The McClave BirdGang football team hosted the Sedgwick County Cougars on a hot Friday afternoon, Sept. 4, at McClave’s immaculate home field in an early-season matchup between two state-ranked Class A 8-man teams.
Sedgwick County entered the contest ranked No. 2 in the season opener for the Cougars. McClave came in ranked No. 5.
The BirdGang crushed Ellicott, 54-0, in an 11-man game played on Friday, Sept. 4 in Ellicott.
Also heading into the game with Sedgwick County, McClave had won the previous two meetings after the Cougars had taken three straight earlier in the series.
The BirdGang extended that streak to three with an impressive 34-6 victory, much to the delight of the McClave faithful.
“It was a great way to kick off our season,” lauded McClave head coach Jeremy Mallard. “We got a chance to play against one of the best teams in the state early and I think we did a good job of having them prepared.
“Our defense did a really good job of flying around all day. Kielan Mallard and Cash Phares controlled the middle and our linebackers did a great job of filling holes.
“We have some things up front on offense that we need to iron out, but I couldn’t be happier with how these guys attacked.”
McClave amassed 198 yards rushing and scored 4 touchdowns on the ground.
Freshman running back Cash Phares shined for the BirdGang with 85 yards on 8 carries and scored 3 TDs.
Drew Howe added 58 yards on 20 carries and 1 TD.
New quarterback Kolten Reed, a transfer from Akron, had 45 yards rushing on 11 carries.
In the air, McClave completed 5-of-14 passes for 84 yards and 1 TD.
Randel completed 4-of-13 passes for 63 yards.
Howe completed 1 pass for a 21-yard TD strike.
Ryan Steinbrunn caught 2 passes for 46 yards and 1 TD.
Tuff Kelley caught 2 passes for 42 yards.
Howe had 1 pass reception for minus 4 yards.
On defense, Kielan Mallard had 9 tackles (5 solo). Randel had 8 tackles. Howe had 7 tackles. Steinbrunn had 5 tackles (3 solo). Phares had 6 tackles. Kelley had 6 tackles.
Mallard also had 1 interception and 1 blocked punts.
McClave recovered 4 fumbles including 1 each from Martinez, Kelley, Martinez, and Oliver Hemphill.
The BirdGang also registered 3 sacks with 1 each from Mallard, Steinbrunn, and Kelley.
Fast Start for McClave
McClave set the tone immediately after receiving the opening kickoff, moving quickly and putting Sedgwick County on its heels from the start.
Starting at its own 37-yard line, the BirdGang needed just three plays to reach the end zone.
Cash Phares turned the corner, found room along the McClave sideline and sprinted 57 yards for a touchdown with 10:34 left in the opening quarter. A pass on the extra-point fell incomplete.
Sedgwick County returned the ensuing kickoff to the McClave 29.
The Cougars couldn’t capitalize on the good field position and turned the ball over on downs after an incomplete pass on 4th-and-12 from the 32.
McClave took over and ran off seven plays before a pass play fell incomplete on 4th-and-7 at the Cougars’ 31.
Sedgwick turned the ball over three plays later after a pass was intercepted by Mallard with 2:50 left in the first quarter.
Starting at the Sedgwick 25, McClave needed just three plays to score again. Phares took the same play that produced his first touchdown and broke loose for a 23-yard run.
A two-point conversion failed as the score stood 12-0 with a minute left.
In the second quarter, McClave went on to score a pair of touchdowns to pull away to a 26-0 lead at halftime.
After the second touchdown by McClave, the Cougars took over at their own 35 after the ensuing kickoff.
A punt by Sedgwick was blocked by Mallard and recovered at the Cougars’ 23.
McClave couldn’t capitalize on the excellent field position. Facing 4th-and-4 from the 17, a pass play fell incomplete for the BirdGang.
Sedgwick County gave the ball back two plays later when Martinez recovered a fumble at the Cougars’ 19-yard line.
McClave turned the turnover into points, as Phares powered in from 3 yards out with 5:04 remaining in the second quarter. The run on the extra-point attempt came up short, leaving the BirdGang in front 18-0.
After the ensuing kickoff, Sedgwick committed another turnover on the second play when a fumble was recovered by Reid Kliesen.
From the Cougars’ 17, McClave couldn’t capitalize as Sedgwick held the BirdGang on 4th-and-3 at the 11.
The Cougars were able to move the ball to midfield before a bad snap was recovered by McClave’s Kelley.
With under a minute left in the second quarter, McClave went to work from the Sedgwick 43 and found the endzone in four plays.
Three straight running plays by Howe moved the ball to the Sedgwick 21.
On a sweep to the right, Randel pitched to Howe, who pulled up and delivered a 21-yard touchdown pass to Steinbrunn.
The BirdGang converted a two-point conversion on a run by Randel for a 26-0 lead at the halftime break.
In the second half, neither team scored before both scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Howe scored the touchdown for McClave.
McClave next travels to Stratton on Friday, Sept. 11 for a non-league contest against the Eagles, who moved up from 6-man to 8-man this year.
Holly Wildcats
The Holly Wildcats traveled to Akron to face the #1 state-ranked Rams in 8-man action on Saturday afternoon Sept. 5.
Holly suffered a 46-6 loss at the hands of the Rams.
Holly (1-1) next visits Crowley County for a non-league contest against the Chargers (1-1) on Friday, Sept. 11.
Crowley County plays in the Black Forest 8-Man League.
Wiley Panthers
The Wiley Panthers traveled to La Veta and blasted the Redhawks, 52-14, on Friday, Sept. 4.
Wiley busted loose to a 24-0 lead after the first quarter and extended that advantage to 52-0 at halftime.
In their next game, the Wiley Panthers (2-0) will host Antonito on Friday, Sept. 11.
Wiley was originally scheduled to play Eads but that game was cancelled as Eads is still suffering through injuries.
Granada Bobcats
The Granada Bobcats suffered a tough road loss to Ingalls, KS, 45-12, in 6-man football action on Friday, Sept. 4.
The Bobcats, 1-1, open South East League play at Manzanola (1-0) on Friday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m.
Other Scores
Friday, Sept. 4
- Boise City, Ok. 36, Springfield 16
- Fowler 66, Hoehne 28
- Rocky Ford 14, Custer County 12
- #3 Las Animas 78, Walsenburg 0
- Sanford 28, Crowley County 26
Saturday, Sept. 5
