HOISINGTON ā The TMP-Marian Monarchs used a quick start and solid special teams to knock of the fourth-rank Hoisington Cardinals Friday night and advance to the 2A state quarterfinals with a 36-27 win.
TMP (8-2) could not have asked for a better state Friday night.
They opened the game with football and strung together a nine-play drive that covered 66-yard drive that was capped off by a three-yard Bryce Seib touchdown run.
After forcing a Hoisington (8-2) three-and-out the TMP offense came right back on the field and drove down the field and capped off a six-play 58-yard drive with an 18-yard Griffin Schumacher touchdown run on fourth down to give TMP a 13-0 lead with a little more than three minutes and 20 seconds left in the first quarter.
Hoisington was able to get their offense going and cut the TMP lead to 13-6 early in the second quarter on a one-yard Legend Robinson touchdown run.
It appeared at that point that Hoisington had all the momentum but TMPās Kade Harris swung the game right back into TMPās favorite with a 79-yard kickoff return for a touchdown giving TMP a 20-6 lead.
After forcing another Hoisington punt TMP was able to find the endzone one more time before the end of the first half with just over five minutes to play when Harris scored his first of two rushing touchdowns to put TMP up 26-6 heading into halftime.
Out of the halftime break Hoisington put together a seven-play drive that was capped off by Robinsonās second of three touchdowns and they added a 15-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Wyatt Wikum to Leyton Haxton made it a one score game at 26-20 with just under a minute left in the third quarter.
The Monarchs opened the fourth quarter with a touchdown drive of their own to go back on top 33-20 when Harris broke free for a 32-yard touchdown.
Robinson scored his final touchdown with 3:44 left in the fourth quarter to finish off a 12-play drive making it 33-27 TMP.
After a 52-yard kickoff return from Harris that would set up a 37-yard field goal from Jace Wentling giving TMP the 36-27 lead with 2:39 to play.
A Mark Rack interception on Hoisingtonās final drive sealed the game for TMP as they hold on for the 36-27 win.
The TMP win over Hoisington snapped an eight-game losing streak at the hands of the Cardinals and it ended Hoisingtonās nine-game home playoff win streak and their 24-game home win streak.
Harris led TMP with 146-yards on the ground. Seib added 63 rushing yards.
Robinson scored three-rushing touchdowns in the losing effort.
TMP will host Kingman in the 2A quarterfinals next week.