MORAN — After an 11-year drought, the Marmaton Valley High football team are league champs. The Wildcats hosted St. Paul, sending the Indians home after the third quarter.
The Wildcats (6-2) used a powerful defensive effort as well as a balanced offensive attack both on the ground and through the air. In all, the Wildcats scored 11 touchdowns in the 76-28 blowout.
Head coach Max Mickunas’ squad came out after halftime and scored three touchdowns while holding St. Paul scoreless through the third quarter to earn the mercy-rule victory.
“We were 1-7 the year before I got here and now that we’re league champs. It’s pretty amazing,” said Mickunas. “These guys believed in what I was saying since day one. They built the culture themselves. I love coaching these guys.”
The momentum immediately pointed in Marmaton Valley’s favor when they forced a fumble around midfield on the first drive of the game. From there, Brayden Lawson was able to find Tyler Lord open for a 22-yard touchdown pass and the 8-0 lead.
“We pride ourselves on forcing turnovers so whenever we can do that, we think it gives us a good chance to win the game,” Mickunas said. “If we give our offense the ball back, with how explosive our offense is, if other teams turn the ball over, we can put them in a hole quickly.”
St. Paul responded with a three-yard rushing touchdown from Riley Vitt but the two-point conversion attempt failed so the Wildcats still led, 8-7.
Lawson made it happen with his feet a couple of times in the opening half, first when he churned for a 39-yard touchdown run for the 16-6 lead. Then Lawson struck again from 40 yards away for the 22-14 advantage near the end of the first quarter.
“This win means a lot. It’s been a goal of ours for three years now and to get it how we did is special,” said Lawson. “I credit the blocks in front of me. Anybody can run when the line is blocking that well and it makes my job really easy. We’ve got five guys who can make a play on the ball so it makes it easy to spread the ball around.”
Drayden Ellis brought in Marmaton Valley’s second passing touchdown when he caught a ball from Lawson for a 55-yard score and the 28-14 edge.
The closest St. Paul came the rest of the game was when Zane Sexton rushed for a 25-yard touchdown to make it a 28-20 ball game early in the second quarter.
Brevyn Campbell was then called on for the Wildcats when he caught a 35-yard touchdown pass to give Marmaton Valley a 36-20 lead.
Ellis hauled in his second touchdown reception on a 65-yard throw from Lawson, bringing their lead to 44-20 shortly before the half.
“I want the guys to know that I love them and they’re like little brothers to me,” Marmaton Valley’s Daniel Fewins said. “We’re a family and I’m glad we were able to come out here and give it our all.”
St. Paul had more life though, as a 58-yard touchdown connection made it a 44-28 ballgame not long after.
