On a cold November night, the stakes were extremely high for the Owls. When they took the field on Friday, Nov. 7, the Owls were looking to advance in the playoffs and secure the most wins in a season in school history. However, the 4-4 Olathe South Falcons were looking to spoil the Owls’ state championship hopes
Before many people made their way into CBAC Friday night, the Owls got out to a 7-0 lead. A quick drive at the start of the game was capped off with senior Brody Hale’s sixth rushing score of the season. After a quick stop, senior Sam Krzykowski took a rush 68 yards to the house to give the Owls a two-score lead less than four minutes into the game.
However, the Falcons grew into the game, getting a stop and then scoring on a 37-yard touchdown pass. After the score, the Falcons capitalized on Hale’s mistake to get an interception. The Owls’ defense buckled down though, and ultimately the interception wasn’t anything more than a stat on the box score.
In the second quarter, the Owls got into the end zone when Hale found junior tight end Weston Voight open on the sideline for a 30-yard touchdown pass, one of Hale’s school record five touchdown passes of the night.
After the touchdown, the Owls’ defense made a crucial stop when senior safety Brody Butler snagged a tipped pass for his school-record sixth interception of the season. Less than a minute after the pick, Hale found his favorite target in Krzykowski for a 67-yard touchdown. The Falcons then got a much-needed touchdown later in the quarter.
Just before halftime, the Owls were facing fourth down on the Falcons’ four-yard line. Unsurprisingly, head coach Jon Wiemers chose to go for it. His gamble paid off when junior Cabe Roberson hauled in a pass from Hale to put the Owls up 35-14. A fast drive by the Falcons allowed South to kick a short field goal, but the Owls still had a 35-17 advantage at the break.
After a Falcon touchdown, Hale threw his fourth touchdown of the night when he hooked up with Krzykowski for a 14-yard score. The Falcons didn’t go away though, as they responded with a touchdown two minutes later.
Less than a minute after the Falcons’ touchdown, Hale put on his superhero cape to give the Owls another score. Senior Josh Foland looked like he was going to run for a touchdown in the third quarter when a Falcons’ defender closed in, and it looked like Foland would be tackled down just short of the goal-line. That was until Foland pitched the ball to a trailing Hale and the Owls scored on a play that perfectly embodies the Owls’ improvisational nature on offense.
In the fourth quarter, the Owls scored their last touchdown of the night when Hale and Krzykowski linked up for Krzykowski’s third touchdown of the night. However, disaster struck when sophomore Rudy Lewis was tackled down for what seemed like a normal one-yard loss. Lewis didn’t come up, and he stayed lying on the turf while holding his elbow. After a 25-minute delay that involved Lewis exiting the game on a stretcher, the Owls locked up a 55-44 win to secure the regional championship.
Attention now turns to a big rivalry game in the sectional round. The Olathe Northwest Ravens will return to CBAC to face the Owls in their second matchup in three weeks. The Ravens have been relatively successful in the postseason, albeit with some lesser competition. Olathe Northwest has boasted a 63-0 victory over a 1-7 Wyandotte team and a 38-14 win against 3-7 Blue Valley West.
The Owls will look to take down their hated rival for the second time this season on Friday Nov. 14 at CBAC.
Stat Leaders- 11/7 Vs Olathe South
Passing: Sr Brody Hale 13/18 251 YD’s 5 TD’s 1 INT
Rushing: Sr Josh Foland 18 Carries 144 YD’s
Receiving: Sr Sam Krzykowski 5 Rec 151 YD’s 3 TD’s
Defense
Tackles: Jr Cash Warren 13 Tackles
Sacks: Benton/Johnson (1 Each)
Turnovers: Sr Brody Butler 1 INT
