103.9 KNZA Broadcast - Sabetha at Silver Lake - click here to listen 

In typical Silver Lake fashion, the Eagles delivered the first blow in their 3A Sub-State tilt against visiting Sabetha, just like they had done the previous two games in knocking off unbeatens Nemaha Central and Galena.  However on this Friday night, the Bluejays bounced right back and responded with a punch of their own to take the lead for good in the first quarter and ride their defense and three takeaways to a 17-14 upset win, advancing to the 3A State Championship against Marysville.  The kicking game was also a big factor as Sabetha blocked the Eagles PAT and got both extra points from Braedon Cox, who nailed a 28-yard field goal in the third quarter that proved to be the difference.

The Sabetha defense allowed only 51 rushing yards on 21 carries and the Eagles got only five snaps in the second quarter, one of which resulted in a interception by Bluejay senior, Wyatt Beyer.  Sabetha overcame a holding penalty on their first drive of the second half and then converted on fourth down and 13 as Joseph Gruber came back and caught a 33-yard pass from Brandon Brownlee to set up the Cox field goal with 5:08 left in the third quarter to make the score 10-6.  After both teams exchanged a couple punts into the fourth quarter, it was an interception by Gabe Garber that gave the Bluejays the momentum back.  Two plays later, Garber (Citizens State Bank and Trust Company “Player to Bank On”) broke a 42-yard touchdown run to give Sabetha a 17-6 lead with only 4:19 to play.  “We’ve been practicing against the spread for about 10 games now and we just prepared the same,” Garber said.  Beyer stopped the ensuing Silver Lake drive with his second pick of the game and fifth in the last two weeks, but the Eagles used their timeouts and the defense held on three plays to get one more chance at keeping their unbeaten season alive.        

Trailing 17-6, the Eagles drove 71 yards on 15 plays taking 1:35 off the fourth quarter clock before a one-yard touchdown by Jones and two-point-pass from Mason Griffin to Dillon Byrne tightened the score to 17-14 with 1:09 remaining.  However, Sabetha recovered the onside kick as Coach Garrett Michael trumped his former Coach and mentor, CJ Hamilton, for the second straight meeting in Silver Lake.  “Nobody gave us a shot,” Sabetha coach Garrett Michael said. “Nobody cares about who gets the yards, the carries or the tackles. All that matters is the W. We’ve talked about our no-name team all year and I hope now we can gain some respect.”

Silver Lake went on an 11-play 80-yard drive on their first possession as Mason Jones found the endzone from 15 yards out to make it 6-0, but they only had one more first drive after that possession until the final minutes of the third quarter.  Jones ran for 45 yards on 16 carries and Griffin was 21-39 passing for 206 yards, but three costly interceptions.  Byrne had eight catches for 82 yards while Trent Byers added 64 yards on six receptions and Keenan Baird caught three passes for 25 yards before the Eagles season ended at 12-1.

Sabetha ran for 282 yards on 61 carries in another balanced effort as Garber and Mason Engelken each ran for 82 yards and Gruber added 72 plus his 34-yard reception.  Beyer had 36 yards rushing as Sabetha improved to 12-1 and advanced to their fourth state football championship game where they are 2-1, including wins the latest two trips in 1993 and 1997. 

Elliott Strahm led another dominating effort in the trenches on both sides of the ball to earn Denison State Bank “Lineman of the Game” honors as Sabetha allowed zero opportunity for Silver Lake to run the football and did not miss a tackle or allow a play bigger than 18 yards in the game.  “From our seniors pushing us in practice, scout team working hard against us and the coaches preparing a great game plan that we have been able to go out and execute every week, we are a true family team and this feels great,” Strahm said following the win. 

Sabetha will face Marysville, who is also 12-1 following their 30-24 Sub State upset win against top seed Phillipsburg.  Despite being 50 miles apart, the Bluejays and Bulldogs have not met in a football game in over a decade.  Game time is 1:00 PM on Saturday, November 25th in Hutchinson and the game will be broadcast live on KNZA 103.9 FM and www.mscsports.net.           

In typical Silver Lake fashion, the Eagles delivered the first blow in their 3A Sub-State tilt against visiting Sabetha, just like they had done the previous two games in knocking off unbeatens Nemaha Central and Galena.  However on this Friday night, the Bluejays bounced right back and responded with a punch of their own to take the lead for good in the first quarter and ride their defense and three takeaways to a 17-14 upset win, advancing to the 3A State Championship against Marysville.  The kicking game was also a big factor as Sabetha blocked the Eagles PAT and got both extra points from Braedon Cox, who nailed a 28-yard field goal in the third quarter that proved to be the difference.

The Sabetha defense allowed only 51 rushing yards on 21 carries and the Eagles got only five snaps in the second quarter, one of which resulted in a interception by Bluejay senior, Wyatt Beyer.  Sabetha overcame a holding penalty on their first drive of the second half and then converted on fourth down and 13 as Joseph Gruber came back and caught a 33-yard pass from Brandon Brownlee to set up the Cox field goal with 5:08 left in the third quarter to make the score 10-6.  After both teams exchanged a couple punts into the fourth quarter, it was an interception by Gabe Garber that gave the Bluejays the momentum back.  Two plays later, Garber (Citizens State Bank and Trust Company “Player to Bank On”) broke a 42-yard touchdown run to give Sabetha a 17-6 lead with only 4:19 to play.  “We’ve been practicing against the spread for about 10 games now and we just prepared the same,” Garber said.  Beyer stopped the ensuing Silver Lake drive with his second pick of the game and fifth in the last two weeks, but the Eagles used their timeouts and the defense held on three plays to get one more chance at keeping their unbeaten season alive.        

Trailing 17-6, the Eagles drove 71 yards on 15 plays taking 1:35 off the fourth quarter clock before a one-yard touchdown by Jones and two-point-pass from Mason Griffin to Dillon Byrne tightened the score to 17-14 with 1:09 remaining.  However, Sabetha recovered the onside kick as Coach Garrett Michael trumped his former Coach and mentor, CJ Hamilton, for the second straight meeting in Silver Lake.  “Nobody gave us a shot,” Sabetha coach Garrett Michael said. “Nobody cares about who gets the yards, the carries or the tackles. All that matters is the W. We’ve talked about our no-name team all year and I hope now we can gain some respect.”

Silver Lake went on an 11-play 80-yard drive on their first possession as Mason Jones found the endzone from 15 yards out to make it 6-0, but they only had one more first drive after that possession until the final minutes of the third quarter.  Jones ran for 45 yards on 16 carries and Griffin was 21-39 passing for 206 yards, but three costly interceptions.  Byrne had eight catches for 82 yards while Trent Byers added 64 yards on six receptions and Keenan Baird caught three passes for 25 yards before the Eagles season ended at 12-1.

Sabetha ran for 282 yards on 61 carries in another balanced effort as Garber and Mason Engelken each ran for 82 yards and Gruber added 72 plus his 34-yard reception.  Beyer had 36 yards rushing as Sabetha improved to 12-1 and advanced to their fourth state football championship game where they are 2-1, including wins the latest two trips in 1993 and 1997. 

Elliott Strahm led another dominating effort in the trenches on both sides of the ball to earn Denison State Bank “Lineman of the Game” honors as Sabetha allowed zero opportunity for Silver Lake to run the football and did not miss a tackle or allow a play bigger than 18 yards in the game.  “From our seniors pushing us in practice, scout team working hard against us and the coaches preparing a great game plan that we have been able to go out and execute every week, we are a true family team and this feels great,” Strahm said following the win. 

Sabetha will face Marysville, who is also 12-1 following their 30-24 Sub State upset win against top seed Phillipsburg.  Despite being 50 miles apart, the Bluejays and Bulldogs have not met in a football game in over a decade.  Game time is 1:00 PM on Saturday, November 25th in Hutchinson and the game will be broadcast live on KNZA 103.9 FM and www.mscsports.net.