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Senior runningback Scott Birkinsha stepped onto the football field as a homecoming candidate. Though he didn’t receive the honor of being homecoming king, Birkinsha left the field as the shining star as the Tigers defeated the Doniphan West Mustangs 14-13 behind the runningback’s two-touchdown performance.
Doniphan West started the game with the football and drove 72 yards down the field. The 13-play, seven-minute drive was capped off with a three-yard touchdown run by sophomore tailback Lane Spiker to give the Mustangs a 7-0 lead. ACCHS received the football, but punted the football after three plays.
Turnovers plagued both teams in the second quarter, but ACCHS found a way to score. On the Tigers third drive, Birkinsha punched the ball into the endzone on an eight-yard rush to bring ACCHS within a point, trailing 7-6 with 7:09 remaining in the half.
Doniphan West threw an interception and fumbled the ball, while ACCHS threw two picks to head into halftime with a one-point Mustang lead.
On the third drive in the second half for ACCHS, Birkinsha found the endzone again, this time scoring from three yards out. ACCHS’ two-point conversion was good to give the Tigers a 14-7 after three quarters.
With 6:25 left in the game, sophomore runningback Wade Joyce shook off a defender and went into the endzone for a 12-yard touchdown run. The Mustangs went for the PAT, but the kick was low, letting the Tigers maintain a 14-13 lead.
The Mustangs had one last chance with 20 seconds left and they had to drive 62 yards to score. On second down, sophomore wideout Cooper Leach came up with a huge grab to put the Mustangs on the 33-yard line of ACCHS with two seconds left. The last second heave had a chance, but junior linebacker Ryan Vollmer intercepted it in the endzone to give the Tigers a 14-13 victory on homecoming night.
The Bank of Atchison player of the game was Birkinsha, who carried the ball 12 times for 32 yards and recorded two touchdowns. Senior quarterback Kyle Chew had 13 rushes for zero yards. Chew also completed nine passes for 47 yards and threw three interceptions. Senior runningback Justin Wagner finished with 30 yards on nine carries and two receptions for 20 yards.
For Doniphan West, Lane Spiker carried the ball 11 times for 27 yards and recorded one touchdown. Wade Joyce finished with 70 yards and one TD off 16 carries.
ACCHS is now 1-2 and travels to Valley Falls while Doniphan West still looks for its first victory by hosting Horton.
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