Hays Post Sports
The TMP-Marian Monarchs scored 42 straight points to rally from an early deficit and take down Plainville 42-12 Friday night at Lewis Field in Hays, advancing to the third round of the Class 1A playoffs.
The Monarchs' offense stalled in Plainville territory on its first drive, forcing TMP to punt.
Plainville wasted no time, scoring on its second offensive play on a 54-yard touchdown run that gave the Cardinals a 6-0 lead with just under 8:30 left in the first quarter.
TMP took over down 6-0 and drove the length of the field, capping a nine-play, 67-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run by Grant Nehls.
Austin Liles added the extra point, putting TMP ahead 7-6 with 5:20 left in the first quarter.
After the TMP defense forced the Cardinals to punt, the Monarchs again put together a lengthy drive, covering 90 yards in 10 plays. Jackson Gillespie capped the drive with a 9-yard touchdown run, putting TMP ahead 14-6 with 8:30 left in the first half.
On Plainville's next drive, TMP's Gillespie forced a fumble, and the Monarchs recovered at the Cardinals' 13-yard line, setting up a short field for TMP.
TMP's Jacob Seib hauled in a 21-yard touchdown pass from Austin Liles, making it 21-6 with 6:32 left in the first half.
After the kickoff, Plainville went to the air, but TMP's Seib intercepted the pass, giving the Monarchs the ball at the Plainville 24-yard line following a penalty.
Six plays later, Gillespie scored from the 1-yard line, making it 28-6 with just under four minutes left in the first half.
Neither team was able to do much on its final drive of the first half, and TMP took a 28-6 lead into halftime.
TMP's defense forced the Cardinals to punt on their first possession of the second half. The Monarchs' offense then needed just six plays to cover 57 yards, with Liles finding Seib for a 9-yard touchdown to put TMP ahead 35-6.
In the fourth quarter, TMP added one more touchdown on an 11-yard run by Gillespie, his third of the game, putting the Monarchs ahead 42-6.
Plainville scored a final touchdown with just nine seconds remaining, but the Monarchs secured the 42-12 victory.
Gillespie rushed for 173 yards and three touchdowns on 31 carries to lead the Monarchs. He surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for the season.
Freshman quarterback Austin Liles finished 9-of-17 passing for 140 yards and two touchdowns, both to senior Jacob Seib.
The Monarchs outgained Plainville 397-201.
TMP improved to 10-0, reaching 10 wins in a season for the first time in program history.
The Monarchs also advanced to the third round of the playoffs for the sixth time since 1970 and will host Inman.