BY BUDDY TABLER
Special to the Tribune
CIMARRON — Larned's interceptions, fumbles and blocked punts paved the way for Cimarron's 48-0 football victory in 2A, District 8.
The district football game featured a little bit of everything, including a game-ending brawl.
Numerous penalties and an alleged spitting incident by a Cimarron player in the fourth quarter, triggered a fight on the field and a bench clearing by Larned.
Punches were thrown and a melee developed that eventually was quelled by both coaching staffs. Of course, every flag the referees had in their pockets was thrown. The coaches and referees held discussions as the running clock allowed the time to expire.
Larned had six turnovers and 16 penalties for 138 yards that turned the game into a rout. Larned lost two fumbles, had two passes intercepted and two punts blocked. The Bluejays recovered an onside kickoff which led to a touchdown. Cimarron started every possession in the game in Indian territory.
Cimarron's McCoy Nash rushed for 127 yards and scored four touchdowns on runs of 6, 13, 19 and 23 yards. Quarterback Cade Sonday completed a 26-yard scoring pass to Isayah Barranca. Barranca scored on 44-yard pass from Aidyn Thompson and added a 3-yard scoring run to trigger a running clock.
Cimarron (3-2, 2-0 District) drops Larned to 0-5, 0-2. Cimarron outscored Larned 35-0 in the second period.
The game turned late in the first quarter after Larned intercepted a Bluejay pass in the end zone to blunt a score.
On a 4th down-and-5 at the 25-yard line, Larned was stopped, handing Cimarron the football near the Red Zone. Sonday hit Barranca with a 26-yard scoring strike. The play seemed to take the fire out of the Indians. Cimarron scored three more touchdowns in the next four minutes. By halftime, the outcome was decided with a 34-0 score.
Larned’s offense struggled as Cimarron’s defense held the Indians to short gains. Quarterback Mason Miller rarely had time to make accurate passes but did complete a 50-yard pass to receiver Luke Krehbiel midway in the fourth quarter to give the Indians their best opportunity to score. That drive eventually failed and that was when the brawl erupted.
MIller completed 8 of 21 attempts for 89 yards. David Colglazier gained 44 yards on 14 carries.
Cimarron (3-2, 2-0 District) plays Hugoton (5-0) Friday. Larned (0-5, 0-1) play Southwestern Heights (1-4, 0-2).
Larned 0 0 0 0— 0
Cimarron 6 35 7 0 — 48
C—McCoy Nash 19 run; C—Isayah Barranca 26 pass from Cade Sonday; C—Nash 6 run; C—Barranca 44 pass from Thompson; C—Nash 23 run; C—Nash 13 run; C—Barranca 3 run
RUSHING—L—Colgazier 14-44; C—12-136; Nash 11-127; Barranca 1-9
PASSING—L—Miller 8-21-2, 89; C—Sondy 3-7-1, 44; Thompson 1-1-0, 44
RECEIVING—C—Barranca 4-73; Nash 1-15
