by Brian Turrel
Louisburg pulled out its bag of tricks Friday night in Bonner Springs, defeating the Braves 29-7.
The Wildcats caught Bonner Springs off guard by starting the game with an onside kick, which they recovered to get an early possession advantage.
Though the maneuver didn’t pay off in points on that drive, it set the tone for a game. Louisburg recovered two onside kicks, faked a punt, scored on a flea flicker, and drew two encroachment penalties with hard snap counts.
The teams traded long but unproductive drives and ended with a scoreless first quarter. In the second quarter, the Wildcats scored first, hitting a field goal after the Braves stopped them at the 6-yard line.
Bonner Springs handed the ball back with less than a minute in the half. Louisburg quarterback Declan Battle appeared to fumble on the second play from scrimmage. Bonner Springs recovered the ball, but the referee had already whistled the ball carrier down.
After a lengthy, heated discussion among the officials and coaches, the players lined up again and on the next play, Louisburg scored a trick-play 80-yard touchdown. The extra point kick was blocked by Bonner’s James Andrewjeski to hold the Wildcats to a 9-0 halftime lead.
The Wildcats scored on a 19-yard pass play after halftime. Louisburg was in a bind at 4th down and 7 yards to go, but used a fake punt to gain a first down and keep the scoring drive going.
Bonner’s only score came on a defensive play in the third quarter. Brandin Andrew recovered a Louisburg fumble and ran it back 20 yards for a touchdown, bringing the Braves within one score at 15-7.
On the Braves’ next drive, they drove the ball with determination, and running back Peyton Parks kept the sticks moving with strong runs. The drive stalled out in the Louisburg end, and an incomplete pass on fourth down handed the ball back at the 32-yard line.
Louisburg pushed the advantage again in the fourth quarter. Bonner safety Wyatt Caldwell knocked running back Ashton Moore out of bounds at the 1-yard line, but the stop was only temporary. The Wildcats earned the touchdown two plays later on a 5-yard quarterback keeper.
The final margin was decided when Bonner gave up a fumble on a late drive, returned by Louisburg for a 29-7 score.
The loss drops Bonner Springs to 1-4. The Braves will play host to the Tonganoxie Chieftains at 7 p.m. next Friday.
