By GARRETT WELLBROCK
Hays Post Sports
QUINTER — La Crosse leaned on big plays, opportunistic defense, and the all-around efforts of Christian Rush and Lee Holopirek to outlast Quinter 58-44 in a wild back-and-forth district matchup Friday night.
The Leopards (3-2, 1-1 District 7) opened with three straight touchdown drives, all capped by Holopirek runs, to build a 22-8 lead early in the second quarter. But Quinter (2-3, 1-1) clawed back behind freshman quarterback Easton Blackwill, who accounted for all six Bulldog touchdowns on the night. A 21-yard strike to Cooper Havlas gave Quinter a 24-22 advantage midway through the second quarter, their first lead of the night.
Momentum swung wildly before halftime. After La Crosse regained the lead on a Connor Spreier score, Quinter answered with a Blackwill sneak to go up 32-30. La Crosse immediately responded with a Rush-to-Trenton Skillett touchdown to regain a 36-32 edge at the break.
The second half belonged to the Leopard defense. Rush opened the third quarter with a 27-yard interception return for a touchdown, one of three second-half interceptions thrown by Blackwill. Holopirek and Tyson Steinert also added picks to keep Quinter’s explosive passing game in check.
Even so, the Bulldogs kept coming. Blackwill connected with Jax Ruf for his second touchdown grab and later found Havlas again to cut the deficit to 52-44 with 5:41 left. But La Crosse responded with a clock-draining drive, capped by a fourth-down conversion run from Holopirek and a game-sealing 42-yard touchdown by Hooper Castaneda in the final minute. Steinert’s interception ended Quinter’s last possession.
Rush finished with 222 total yards and three touchdowns, including the defensive score. Holopirek added 75 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while Skillett led receivers with 52 yards and a score.
Blackwill threw for 240 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for two more, but his three interceptions proved costly. Ruf hauled in 107 receiving yards and two touchdowns to lead Quinter.
La Crosse rolled up 380 yards of offense, including 286 on the ground, while converting three fourth downs and going 4-for-4 in the red zone. Quinter was limited to just 14 rushing yards but found success through the air.
The Leopards, who beat Quinter 42-24 a year ago, have now topped 30 points in back-to-back weeks.
LaCrosse will host Wichita County, while Quinter will travel to Ellis in week 6.