By Staff

            INMAN – While the defense bent often but did not break, the Inman offense put enough scores on the board to earn a 28-6 win at home over Smith Center Friday to move within one game of playing for the Class 1A state championship.

            Now 10-1 for the season and ranked number eight in Class 1A, the Teutons will get a rematch on the road at Conway Springs next Friday. Ranked number seven, Conway Springs handed Inman their only loss of the season on October 14 when they beat the Teutons 35-14. Conway Springs will bring an 8-3 record into the game after beating Wabaunsee 39-14 on Friday.

            According to Inman coach Lance Sawyer, “This game was a big win for us as Smith Center has won 10 state titles and carries a lot of tradition onto the field. Our kids have had a great season with more yet to come.”

            If Inman wins next Friday, they will then play the winner of the game between number one ranked Centralia (11-0) and number two ranked Pittsburgh/St. Mary’s Colgan (9-2) on November 26 for the Class 1A state championship.

            On Friday, Tanner Heckel scored the first touchdown of the game on a three-yard run and after making good on a two-point conversion, the Teutons took an early 8-0 lead. Smith Center pulled within two on a five-yard scoring jaunt just before the quarter ended.

            Inman put two scores in the books in the second quarter on two scoring pass plays from Heckel to Harrison Brunk covering 55 yards and one to Eli Brunk for eight yards, giving the Teutons a 21-6 lead heading into the halftime break.

            Neither team scored in the third quarter before Inman closed out the scoring in the fourth on a five-yard spring to the end zone by Tanner Heckel, giving the Teutons their final 28-6 win.

            Both teams were able to put up some impressive offensive numbers as Smith Center and Inman combined to run 106 plays for a combined 583 yards with the Teutons picking up 198 yards through the air and another 132 on the ground.

            Heckel was near perfect throwing the ball as he completed 11-of-13 passes for 198 yards and pair of scores, while also leading Inman in rushing with another 93 yards on a dozen carries.

            Most of the passing offense went through Eli Brunk who caught seven passes for 87 yards while Harrison Brunk had a pair of catches for 96 yards.

            Defensively, the Teuton held Smith Center to just one pass attempt which they did not complete but bent without breaking enough for the visitors to pick up 253 yards on the ground on fifty-five carries.

            Zachary Martisko was everywhere on defense for the Teutons as he recorded 17 tackles of which four were solo stops. Tanner Heckel was in on 14 stops while Eli Brunk, Doninic Nuese-Rasmussen and Kellen Schrag each had 13, Josiah Buller was had a dozen and Samuel Shober made 10.

Smith Center at INMAN TEUTONS

SCORING: Smith Center 6-0-0-0=6; TEUTONS 8-13-0-7=28

1st Quarter:

TEUTONS: Tanner Heckel on a 3-yard run (2-Point Conversion – Josiah Buller pass to Eli Brunk) 0-8

Smith Center: Scored on a 5-yard run (2-Point Conversion Failed) 6-8

2nd Quarter:

TEUTONS: Harrison Brunk on a 55-yard pass play from Tanner Heckel (Felix Farnebo Kick) 6-15

TEUTONS: Eli Brunk on an 8-yard pass play from Tanner Heckel (2-Point Conversion Failed) 6-21

3rd Quarter:

No Scoring.

4th Quarter:

TEUTONS: Tanner Heckel on a 5-yard run (Felix Farnebo Kick) 28-6

TEAM STATS:

Smith Center: 1st Downs – 15; Total Offense – 63 for 253; Passing – 0/1 for 0; Rushing – 55 for 253, 1 score; Fumbles – 1/1; Penalties 3/16.

TEUTONS: 1st Downs – 11; Total Offense – 43 for 330; Passing – 11/13 for 198, 2 scores; Rushing – 24 for 132, 2 scores; Fumbles – 0/0; Penalties – 6 for 54.

INMAN TEUTONS INDIVIDUAL STATS:

Passing: Tanner Heckel 11/13 for 84, 2 scores.

Rushing: Tanner Heckel – 12 for 93, 2 scores; Josiah Buller – 4 for 20; Kellen Schrag – 4 for 19; Samuel Shober 4 for 4; Harrison Brunk – 1 for 14.

Receiving: Harrison Brunk – 2 for 96, 1 score; Eli Brunk – 7 for 87; 1 score; Kellen Schrag – 1 for 8; Josiah Buller – 1 for 7.

Defense: Zachary Martisko – 17, 4 solo; Tanner Heckel – 14, 2 solo; Eli Brunk – 13, 3 solo, 2 for loss; Kellen Schrag – 13, 1 solo; 1.5 for loss; Josiah Buller – 12, 3 solo; 0.5 for loss, 1 forced fumble; Samuel Shober – 10, 1 solo; Dominic Nuese-Rasmussen – 13, 1 solo; 1.5 for loss; Harrison Brunk – 6, 2 solo; 0.5 for loss, 1 forced fumble; Dawson McConnell – 4; Eli Gillespie – 3, 1 solo; Zaden Johnson – 2.

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