MORAN — For the first 7½ minutes of their playoff game Saturday, Marmaton Valley High could do little wrong. A PAIR of turnovers, coupled with big plays from Grizzlies sophomore speedster Joel Broeckelman ignited Rock Hills after Marmaton Valley jumped out to its early lead. Rock Hills MV
A pair of run-fueled drives powered the Wildcats to an early 16-0 lead over visiting Rock Hills-Mankato.
That trend changed in a hurry.
In Rock Hills’ next nine snaps from scrimmage, the Grizzlies scored five touchdowns, turning that 16-point deficit into a 38-22 lead.
Marmaton Valley responded with much of the same spirit that led the team to a 10-0 record leading into Saturday’s tilt, but Rock Hills had an answer for every challenge.
The Grizzlies defeated Marmaton Valley’s 76-48 in the second round of the Kansas Eight Man, Division I playoffs. The loss ends the Wildcats’ season at 10-1.
“They were able to capitalize on all of our mistakes, and we couldn’t do the same,” Wildcat head coach Kent Houk said. “We had some trouble fighting off their blocks.”
“They did what few teams could do — stop our run,” added Daylen Houk, Coach Houk’s son and a senior running back. Daylen Houk aggravated a knee injury in his first carry of the game and saw limited action.
Broeckelman returned a kickoff to the Marmaton Valley 16 following the Wildcats’ second touchdown, which led to a score one play later on a run by the Grizzlies’ Aaron Broeckelman.
A delay of game penalty on fourth down thwarted the Wildcats’ next drive. Joel Broeckelman returned with a 25-yard touchdown run two plays later to cut the lead to 16-14.
The Grizzlies retook possession on Marmaton Valley’s next play on a Robbie Dean interception, then took the lead for good three plays later when Joel Broeckelman scored on a 14-yard run.
A three-and-out by the Wildcats gave Rock Hills possession again. Another long Joel Broeckelman punt return set up the Grizzlies at the Marmaton Valley 30. Rock Hills quarterback Clay Cosand took the ensuing snap 30 yards for another touchdown, extending the lead to 30-16.
The Wildcats’ Cole Becker stemmed the tide with a 48-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter, but only briefly.
Rock Hills took all of three plays to respond, on a 26-yard Cosand touchdown run.
A 2-yard loss on fourth-and-2 at midfield by the Wildcats gave Rock Hills possession, and Cosand completed his first-half hat trick on a 2-yard touchdown run and a 46-22 lead.
Marmaton Valley garnered momentum in the third quarter. Becker cut the lead to 46-28 on a 57-yard touchdown run, and the Wildcats put Rock Hills in a key third-and-long midway through the third quarter.
The Grizzlies regained control in a big hurry. Cosand found Dean on 52-yard scoring pass. Rock Hills retained possession when Becker fumbled the ensuing kickoff at midfield. Joel Broeckelman’s 23-yard touchdown run put Rock Hills out of reach at 60-28.
“The two turnovers killed us,” Becker said. “They made some big plays.”
THE WILDCATS lost the services of senior quarterback Ryan Smith in the third quarter on an ankle injury.
His replacement, Jimmy Frye, tossed a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes, a 13-yarder to Lucas Hamlin and a spectacular 22-yard toss to Carlos Gonzales, in which Gonzales was able to deflect the ball to himself with one hand and stay inbounds and rush past the Rock Hills defender into the end zone.
“I’ve tried that in practice, but it’s never worked before in a game,” Gonzales said.
Coach Houk had high praise for Frye’s relief work.
“Jimmy’s the type of kid who will do anything we ask,” he said. “We’ve played him everywhere. We’ve used him at tight end, fullback, tailback and quarterback. He knows what he’s doing.”
Houk also praised Hamlin, whose offensive line position was dictated by Rock Hills standout defensive lineman Wyatt Flinn. Hamlin was able to contain Flinn, despite being outweighed by 55 pounds.
“The kids never quit — they’ve never quit before and they weren’t going to tonight,” Coach Houk said. “Even on the last series, when they were kneeling on the ball, we were trying to get in there and swipe it away.
“These seniors are going to be hard to replace, and the community support we’ve received was tremendous,” Houk continued. “The kids have a lot to be proud of. The season just ended earlier than we wanted it to.”
Rock Hills 22-24-14-16—76
Marmaton Valley 16-6-12-14—48
MV – Smith 12 yd run (Frye run)
MV – Becker 31 yd run (Smith run)
RH – A. Broeckelman 16 yd run (run failed)
RH – J. Broeckelman 25 yd run (Flinn pass from Copple)
RH – A. Broeckelman 15 yd run (Flinn pass from Copple)
RH – Cosand 30 yd run (Flinn pass from Copple)
MV – Becker 48 yd run (run failed)
RH – Cosand 26 yd run (Flinn pass from Copple)
RH – Cosand 2 yd run (Copple run)
MV – Becker 57 yd run (run failed)
RH – Dean 52 yd pass from Copple (Copple run)
RH – J. Broeckelman 23 yd run (run failed)
MV – Becker 2 yd run (run failed)
MV – Gonzales 22 yd pass from Frye (run failed)
RH – A. Broeckelman 4 yd pass from Copple (J.Broeckelman pass from Copple)
RH – A. Broeckelman 40 yd run (Copple run)
MV – Hamlin 13 yd pass from Frye (Becker run)
First Downs 9 14
Rushes-yds 36-291 60-345
Passing yds 72 94
Total Offense 363 439
Passing 4-7-1 7-14-2
Fumbles 0-0 2-1
Punts/ave. 3/34 2/35
Penalties 10-70 6-60
Individual statistics
Rushing: MV – Becker 40-284, Smith 8-43, Frye 8-26, Houk 3-(-2), Gonzales 1-(-5); Rock Hills – J. Broeckelman 12-112, Cosand 14-107, A. Broeckelman 4-57, Copple 6-15.
Passing: MV – Frye 3-4-55-2, Smith 4-10-39-0; RH – Copple 4-7-72-1.
Receiving: MV – Hamlin 2-35, Frye 2-21, Becker 2-18, Gonzales 1-22.
Tackles: MV – Frye 9, Houk 2, Smith 1, Becker 9, Hamlin 2, Gonzales 4, Smart 11, Kale 3, Hamm 3.
Marmaton Valley falls at home to Rock Hills
