By CAYDEN SANDERS
The Victoria Knights were undefeated entering the state
championship game, with a perfect 12-0 record against opponents. However, the
Axtell Eagles, also undefeated, pounced on Victoria, winning 50-0.
At the start of the game, the Knights were able to move the ball offensively, earning two first downs before punting the ball away. Both Axtell and Victoria started cold offensively.
But at the 3:18 mark in the first quarter, the Eagles struck paydirt with a twenty-two-yard touchdown from KU verbal commit Brandon Schmelzle. After the kickoff, the first play of the Knights' offensive drive, the pass was deflected and intercepted, giving the Eagles a 14-0 lead.
In the second, both teams could not move the ball much, but Axtell scored at the 4:52 mark to make it 30-0 before halftime.
After halftime, the Knights' offense had opportunities, but they were squandered by Axtell's suffocating defense, which did not allow more than ten first downs the entire game.
The Eagles tacked on fourteen more points from Eli Broxterman and Schmelzle in the third.
During the fourth quarter, the Knights stopped a crucial two-point conversion that would have ended the game sooner. After the second-to-last scoring drive, Axtell led the Knights 44-0.
On the game's final play, the Eagles used a double counter flee-flicker to throw it to the near sideline to score the mercy rule touchdown.
Axtell claimed its fourth straight title in school history, while mercy rules in the last three state championship games to Thunder Ridge, South Central, and Victoria.
Axtell’s winning streak continues at 52 straight wins. The program's seniors completed their high school careers perfectly, with no losses.
On the other hand, Victoria moved to 7-2 in the state championship games. The only other loss at state came at the hands of Hanover in the 2008 season.
Victoria’s season ends at the state championship with a State Runner-Up finish and an 11-1 record.