge by Davy Brown with 1:16 left in the first quarter. The PAT kick failed, so the score remained 12-6 in the Tigers' favor.

Fort Scott answered that score with another one of its own. Judy connected with receiver Brandon Boyd for 34 yards to the Labette County 31 on the first play of the drive. Four plays later, Stoughton scored his second touchdown of the night on an 18-yard run with 11:18 to go in the second quarter.

James Blair, who led LCHS with 114 yards on 20 carries, brought his team within one touchdown with 1:19 left in the half when he scored on a three-yard run over the right side. Quarterback Keaton Turner hit tight end Brannon Green for the two-point conversion.

The Grizzlies tied it at 20-20 on their first possession of the second half when Blair ran outside and found the end zone on a 13-yard play with 8:01 on the clock in the third.

Judy's fumble recovery on a bad LCHS pitch set up the beginning of Fort Scott's scoring explosion. The first six points were scored by backup quarterback Ben Getter as Judy was apparently shaken up on the play before. Gettler, who was faced with a fourth-and-two play, kept the ball down the sideline and scored from 32 yards out to make it 26-20 with 48 seconds left in the third.

The next score was another long run by Stoughton, this one of 57 yards with 10:39 left in the fourth that made it 32-20. Then a long fumble return by Brandon Boyd set up Stoughton's fourth score of the night, a 14-yard jaunt with 10:19 left. Griffin Knopp's extra point made it 39-20.

The defense even got into the act as Gary Floyd intercepted a pass and took it back 48 yards to the house with 9:04 to go to cap the spurt. Knopp again hit the extra point.

Blair posted the game's final score when he went in from two yards out with 3:01 to go. He also ran in the two-point conversion.

Stoughton finished with a career-best 171 yards on just nine carries. This was his fifth 100-yard game, his third of this season. He has rushed for 457 yards and six touchdowns on the season. Judy added 58 yards on seven carries.

Judy -- who later returned to finish the game -- completed five of 11 passes for 86 yards. Floyd caught three passes for 42 yards and Boyd caught two for 40.

The Tigers rained 282 yards on the ground on 27 carries, an average of over 10 yards a rush. The Grizzlies had 275 yards on 50 carries, an average of 5 1/2 yards a run. In total, Fort Scott outgained LCHS, 368-332.

Fort Scott will host Columbus for Homecoming in a Southeast Kansas League battle next Friday night at Frary Field.