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Paola blanked by Louisburg in ‘Mud Bowl’ PDF Print E-mail
Sports
Written by Gene Morris   
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 07:00
Quarterback Drew Harding broke the Paola High School Panther’s back with two huge plays for Louisburg in the district title game at Wildcat Stadium on Thursday.

Harding ran left and found a seam on Louisburg’s third possession, taking off on a 57-yard foot race to the endzone with Paola defensive back Skylar Hawkins on his heels.

He delivered the final blow with a 37-yard pass to Chris Cook, setting up a 1-yard touchdown run by Alex Gentges as the Wildcats cashed in on a Panther turnover, sealing a 14-0 shutout victory.

Playing on a mud covered field, the battle was in the trenches ,and Louisburg controlled it.

After having some success running the ball on its first possession, moving the chains twice, the Panthers picked up just one more first down the rest of the first half.

The Wildcats, however, put a couple of drives together in the first half, running the ball 18 times for 100 yards and completing one of three passes for another 37 yards.
The Panthers had 18 offensive snaps in the half, with one incomplete pass and 17 rushing attempts for 51 yards of total offense.
Louisburg (8-1) won the district title with the victory, securing a home game for the bidistrict playoff, which was Tuesday night.
Paola (6-3) was the district runner-up and went on the road Tuesday.

“It would have been nice to be district champions,” Paola coach Michael Dumpert told his players in the end zone after the game. “This did not end our season, not even close. Put this game behind you, it’s history.

“We’ve got to go to work tomorrow, we can’t sit around and feel sorry for ourselves,” Dumpert said. “Win the next five games and nobody will remember this one.”

The Panthers could not take advantage of its opportunities. Paola’s most promising drive of the night was its first possession, in which they ran for a pair of first downs. Facing a manageable third down and three, a costly holding call on the Panthers stalled the drive.
Paola also had a golden opportunity at the end of the third quarter when Isaac Cotton recovered a Wildcat fumble at Louisburg’s 21-yard line. The Panthers gained just three yards on four plays, giving the ball back to the Wildcats on downs.

The field conditions presented problems for both teams. It had rained most of the morning, creating a mud pit down the center of the field.

Louisburg lost the handle on the opening kickoff, which went into its end zone for a touchback for first and 10 at its own 20. The Wildcats were three and out, punting on fourth down.

Paola started at its own 48-yard line and got off to a strong start with runs by Tyler Henness for 6, 2, and 5 yards, giving Paola a first and 10.

Quarterback Seth Kern ran for 4 yards. Hawkins gained 6 yards for another first down.

A 7-yard run by Henness brought up a third down and three. A holding call on the Panthers led to fourth down and 11. Hawkins threw the ball on a fake punt and the pass was incomplete.

Louisburg made some big conversions, in terms of field position, going for it on fourth down and 1 at its own 45 and moving the chains on a quarterback sneak by Harding. Gentges ran for 11 yards. Harding threw a 37-yard pass to Zach Hildreth, which set up a 28-yard field goal attempt which Cook kicked wide left.

Harding took off on the longest run of the night, scoring on a 57-yard sprint down the sidelines, putting the Wildcats on the scoreboard with 9:39 left in the second quarter. Cook’s extra point kick was good.

Cotton scooped up a squib kick and returned it 10 yards, giving Paola good field position at its own 43. Hawkins ran for 8 yards, 1 yard and 2 yards for a first down. A run for a loss, a fumbled snap and a penalty flag set up third down and 18 yards to go and Paola would have to punt.

Louisburg made it a two-score game early in the third quarter. Clayton Houchen picked off a Kern pass and the Wildcats would make the Panthers pay. Harding hooked up with Cook on a 37-yard pass play. Gentges ended the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, making it 14-0 with 6:51 left in the third quarter.

Paola got a turnover late in the third quarter, but could not put points on the scoreboard. Cotton recovered a Louisburg fumble at the Wildcats’ 21-yard line. Paola moved the ball 3 yards in four plays and gave the ball back to Louisburg on downs.

Kern threw a 15-yard pass to Anthony West in the fourth quarter, converting on a third down and six. Paola marched to the Louisburg 36-yard line, but turned the ball over on downs with 8:12 left in the game.

Louisburg ran the clock down to 5:34, taking a timeout before punting the football.

Kern completed an 11-yard pass to West to give Paola a first down at the 45, late in the game. The drive stalled and Louisburg took over. The Wildcats picked up a first down and ran out the clock.
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