By Staff for www.mcpherson-county-ks.com

            LITTLE RIVER – Bouncing back from a week one loss, the Little River football team dismantled visiting Rural Vista on Friday while scoring a 57-6 win.

            It was the relentless pressure from the Redskin defense that took control from the opening kickoff in allowing a minus-10 yards in offense on the night for Rural Vista. While the visitors did run the ball 29 times, the Little River iron wall defense held them to a minus-28 yards in doing so, including a whopping nine plays for loss of yardage. Seven Redskins recorded at least one tackle for a loss of yardage with Grant Stephens and Ruxton Birdsong each getting a pair. Stephens also made two blocked kicks in the game as well.

            Little River put a whopping 41 points on the scoreboard in the first quarter that included  a pair of scores by Braden Young and Grant Stephens. Young scored on a seven-yard run as well as a 65-yard punt return while Stephens had a19 yard touchdown run plus taking a 27-yard pass play from Rylan Konen in for a score. Konen had a 16-yard touchdown scamper as well as hitting a 30-yard field goal.

            Kyler Bergkamp took another punt return back for a score for Little River in the second quarter, this time from 45 yards out before Rural Vista managed to get a short three-yard scoring run. The Redskins closed out the scoring when Corbin Herbst scored from four yards out to seal the final 51-point margin of victory.

            Little Rive scored the huge victory while running just 20 plays on offense for only 135 total yards and six first downs.

            Rylan Konen only needed to complete one pass in the game and of course that went for the touchdown to Grant Stephens.

            Running the ball, Stephens led the Redskins with 36 yards, Logan Renken had one run for 29 yards and Corbin Herbst ran for 17.

            Now 1-1 on the season, Little Rive will be at home again next Friday when they play host to Ell-Saline. Ell-Saline will come into the game 2-0 after defeating Hanover 50-14 on Friday.

LITTLE RIVER REDSKINS host Rural Vista

Scoring: Rural Vista 0-6-0-0=6; LITTLE RIVER 41-16-0-0=57

1st Quarter:

LITTLE RIVER: Braden Young 7-yard run (2-Point Conversion was Good) 0-8

LITLE RIVER: Grant Stephens 27-yard pass from Rylan Konen (2-Point Conversion was Good) 0-16

LITTLE RIVER: Rylan Konen 16-yard run (2-Point Conversion Failed) 0-22

LITTLE RIVER: Grant Stephens 19-yard run (2-Point Conversion was Good) 0-30

LITTLE RIVER: Braden Young 65-yard punt return (2-Point Conversion was Good) 0-38

LITTLE RIVER: Rylan Konen 30-yard Field Goal 0-41

2nd Quarter:

LITTLE RIVER: Kyler Bergkamp 45-yard punt return (2-Point Conversion was Good) 0-49

Rural Vista: Scored on a 3-yard run (2-Point Conversion Failed) 6-49

LITTLE RIVER: Corbin Herbst 4-yard run (2-Point Conversion was Good) 6-57

Team Stats:

Rural Vista: 1st Downs – 2; Total Offense – 37 for -10; Rushing – 23 for -28; Passing – 3/9 for 18, 1 interception; Fumbles – 4/3; Penalties – 5 for 35.

LITTLE RIVER: 1st Downs – 6; Total Offense – 20 for 135; Rushing – 14 for 108; Passing – 1/3 for 27, 1 score; Fumbles – 1/1; Penalties – 3 for 15.

LITTLE RIVER INDIVIDUAL STATS:

Passing: Rylan Konen 1/2 for 27, 1 score; Logan Renken 0/1.

Rushing: Grant Stephens 2 for 36; Logan Renken 1 for 29; Corbin Herbst 2 for 17; Rylan Konen 1 for 16; Chris Norez 2 for 9; Braden Young 1 for 7; Kyler Bergkamp 3 for -6.

Receiving: Grant Stephens 1 for 27.

Defense: Rylan Konen – 3; Grant Stephens – 3 with 2 for loss, 2 blocked kicks; Chris Norez – 2 with 1 for loss; Kyler Bergkamp – 2 with 1 for loss; Andrew Smith – 2 with 1 for loss; Ruxton Birdsong – 2 with 2 for loss; Toby Jesseph – 2 with 1 for loss; Carter Stansbury – 2 with 1 for loss, 1 blocked kick; Braden Young – 1; Braxton Lafferty – 1 with 1 interception; Kayston Cox – 1.

(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)