For the first time since 2008 the Axtell Eagles are flying into the Sub-State competition as one of the final four 8-Man Division II teams left in the playoffs, after a Regional round win over the #1 team in the State in Chetopa. The Eagles picked up the 42-34 win to keep their season alive.

The game started off with Chetopa striking first as they moved the ball with the run and brought in the pass, ultimately seeing Trenton Scott get into the endzone with 8:54 left in the first quarter, to take a 6-0 lead after two-point conversion failed. Axtell responded on their first offensive drive in less than two minutes as they gauged the Chetopa Hornets defense with strong run plays and Shane Talbot punched it in from one-yard out and with the two-point conversion it was 8-6.

As the quarter rolled along the Eagles turned the ball over deep in their own territory via a fumble and Chetopa recovered and then regained the lead as Hornet quarterback, Phillip Moses scored form two-yards on out and with the two-point conversion it was 14-8 with 4:03 left in the first quarter. Axtell got their opportunity to score off a turnover also as they recovered a Chetopa fumble inside their own 20-yard and with 1:38 left in the first quarter the Axtell Eagles took the lead back as Colton Buessing ran it in from five-yards out to lead 16-14, a lead they would not give up.

That two-point lead grew to eight with Buessing's second rushing touchdown coming two minutes into the second quarter, scoring from one-yard out to make it 22-14, after the two-point conversion failed. Thirteen seconds later Chetopa found the endzone as Sherrick Rogers busted loose for a 63-yard kickoff return touchdown, but Andrew Feldkamp blew up the run play for the two-point conversion in the backfield to preserve the Axtell lead, as it was 22-20. The lead grew to 10 points by halftime as Talbot scored his second rushing touchdown of the game with a six-yard run, making it 30-20 at the half. Axtell preserved the 10-point margin as Tyler Jones picked off Chetopa for the second time in the game just before halftime.

Axtell had the ball to start the second half but their drive ended as Rogers picked off Buessing and ran it back 69-yards for a pick six and with the two-point conversion moved to back within two-points, as Axtell led 30-28 with 9:50 remaining the third quarter. The Eagles responded with another Buessing touchdown run from one-yard out again pushing the lead back up, as it was 36-28.

The Eagles defense came up with multiple stops against Chetopa but the Hornets got back within two-points again as Moses tossed a touchdown pass of 26-yards to Rogers, to make it 36-34, but failed to tie it as Axtell again made a huge play to stop the Hornets two-point conversion.

More, strong defense by the Eagles were displayed in fourth quarter, while Buessing made a huge offensive play of a 55-yard run for a touchdown making it 42-34. Chetopa had opportunities as the game was coming to a close but Axtell forced another turnover and at the end of the game mad the plays to stop the Hornets to earn the 42-34 win.

Buessing led the Eagles with 156 yards on 27 carries with four touchdowns and passed for 150 yards on 12-18 passing, while Talbot ran for 82 yards on 13 carries with a pair of scores, as Adam Kuckelman caught six passes for 50 yards. Jones ran for 61 yards on 10 carries, while coming up with three turnovers on defense with two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Buessing and Jones earned Community National Bank "Player to Bank On" honors on KMZA.

With the win the Eagles improved to 9-2 on the season and now face off against the #4 team in the State in the 11-0, Argonia-Attica Titans in one of the 8-Man DII Sub-State games; Axtell will travel to Argonia for the competition.