By Derek Spellman
dspellman@joplinglobe.com
GRANBY, Mo. — East Newton may have played some of its worst football all year in the first half against El Dorado Springs on Wednesday night, coach Tom Ellis said.
But the Patriots came back with some of their best in the second half, including two blocked extra-point attempts, to outduel the Bulldogs 35-34 and advance to quarterfinals next week.
“Our kids just kept battling and battling,” Ellis said.
The Patriots faltered both offensively and defensively in the first half, falling behind 14-0 with 10:29 left in the second quarter after Bulldogs running back Cory Ketchum rushed for a 17-yard score. Ketchum amassed a total of 105 yards on 14 carries in the first half alone.
The Patriots cut the lead to 14-6 after a grinding 1-yard run by quarterback Denny Farmer at 5:19. The extra point attempt failed.
“They’re tough,” Ketchum said of the Patriots. “I thought we had them. We just didn’t capitalize when they made mistakes.”
The Patriots stormed back in the second half behind junior Justin Guinn and Farmer, who Ellis said played field marshal for the team’s offense.
“He (Ellis) told us to step it up (at halftime),” Farmer said. “I was trying to get everyone pumped up.”
After surrendering a touchdown on the Bulldogs’ opening drive of the second half, Patriots linebacker Trae Renner blocked the extra point attempt at 10:39.
Farmer threw a 55-yard touchdown pass, and the Patriots picked up the extra point, to pull within 20-13 at 7:47.
Farmer picked up his second one-yard touchdown run of the night and the Patriots closed to within one, 20-19, at 2:11.
The Bulldogs extended their lead to 28-19 with a one-yard run from Ketchum and a two-point conversion with less than nine seconds left in the third quarter.
But penalties, another blocked extra point by Renner and touchdowns from Guinn conspired against the Bulldogs in the final quarter.
“Penalties,” Bulldogs coach Chad Depoe said when asked about the key to the game. “Penalties kill you.”
Guinn flashed through a gap in the Bulldogs defense for a 19-yard touchdown run, and the Patriots notched a two-point conversion, to cut the lead to 28-27 at 9:04.
The Bulldogs drew a holding penalty shortly after taking over at their own 13-yard line and were forced to punt several plays later. Guinn, who finished the game with 212 yards on 30 carries, notched another rushing touchdown at 6:34. The Patriots again completed the two-point conversion to pull ahead 35-28.
Ketchum, who finished with 160 yards rushing on 24 carries, returned the Patriots’ kick for a touchdown at 6:20, but Renner again blocked the extra point attempt and the Patriots ran down the block to seal the win.
Patriots defensive end called the second half “unreal” and the best the team played all season.
“Everything was firing on all cylinders,” he said.
The Patriots will play at Cabool on Monday night.
Sports
November 8, 2007
Patriots recover to capture 1-point win
- High School Sports
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Baxter's Elias places second in 400 meters
Cody Thorn/Special to The Globe Colton Mays of Rose Hill nips Kacey Elias of Baxter Springs by .01 seconds for first-place honors in the Class 4A 400 meters on Saturday afternoon at Cessna Stadium in Wichita.
- Lynn fights off cramp to win state tennis title
- Crusaders end Bulldogs' hopes in quarterfinals
- Cards' Williams medals in state track
- Mercer accepts baseball position at Baxter Springs
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- Missouri Southern Sports
- Pittsburg State Sports
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Three in Borgard family followed parents to athletic careers at MSSU
Courtesy photo The Borgards posed for a family picture at Missouri Southern's Fred G. Hughes Stadium (left to right): Stacy Courtney, Brian, Rick, Sharon, Chris and Shannan.
Without Rick Borgard’s knee injury midway through his high school football season and Sharon Fees’ change of mind before entering college, the Missouri Southern blood that runs predominantly through their family may have never started pumping.
Continued ... - Lynn fights off cramp to win state tennis title
- Hardy earns All-America honor in high jump
- Cards' Williams medals in state track
- Tony Roper Memorial set tonight at Monett
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