Hays Post Sports
HAYS â The TMP-Marian Monarchs committed four turnovers and dropped their first game of the season Thursday night to the Russell Broncos 29-22.
TMP jumped out to an early lead, scoring on its first possession of the game. Quarterback Carson Liles found running back Jackson Gillespie for a 49-yard catch and run to put the Monarchs up 7-0, with five and a half minutes left in the first quarter.
After their first possession stalled in TMP territory, Russell was able to get their ground game going on their second possession of the game and answered with a two-yard touchdown pass for a 7-7 game with just under 90 seconds left in the first quarter.
On the Monarchsâ second offensive possession of the game, they took advantage of a short field thanks to a good kickoff return from Grant Nehls.
TMP started the drive at the Russell 45-yard line and on fourth and short, Gillespie broke free for 26 yards, setting up a goal-to-go situation that resulted in a two-yard Liles touchdown, putting TMP up 14-7.
The Broncos had a bad snap and TMP recovered the fumble deep in Russell territory, but two plays later, they gave it right back on one of four turnovers, an interception.
The Broncos took advantage of the second chance and capped off their next offensive possession with a 49-yard touchdown pass, tying the game at 14.
The Monarchs quarterback, Carson Liles, threw his second straight interception on the very next play, and Russellâs Trey Zorn returned it 31 yards for the score. He also scored the two-point conversion, putting Russell up 22-14.
They went into the halftime break with the score still in Russellâs favor.
TMP used the passing game to get back into the game in the second half.
Liles found Jacob Seib through the air six times in the second half, including on a 14-yard pitch and catch for the touchdown, tying the game at 22 in the final minutes of the third quarter.
In the final frame, both teams had their chances to break the tie, but it was Russell who broke through, scoring on a 12-yard touchdown pass on their way to a 29-22 victory.
Russell outgained TMP 343 to 297 yards of total offense.
Carson Liles finished 9-of-19 passing for 159 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. He also lost a fumble.
TMP will travel to Norton next Friday while Russell takes on Oakley.