RIVERTON — Humboldt High’s 24-14 win over Riverton Friday — securing the Cubs’ fourth regional championship in six seasons — is more than a team win, head coach Logan Wyrick declared.
“This is a program win,” he said. “It’s not just these guys. It’s the ones who have led to this, year after year.”
Humboldt now faces a Class 2A state quarterfinal showdown at Sabetha at 7 p.m. Friday.
The win came courtesy of some stellar offensive line play, a pivotal defensive stop late in the first half, and one of the most dazzling catches you’ll see at the high school level.
Humboldt dominated time of possession in the early going, chewing up 7½ minutes of the clock to march down the field and score on a Cole Mathes 4-yard run, and then nearly repeating that feat after Riverton punted.
But a pair of turnovers almost spelled disaster.
Humboldt was in the midst of its second straight extended drive when a fumble gave Riverton possession at the Ram 20 midway into the second quarter.
Riverton twice converted on fourth downs to keep possession, leading to a 9-yard touchdown pass from Ryder Goodman to Zach Feldkamp late in the half. Riverton then converted the 2-point conversion and suddenly held an 8-6 lead.
Then, a fumble on the ensuing kickoff gave Riverton possession at the Humboldt 19 with 1:09 left on the clock.
But the Cub defense rose to the challenge, stuffing a run on first down, and then forcing three straight Goodman incompletions to end the threat.
“At the time, it’s frustrating for a coach,” Wyrick said. “But looking back at it now, I’m proud of them for that. Our backs were totally against the wall. They probably should have gone up a score, maybe two scores, but our kids battled and got us out of that.”
The Cub defense opened the second half in similar fashion, forcing a three-and-out, allowing the Cubs to retake the momentum.
Humboldt put together a 9-play, 49-yard drive, the final two yards coming on a Blake Ellis scramble on fourth down to take a 12-8 lead.
A personal foul penalty on Riverton after Humboldt’s failed two-point attempt proved crucial. It allowed Wyrick to gamble a bit with an onside kick attempt. The strategy worked perfectly, careening off a Riverton player and allowing the Cubs to recover the ball and keep possession.
But the possession was seemingly headed nowhere.
