FSMS 7th grade hangs on with goal-line stand

FSMS running back Nate Adams scores the game’s only touchdown on this six-yard run in the fourth quarter of Thursday evening’s seventh-grade football game against Pittsburg. The seventh graders won 6-0 while the eighth grade lost in the nightcap 38-8.

Scott Nuzum/Tribune

Fort Scott Middle School’s seventh graders held off Pittsburg with a goal-line stand in the game’s dying seconds Thursday night at Frary Field, holding on for a 6-0 win over the Purple Dragons.

The game was scoreless at halftime as the defenses dominated. The only score of the contest came on the first play of the fourth quarter when Nate Adams carried the ball in from six yards out, bursting through a big hole carved out by the offensive line up the middle, then fighting through a tackle to plunge into the end zone eight seconds into the period. The 2-point conversion was unsuccessful.

Pittsburg’s returner touched the ball on the ensuing kickoff, which then went out of bounds at the Dragons’ own 19-yard line. However, Pittsburg ran the ball steadily upfield. One pass play helped the cause as it gained 29 yards to get the ball down to the 13-yard line with 1:25 to go.

The Dragons got the ball down to the 2-yard line with less than 30 seconds remaining and the clock running. They tried a run up the middle but it gained only one yard and time ran out before Pittsburg could regroup for another play.

Up until the final drive, the Tiger defense had played well — before rising up at the goal line when it needed to. Pittsburg drove 81 yards on the 18-play final drive but had managed only 46 yards in the 22 plays before that.

Fort Scott’s offense slugged out 60 yards of total offense on 23 plays. Quarterback Hayden Harris completed 2 of 3 passes, both to Garrett Seely, for 22 yards. Adams gained 34 yards rushing on 13 carries.

With the win, the Tigers evened their record at 2-2.

FSMS plays at Labette County at 5 p.m. next Thursday in Altamont.