IMAGE COURTESY OF @AXTELLEAGLES ON X

Axtell didn’t flinch in their 52-6 victory against TVL opponent Frankfort to win the sub-state championship for third consecutive time.

Axtell wasted no time getting on the scoreboard with a 65-yard touchdown on the opening play of the game. It was a little shovel pass from Brandon Schmelzle to Landon Schmitz that he took to the house ten seconds into the ballgame.

After forcing a Frankfort punt, Schmelzle had a nice 27-yard punt return to set the Eagles up in the redzone for their second drive of the game. It took just three plays to score from 17 yards with Schmelzle getting his first rushing touchdown of the game with 9:18 left in the first quarter.

Schmitz intercepted a pass on the next Frankfort possession for his third defensive takeaway of the season. This set a two-play 65-yard touchdown drive with a bubble pass to Eli Broxterman for 41 yards, followed by a 24-yard rushing touchdown by Schmelzle for his second of the day with 8:03 left in the first quarter.

Frankfort would get three consecutive turnover on downs and Axtell would cash in with touchdowns on all of their stops. Broxterman got his lone score of the day with 30 seconds left in the first quarter to go up 28-0. Schmelzle would get back-to-back scores on the next two drives putting them up 44-0.

The Wildcats continued to fight, though, and got their lone touchdown of the game with Wes Anderson fielding a low snap and flipping it to Brock Armstrong, who ran it in for the seven-yard score with five seconds left in the half.

Frankfort opened the second half with the ball, and Schmelzle helped his own cause and caught his eighth defensive interception of the season. He was able to finish off the game with his fifth touchdown on the ground.

Schmelzle ran for 103 yards and five touchdowns and was nearly perfect over the air going 12-for-13 for 236 yards and a touchdown. He is the Player of the Game brought to you by Farmers State Bank. Broxterman had seven receptions for 98 yards along with a rushing touchdown. The junior back talked about his performance after the game.

Sawyer Deters got a sack in the win. He and his cohorts Grant Buessing and Blaise Buessing were dominant on the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Deters was thrilled with the win, but he said that the team can clean things up ahead of their state title appearance next Saturday.

Axtell will go for their three-peat and their 39th win in a row next Saturday against South Central at 3:30 p.m. from Fischer Field in Newton. We will go live at 3 p.m. on 92.1 FM KMZA with extensive pregame coverage.