Holton 31, Hayden 14

In perhaps one of the last meetings of Wildcat rivals, Holton never trailed after scoring on their first offensive play at rolled to an 8-0 record at District Title with an impressive victory at Hayden on Friday night.  Holton ran for 308 yards and had four different players reach the endzone while limiting Hayden to just 3-12 third down conversions.  

Holton started the scoring after forcing a punt, when Drake Ewing took an option pitch from fellow senior, Ethan Holaday and out-ran the Hayden defense for a 58 yard touchdown less than 3 minutes into the game.  Hayden did manage a 7-7 tie with 1:32 left in the opening period as Jacob Head found Jake Kresin for a 7 yard TD pass on a fourth down play to capitalize on a short 35 yard field.  Holton responded two drives later as senior fullback Andrew Rieschick ran up the middle for a 51 yard touchdown that put Holton  ahead for good.  Rieschick added a 50 yard run on the following Holton drive, which set up a 3 yard TD run by Ethan Holaday and Holton led 21-7 at halftime.  

Holton drove 8 plays to start the second half but fumbled the ball away for their only turnover of the night.  However, Hayden would fumble it right back and go on to turn the ball over three times in the second half to prevent any comback attempt.  Head found Marcus Meier on an 8 yard TD pass converting another fourth down play to make it 21-14 late in the third quarter.  But Holton put the game away with a 14 play drive (nearly 7 minutes) as they marched 70 yards for the third time in the game and got a 20 yard Brenden Hampton field goal for a 24-14 lead with only 5:44 to play.   Holaday, who had forced and recovered a fumble earler in the half had an interception that set up Holton's final score on a one-yard Hampton run to cap the scoring with 3:31 left in the game.  Hampton had a pick to end Hayden's final drive.  

Hayden fell to 4-4 on the season and will play at Wamego for a playoff spot on Thursday night.  Holton is now 8-0 and winner's of 22 straight and looks to wrap up a 6th consecutive undefeated Big 7 League title by hosting country rival Royal Valley (0-8) on Thursday.  Brooks Barta improved to 6-4 against Hayden asHolton got 119 yards from Rieschick, 92 from Ewing, and 66 from Hampton in a balanced wishbone attack.  

The Citizens State Bank and Trust Company of Hiawatha "Player to Bank On" was Ethan Holaday who had two takeaways to cap a great defensive night and also scored a rushing touchdown and completed his first pass in five weeks as Holton was 1-1 through the air.  Holton has secured a first-round home playoff game as District Champs and will likely host Hesston in a rematch from last year's Bi-District showdown.