 |
| Olathe South's Jordan Ward scored a late go-ahead touchdown on a run of 41 yards. Photo courtesy the Wichita-Eagle. |
Olathe South 41,
Wichita Heights 37
You would be hard pressed to ever witness a high school football game as exciting as what took place in the 6A State Championship between Olathe South and Wichita Heights on Saturday in Topeka. It could go down in Kansas high school football history as one of the greatest games of all time.
With just minutes remaining the fourth quarter Olathe South was faced with a 4th down and 10 in their own territory. If they didn't convert the first down the game was virtually over.
Olathe South snuck Matt Elliott out of the backfield on a wheel route towards the sideline and quarterback Frankie Seurer found him with a perfectly timed pass. Elliott caught the ball and raced 24 yards, converting the first down and putting Olathe South in great position to score.
Two plays later Jordan Ward took a handoff up the middle, broke through the Wichita Heights line of defense and dashed 41 yards for a touchdown. He was hit at the five yard line but he managed to drag the defender to the goal line where he made a staggering reach for the endzone, resulting in a touchdown and an Olathe South lead.
Wichita Heights received the ensuing kickoff with just over 40 second remaining in the game, but they were unable to drive down the field and score. The loss broke their 25-game winning streak.
The scoring explosion began when Olathe South's Teddy Colbert took a handoff and raced untouched 63 yards for a touchdown early in the first quarter. Wichita Heights wasn't able to corral the ensuing kickoff, and Olathe South recovered the ball near the Wichita Heights 10-yard line. However, Wichita Heights' defense stood tall and forced an Olathe South field goal, which went wide left.
The miss gave Wichita Heights the ball at their own 20-yard line. They responded with an 80-yard touchdown drive which was capped off with a two-yard touchdown run from Marquel Moore.
On the ensuing kickoff Olathe South did just as Wichita Heights had done previously, fumbling the kickoff and turning the ball over to Wichita Heights deep in their own territory. A few plays later Jon Wilcoxson took a toss 15 yards for a touchdown to give Wichita Heights a 14-7 lead.
Unfazed, Olathe South drove down the field on their next possession and capped off the drive with a two-yard touchdown run from Ward. Olathe South missed the PAT, however, and trailed 14-13.
Wichita Heights looked unstoppable on their next drive, completing several long passes and dominating with their run game. They scored when Moore took a pitch and went 25 yards untouched for a touchdown. The score gave Wichita Heights a 21-13 lead.
Before halftime Olathe South compiled another long drive which ended with a one-yard touchdown run from Ward. A toss play to Colbert on the two-point conversion attempt looked like a sure thing, but he was stuck at the one-yard line by Wichita Height's Chris Martin, resulting in no points. At halftime Wichita Heights led 21-19.
Wichita Heights came back early in the second half with a vengeance, driving the length of the field in no time on their first possession. A toss to Moore looked like a sure touchdown, but an Olathe South defender jarred the ball loose just before he was able to cross the goal line. The ball squeaked through the back of the endzone resulting in a touchback, and Olathe South ball.
Two plays later Ward scored his third touchdown of the game when he took a dive carry straight through the heart of the Wichita Heights defense and raced 83 yards for a touchdown. A toss play to Elliott on the two-
point conversion was successful, and Olathe South led again, 27-21.It was at this point in the game that Wichita Heights nearly made their kill-strike. Quarterback Matt Reed completed a 42-yard pass to Moore which put Wichita Heights in the redzone. Several plays later Reed punched in a touchdown from a yard out. Wichita Heights botched the extra point, which left the game tied at 27.
 |
| Olathe South's Taylor Sheffield stripped Wichita Height's Marquel Moore of the ball just before Moore was able to cross the goal line early in the fourth quarter. Photo cour- tesy the Wichita-Eagle. |
Olathe South regained possession, but then gave it right back when Ward fumbled the ball in Olathe South territory. Two plays later Kenneth Iheme took a pitch six yards for a touchdown. The successful PAT gave Wichita Heights a 34-27 lead. At this point Wichita Heights was looking unstoppable.
Right on cue with the scoring in this game, Seurer dropped back and found a wide open Drew Johnson on a fade route on the first play of the drive. Johnson caught the ball in stride and raced 99-yards for a touchdown. The score tied the game at 34.
Wichita Heights started their next drive with poor field position at their own eight-yard line, but they still managed to drive 88 yards to the Olathe South four-yard line before being stopped on third down. Wichita Heights converted a 25-yard field goal from David Hoyer, gaining a 37-34 lead with just minutes remaining in the game.
Several plays later Seurer found Elliot on the wheel route, as Olathe South went on to win their first state championship in the program's history.
Box Score
Wichita Heights (12-1) 14 7 13 3 — 37
Olathe South (12-1) 7 12 8 14 — 41
OS—Colbert 63 run (Douglas kick)
WH—Moore 2 run (Hoyer kick)
WH—Wilcoxson 15 run (Hoyer kick)
OS—Ward 2 run (miss kick)
WH—Moore 25 run (Hoyer kick)
OS—Ward 1 run (run failed)
OS—Ward 83 run (Elliott run)
WH—Reed 1 run (miss kick)
WH—Iheme 7 run (Hoyer kick)
OS—Johnson 99 pass from Seurer (Douglas kick)
WH—Hoyer 25 FG
OS—Ward 41 run (Douglas kick)
Individual Statistics
Rushing—Heights, Moore 21-196, Iheme 11-96, Wilcoxson 7-96, M. Reed 18-89, C. Reed 2-3, Byrd 1-9. Olathe South, Ward 27-263, Colbert 6-84, Wilbur 4-12, Seurer 6-10, White 1-4, Elliott 5-(-2).
Passing—Heights, M. Reed 3-4-86. Olathe South, Seurer 4-5-183-0.
Receiving—Heights, Moore 1-42, C. Reed 1-24, Iheme 1-20. Olathe South, Johnson 2-129, Magott 1-30, Elliott 1-24.
