HAYS – The Smith Center pulled away from a banged-up TMP-Marian team Friday night as they earned a 42-21 district victory in Smith Center.
Neither team was able to get their offense going in the first minutes of the game Friday night with both teams punting on their first two possession.
Finally, the Monarchs (2-2, 2-2 MCL, 0-1) broke onto the scoreboard first, scoring on a two-yard touchdown run by Carson Liles with just over two and a half minutes left in the first quarter.
Isaac Purinton set up the touchdown with a 77-yard run.
After yet another punt by Smith Center (5-0, 4-0 MCL, 2-0), TMP’s Carson Liles throws an interception, on third down, that was returned for a Smith Center touchdown. Making it 7-6 with the unsuccessful two-point try.
The Monarchs turned the ball over on downs in Smith Center territory, setting up a short Smith Center score and a 12-7 lead with 8:21 left in the first quarter.
Less than six minutes later Smith Center capped off a 20-0 scoring run with a touchdown run for a 20-7 Redmen lead with two and a half minutes left in the first half.
TMP’s quarterback Carson Liles suffered a lower leg injury with just over two minutes left in the first half and did not return until after halftime.
Grant Nehls filled in as a quarterback and found Nash Dreiling for a 52-yard catch setting up Nehls on a two-yard run making it 20-13 with just under one minute to play.
Unfortunately for TMP, Smith Center was able to get on the board yet again, scoring on a 14-yard touchdown run, taking a 28-16 lead into halftime.
In the second half, it was much the same; TMP cut the deficit to seven on a Jackson Gillespie eight-yard catch and run for a 28-21 with just over two minutes left in the third quarter.
Smith Center scored a pair of late touchdowns in the fourth quarter as they clinched the 42-21 victory.
TMP will host on Friday night while Smith Central travels to Ulysses.