Holton 50, Royal Valley 0

It was all Wildcats in the week five Big 7 League and 3A District four battle of Jackson County teams on Friday night at Royal Valley. Holton built a 35-0 lead and then the lights went out in Hoyt, literally. Play had been stopped for 15 minutes when half the lights shut off, but the game resumed for only a couple plays before the entire stadium then went dark on Royal Valley's homecoming game for the second straight year. Eventually, the teams went to the locker room and had halftime before coming back out to finish the final two minutes of the second quarter and then finish the game with a running clock after lighting was working. 

Holton, now 5-0, ran for 388 yards and added one pass play from Matt Lierz to Charlie Gilliland for 28 yards. Lierz opened up the option attack and ran for 132 yards on just 6 carries while scoring three touchdowns in the first half. Gary Booth added 128 yards on 8 carries with two scores while Jayden Fletcher and Caleb Hernandez added touchdowns. Holton scored on seven of their first eight drives with only two snaps on third down and no possession lasting more than five plays. 

Royal Valley, now 1-4, got all 110 of their yards on the ground with homecoming king Levi Parrett posting 71 yards on 26 carries and Treyson Murata adding 40 yards on 23 carries. The Panthers also had two fumbles and a botched punt deep in their own territory. 

District play continues next week as Royal Valley plays at Sabetha and Holton host Hiawatha. The Cats did have eight penalties for 85 yards.