Cubs face first tough test; fall to Osage City’s Indians

The Humboldt football team had few answers for an explosive Osage City rushing attack when they lost at home Friday, 36-22. The closest Humboldt came to taking the lead was a 17-14 deficit early in the second half.

October 7, 2023 - 12:04 AM

A couple of Humboldt Cubs go after an Osage City ball carrier. Photo by Quinn Burkitt

HUMBOLDT — Humboldt ran into their first tough test of the season Friday night when they dropped a home matchup to Osage City, 36-22.

The Cubs are 5-1.

Humboldt’s Blake Ellis runs around the Osage City defense. Photo by Quinn Burkitt

Humboldt’s defense has trouble slowing down Osage City’s rushing attack which was led by Cooper Parsons’ multi-touchdown game. The closest the Cubs made it was 17-14 at the start of the second half after a Blake Ellis 18-yard touchdown run.

“They’re a good team and there really wasn’t anything different they came out with. Their kids run hard and we didn’t tackle,” Humboldt head coach Logan Wyrick said. “We’ve got to tackle better on defense and finish drives on offense.”

The scoring started early and often for Osage City. Cooper Parsons hauled in a 13-yard touchdown catch to put Humboldt in an immediate 7-0 hole.

Humboldt was hindered throughout the game by their inability to convert on fourth down, including the first time when the Cubs made it to the Osage City’s eight-yard line only to be stopped cold.

“We’ve just got to finish drives. We were in the red zone a number of times and didn’t score,” Wyrick said. “That can’t happen against good teams.”

Humboldt’s Mateo Miller returns an interception for a touchdown against Osage City. Photo by Quinn Burkitt

Parsons then found the end zone again for Osage City when he pushed himself in for a one-yard touchdown and the 14-0 difference in the second quarter.

Mateo Miller returned an interception for a touchdown to put Humboldt on the board for the 14-6 deficit shortly before halftime.

The Indians scored again before halftime when Josiah Smith nailed a field goal for the 17-6 lead heading to the break.

Humboldt’s Cole Mathes goes for a tackle on an Osage City Indian. Photo by Quinn Burkitt

Humboldt began the second half strong when Ellis capped the opening drive by running in for his 18-yard touchdown to bring the deficit within 17-14, the closest the Cubs got to taking the lead.

Later in the third quarter, Osage City’s Kasen Parsons churned in for a three-yard rushing touchdown to take a 23-14 lead over the Cubs.

Osage City then scored a 61-yard touchdown for a 29-14 lead.

“They ran hard and we weren’t tackling how we needed to,” said Wyrick. “We work on it every day. It’s very uncharacteristic of our football team, but hats off to Osage City. They ran hard.”