Hays Post Sports
SMITH CENTER – The Smith Center Redmen converted on five straight fourth-quarter, third downs while clinging to a two-point lead and as they earned their 11th straight win over TMP Friday night, 24-14, to advance to the third round of the 1A playoffs.
Neither offense was able to find a rhythm early in Friday night’s 1A Regional game until midway through the second quarter.
The first quarter saw TMP’s defense force Smith Center into a pair of punts, and TMP also punted twice in their first two possessions.
Playing for field position, TMP elected to punt near midfield, pinning Smith Center on the one-yard line to start their third possession.
But the Redmen answered with a 99-yard drive that took six minutes off the clock, and with the two-point conversion, they led TMP, 8-0 with just under five minutes left in the first half.
TMP took the ensuing kickoff and drove right down the field on just five plays, scoring on a Carson Liles two-yard touchdown run. He added the extra point, making it 8-8 with just under three minutes left in the first half.
Each team had a chance to take the lead on a final possession of the first half, but neither team came away with the ball, and the game was tied 8-8 at halftime.
TMP opened the second half, driving inside the Redmen's 25-yard line before an interception ended the drive.
Smith Center then put together a drive that covered eight minutes and 23 seconds and capped it off with a touchdown and two-point conversion, building a 16-8 lead to close out the third quarter.
TMP answered with a catch and run of 32 yards for Jacob Seib, from Carson Liles pulling TMP with two at 16-14 with just under nine minutes left in the fourth quarter.
But the Monarchs were called for an illegal procedure penalty, negating a two-point conversion that would have tied the game at 16. On the retry, they failed to convert and found themselves down 16-14.
Smith Center, on their next possession, drained nearly six minutes off the fourth-quarter clock, converting on five straight third downs before scoring a final touchdown and two-point conversion on their way to a 24-14 victory.
Three Smith Center Redmen combined to rush for 320 yards as they outgained TMP 317 to 196.
Carson Liles finished 13-of-27 passing for 186 yards with one touchdown and an interception. He also ran for a score.
Caden Dinkel hauled in a career-high five receptions for 70 yards. Jacob Seib also recorded five catches for 73 yards.
TMP finished the season 6-3.
Smith Center moves to 10-0.