By Staff
SCOTT CITY – After going up 6-0 the game Friday evening at Scott City got away from Smoky Valley as they closed out their 2022 football season with a 41-6 loss to Scott City in the first round of the Class 3A state playoffs.
The loss closes the Vikings season with a 4-5 record.
Karson Pihl sprinted into the end zone from 32 yards out just twenty seconds into the game to give Smoky Valley a quick 6-0 lead before Scott City roared back with three scores, including a 75-yard run on their first play on offense followed by a 53-yard scoring run and a 64-yard pass and catch for a touchdown, giving them a commanding 21-0 lead at the end of the first twelve minutes of play.
Scott City continued to hold their 21-6 advantage at the halftime break before adding a 1-yard scoring run in the third quarter and then two more scoring plays in the fourth to give them the final 35-point win over Smoky Valley.
The Viking offense sputtered much of the game as they gained just 198 yards despite snapping it 68 times. Three turnovers did not help as they lost a pair of fumbles while throwing an interception which combined with eight penalties costing the Vikings a minus-85 yards, the reasons for the loss can be found in the stats.
At quarterback, Karson Pihl only completed five of twenty-one passes for a measly 46 yards while they did run for 152 yards, but it took 47 attempts to get that amount. Justice Autry with 15 carries for 58 yards and Kade Blanchat’s 10 totes for 57 yards led the Viking running attack.
On defense, Scott City ran up 429 total yards on 42 offensive plays including 251 yards on just 30 carries and 178 yards passing after completing nine-of-twelve.
Leading the Smoky Valley defense was Austin Sharp with seven overall tackles that included five solo with a quarterback sack and three for a loss of yardage. Nolan Dauer and Vincent Pickering each contributed with six tackles and Justin Holt had five.
SMOKY VALLEY VIKINGS at Scott City
SCORING: VIKINGS: 6-0-0-0=6; Scott City: 21-0-6-14=41
1st Quarter:
VIKINGS (11:40): Karson Pihl on a 32-yard run (2-Point Conversion Failed) 6-0
Scott City (11:21): Scored on a 75-yard run (Kick was Good) 6-7
Scott City (6:59): Scored on a 53-yard run (Kick was Good) 6-14
Scott City (00:19): Scored on a 64-yard pass play (Kick was Good) 6-21
2nd Quarter:
No Scoring.
3rd Quarter:
Scott City (10:46): Scored on a 1-yard run (Kick Failed) 6-27
4th Quarter:
Scott City (10:36): Scored on a 4-yard pass play (Kick was Good) 6-34
Scott City (3:45): Scored on a 41—yard pass play (Kick was Good) 6-41
TEAM STATS:
VIKINGS: 1st Downs – 16: Total Offense – 68 for 198; Passing – 5/21 for 46, 1 interception; Rushing – 47 for 152, 1 score; Fumbles – 2/2; Penalties – 8/85; Time of Possession – 28:37.
Scott City: 1st Downs – 13; Total Offense – 42 for 429; Passing – 9/12 for 178, 3 scores; Rushing – 30 for 251, 3 scores; Fumbles – 0/0; Penalties – 5/60; Time of Possession – 19:23.
SMOKY VALLEY VIKING INDIVIDUAL STATS:
Passing: Karson Pihl – 5/21 for 46, 1 interception.
Rushing: Justice Autry – 15 for 58; Kade Blanchat – 10 for 57; Trystan Stambaugh – 12 for 30; Karson Pihl – 10 for 7, 1 score.
Receiving: Vincent Pickering – 3 for 26; Kade Blanchat – 1 for 12; Trystan Stambaugh – 1 for 8.
Defense: Austin Sharp – 7, 5 solo, 1 sack, 3 for loss; Nolan Dauer – 6, 6 solo, 1 for loss; Vincent Pickering – 6, 3 solo, 1 sack, 1 for loss; Justin Holt – 5, 2 solo, 0.5 sacks, 1.5 for loss; Karson Pihl – 4, 3 solo; Trystan Stambaugh – 3, 2 solo; Ethan Able – 3, 2 solo; Trevor Jones – 2, 2 solo; Alex Grosland – 2, 0.5 sacks; Kade Blanchat – 1, 1 solo; Ezekiel Baker – 1, 1 solo; Max Bieker – 1, 1 solo; Gus Griffith – 1, 0.5 for loss.
(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)