Holton 24, Chapman 14

It was a slow and methodical ground and pound football game in week two on Friday night in Holton with the Wildcats getting a 24-14 victory against Chapman in a rushing slugfest where both teams only got six possessions on the night. The Irish had about 32 minutes time of possession to only 14 for #5 ranked Holton, but the Cats defense turned Chapman away on down three different times in the redzone to preserve the win and move to 2-0. 

Both teams only had the ball once in the first quarter as Holton settled for a 21-yard field goal by Matt Lierz following a 12-play-drive and then Chapman took an 8-3 lead on the first snap of the second stanza with a two-yard TD run by Eli Reigel to cap a 15-play, 75-yard possession. Holton fumbled away their second series for the only turnover of the game, but Conner Collins made a stop on fourth down to stop a 13-play Irish redzone drive. Holton took the lead for good using a 41-yard pass from Lierz to Charlie Gilliland to set up a Jace Boswell 13-yard TD run in the final minute of the half to lead 10-8. 

Chapman workhorse fullback, Eli Reigel, who had ran for 213 yards against Sabetha in week one, accounted for more than 90 percent of the Irish offense, but left with leg cramps after just two plays in the second half and did not return after already posting 25 carries for 96 yards. After another fourth down stop to start the third quarter, Holton increased the lead to 17-8 when Jayden Fletcher broke loose on a 58-yard touchdown run halfway through the third quarter. Chapman responded with another long drive going 73 yards on nine plays before Nick Anderson connected with Camden Liebau for a 21-yard TD pass to pull within 17-14 heading into the fourth. The Irish then forced a Holton punt, which went only nine yards and had the ball at the Holton 44-yard-line. Yet, after six plays, Dalton Roush got a Wildcat sack on fourth down and the Cats put the game away with a quick nine-play drive capped by Fletcher's second touchdown of the night for the final score with 6:18 remaining. Chapman did put together another 13-play drive but was stopped on fourth down again, this time by Jace Hallauer before time expired.  

Chapman (1-1) finished with 67 plays and 307 yards, with 219 on the ground. Holton ran 41 plays and had 319 yards with 270 of those rushing. Fletcher led the way with 153 yards on 15 carries and had another 30 yards negated by penalty. The Cats had 9 penalties for 55 yards after 10 penalties in week win win against Nemaha Central. Jace Boswell aded 79 yards rushing on 16 touches while Lierz completed 2-4 passes for 49 yards to Gilliland. 

Holton (2-0) will be on the road for the first time this year when they play at Perry Lecompton (1-1) in week three.  The Kaws were upset at Hiawatha 21-7 Friday night, although apparently PL had at least six key starters out with Covid complications.