Denied 2-pointer gives Tigers district title

PAOLA — Zarek Fewell has become well-known throughout the state this season because of his offensive prowess. He came into Friday night’s game here as the leading rusher in Class 4A-Division I and had already become one of few players to ever score at least 20 touchdowns for a Southeast Kansas League team in a season.

But in this Class 4A-Division I District 3 game, Fewell’s biggest contribution was on defense as he stopped a Paola runner on a 2-point conversion attempt with 26 seconds remaining in the contest to preserve a 27-26 victory.

With the win, the Tigers clinched the district championship, their first since 2014, as they hold the tie-breakers over the two teams who could catch them, Paola and Louisburg. In fact, Paola faces the Wildcats, 42-19 winners over Ottawa behind a 5-touchdown night from Austin Moore, at Louisburg next Friday night for second place in the district and the lone remaining playoff spot out of it.

The Tigers (2-0 district, 6-2 overall) reclaimed the lead with 3:23 left in the contest when quarterback Jesse Jones found receiver Matt Campbell from 15 yards out on a third-and-8 pass. Juba Foul kicked the extra point to make it 27-20.

Connor Hasz returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards for Paola to Fort Scott’s 44-yard line. From there, the Panthers (1-1, 6-2) ran it downfield, getting first-and-goal at the 3. Colton Gleghorn gained 2 yards, then Paola had to recover a fumble when it tried a quarterback sneak on second down. Gleghorn got the ball again on third down and plunged into the end zone with 26 seconds to play.

After each team called a time out, the Panthers decided to go with their strength and run the ball. But Fewell was there on the edge and stopped the play.

Gleghorn rushed for 190 yards and two scores on 39 carries. Fewell got 189 yards and two touchdowns on 22 rushes. His two scores put him at 23 for the season, which ties him for 10th place on the SEK’s single-season touchdown list with three others.

Fewell didn’t score on the Tigers’ first offensive play of the game, as he had the last two weeks. He had to wait until Fort Scott’s second possession when he went in from 37 yards out. Foul’s PAT kick made it 7-0.

Paola quarterback Kurt Golubski scored the first of his two touchdowns on a quarterback sneak on the first play of the second quarter but Ty Gorman broke through to block the extra point. The major score was set up by a 20-yard completion from Golubski to Brandon Wilkes on a fourth-and-6 play from the Fort Scott 25.

The Tigers extended the lead when Jessie Lawrence ran in from 21 yards out with 8:21 left in the half. This time, Foul missed the PAT and so it remained 13-6.

Golubski ran in again, this time from 7 yards out, with 4:06 left in the half. This time, the kick was good to tie the score.

Fewell did score on the Tigers’ first offensive play of the second half on a 73-yard run. Foul’s kick made it 20-13.

Paola keyed on Fewell from that point on and he managed only 13 yards on his last 7 carries.

Gleghorn scored his first touchdown with 7:07 left in the game and the kick was successful to tie the score again at 20-20.

Paola finished with 19 first downs in the game and 314 yards of total offense. Fort Scott had 8 first downs and 279 total yards.

The Tigers will host Ottawa (0-2, 1-7) Friday night.

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FORT SCOTT....................... 7 6 7 7 — 27

PAOLA............................... 0 13 0 13 — 26

Scoring plays

First quarter

FS — Fewell 37 run (Foul kick), 5:28

Second quarter

P — Golubski 1 run (kick blocked), 11:57

FS — J.Lawrence 21 run (kick failed), 8:21

P — Golubski 7 run (Wokutch kick), 4:06

Third quarter

FS — Fewell 73 run (Foul kick), 8:42

Fourth quarter

P —Gleghorn 3 run (Wokutch kick), 7:07

FS —Campbell 15 pass from Jones (Foul kick), 3:23

P — Gleghorn 1 run (run failed), :26

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Fort Scott — Fewell 22-189, J.Lawrence 2-22, Jones 3-10, Michaud 1-2. Paola — Gleghorn 39-190, Golubski 17-66, Smith 6-24, Hasz 2-4.

PASSING: Fort Scott — Jones 4-10-0-58. Paola — Golubski 2-8-0-30, Gleghorn 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING: Fort Scott — Campbell 3-35, J.Lawrence 1-23. Paola — Wilkes 2-30.

MISSED FIELD GOALS: None.