103.9 KNZA Broadcast - 3A State title Game - Sabetha vs Marysville (11-25-17) - click here to listen 

Offense wins games and defense wins championships.  That was the case again on Saturday in Hutchinson as the Sabetha Bluejays, despite being outgained by 214 yards of offense, made six defensive stops inside their own 30-yard-line and held off Marysville for a 7-6 win in the 3A State Championship.  Trailing 6-0 entering the second half with only 50 total yards offense, the Jays capitalized on their only drive of the day that went across midfield as Wyatt Beyer scored on an eight-yard TD run to cap a seven play, 51 yard drive and the game decided kick by Braedon Cox made it 7-6, because Marysville had failed on a two-point conversion after their second quarter touchdown. The Bulldogs had second down and goal with just over 30 seconds left at the Sabetha six-yard-line but committed their third turnover of the day as Gabe Garber intercepted a pass near the goal line to preserve Sabetha’s third state football title in school history (1993, 1997 and 2017). 

Marysville had the football seven times and picked up at least two first downs on every drive while getting the football inside the Bluejays 35-yard-line on each possession.  Yet, despite 336 total yards, the Bulldogs had three turnovers and three more times they were stopped on downs before ending the season 12-2 and coming short of their first football title in school history on their third try.  Sabetha managed only 122 yards of total offense and had only one possession that resulted in more than two first downs, but the defense broke only once as Jack Blumer found Gabe Pieschl on a 16-yard TD pass 55 seconds before halftime. That was a short 32-yard Bulldog drive set up by a blocked punt, and Marysville also started their second drive at the Sabetha 40 after the Jays had a high punt snap that resulted in a turnover on downs despite the punter, Joe Gruber, returning the ball 34 yards.   

Gruber had an interception for Sabetha on the first Marysville drive of the day as the Jays ended the season with 24 interceptions and 36 total takeaways.  Cauy Rokey stripped and Sabetha recovered a Marysville fumble after a fourth quarter catch at the Bluejays 13-yard-line.  Gruber had 57 yards rushing while Garber added 32 and Beyer had 28 plus the touchdown to help Sabetha finish the season 13-1.  Garber was the Citizens State Bank and Trust Company “Player to Bank On” with a big defensive day and the INT to seal the win for the second striaght game.  Senior, Tanner Ukele was named the Denison State Bank “Lineman of the Game” for his leadership and play up front, that included lead blocks on four Sabetha runs during their third quarter scoring drive.  The "no name team" that wasn't ranked or one of five unbeaten teams at the end of the regular season, and felt disrespected and overlooked throughout much the season, celebrated their Sabetha Bluejay name on the 3A State Championship trophy behind a Coach Garrett Michael and a staff that kept the focus on Faith, Family and Football.  

Blumer was 29 of 39 through the air for 225 yards for Marysville to surpass 3,000 yards passing this season and also ran for 80 yards on 17 attempts to finish with 983 yards on the ground, but came up just short on his two-point conversion run.  Pieschl went over 50 receptions and 1,200 yards with his touchdown grab and caught five balls for 64 yards while Jacob Backus had 15 catches for 112 yards. 

These teams will play basketball just six days following the state championship meeting and will also be in the same 3A new football district the next two years after not playing in more than 15 years.  Marysville will replace 12 seniors and return just four starters on each side of the ball, while Sabetha graduated 11 seniors but will return the top four tackles on defense and four offensive lineman as well as four backs that all finished with more than 580 yards rushing this season.