HUMBOLDT — This week seemed to be business as usual for the Humboldt Cubs — except this week they held the bi-district champion plaque over their heads as the final gun sounded in their win Tuesday night. AS FOR THE regional playoffs, Criss said his team doesn’t plan to change much in its preparations for Colgan.
The 48-6 win over Central Heights High advances the Cubs in Kansas Class 3A Regional Playoffs against Pittsburg-St. Mary’s Colgan High. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. Saturday in Pittsburg.
Humboldt has not missed a beat the past few weeks and all of its success points to one key strength — the passing game.
Quarterback Nathan Whitcomb began the romp minutes after the opening kickoff with a 61-yard pass to Noah Thornbrugh past the Vikings’ defensive backfield.
After a defensive stand, Tanner McNutt returned a punt 64 yards to the end zone. At this point it seemed the Vikings knew Humboldt meant business.
The Cubs’ presence on the field maintained high energy through all four quarters of the contest.
Whitcomb completed two more touchdowns to Thornbrugh, covering 39 and 42 yards, in the fourth quarter.
With a 27-0 deficit to start the second quarter, the Vikings released some of the pressure on their sideline by breaking out a 35-yard run to the end zone.
Several times in the contest, it seemed the Vikings were not ready to give up. But the relentless Cub defense did not allow another score.
Hunter Murrow hauled in a 25-yard pass for a touchdown and Blake Crawford made a 4-yard reception in the end zone.
Kason Siemens capped the scoring with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Murrow early in the fourth quarter.
The Cub offense racked up 302 passing yards and 61 on the ground.
Whitcomb was good on 10 of 14 passes for 266 yards. Siemens was 3 of 14 for 36.
Thornbrugh piled up 142 receiving yards on only three catches — a whopping 47.3-yard average. Sophomore Jacob Carpenter brought in four receptions for 43 yards, and Senior Hayden Boring had two receptions for 43 yards. Murrow chipped in with four catches for 74 yards.
On the ground, Carpenter rushed seven times for 27 yards. Boring rushed six times, piling up 32 yards.
“Our offense moved the ball, Nathan had a whale of a first half throwing the football and our receivers did a good job of hauling in those passes,” Cub coach K.B. Criss said.
Defensively, Carpenter led the team with seven unassisted tackles and 10 assisted tackles. Senior Trey Johnson followed with six assisted and six unassisted tackles. Murrow picked off the Vikings late in the fourth quarter to abruptly end another Viking drive.
“Defensively, we did a great job of getting to the football and handling their running game,” Criss said.
He said the game is still football, and that’s “all it boils down to.” He expects a stout team from Colgan, which, he said, has traditionally been a strong football team.
As the team waited to be presented their bi-district championship plaque on Tuesday, players yelled and said “we want it now,” showing their attitude and enthusiasm thus far — an attitude they will need to maintain for the upcoming week.
Central Heights 0-6-0-0—6
Humboldt 27-14-7-0—48
Humboldt — Thornbrugh 61 yd pass from Whitcomb (Boring run)
Humboldt — McNutt 64 yd punt return (Boring run)
Humboldt — Thornbrugh 39 yd pass from Whitcomb (Boring run)
Humboldt — Thornbrugh 42 yd pass from Whitcomb (Boring run)
CH — Beckwith 35 yd run (PAT failed)
Humboldt — Murrow 25 yd pass from Whitcomb (Boring run)
Humboldt — Crawford 4 yd pass from Whitcomb (Boring run)
Humboldt — Murrow 13 yd pass from Siemens (Boring run)
CH Humboldt
First downs 9 14
Rushing-yds 134 61
Passing-yds 69 302
Total offense 203 363
Passing 6-21-2 13-28-1
Fumbles 0 2
Punting 3-31 5-32
Penalties 10-75 1-15
Humboldt rolls past Vikings
