HAYS – The TMP-Marian Monarchs offense turned in one of its best performances of the season Friday night as they rolled to a 40-16 win over Lakin, at Lewis Field Stadium, and clinched a first-round home game next week.
Lakin jumped out to a 7-0 lead when Servando Gonzalez returned the opening kickoff 97-yards for a touchdown.
The ensuing kickoff pinned the Monarchs (6-2) at their own 10-yardline but the Monarchs would march right down the field in 11 plays, six of them of 10 yards or more, and make it a 7-6 game with a two-yard run from junior Kade Harris.
After a Lakin (5-3) three-and-out TMP started at the Lakin 44-yardline and drive back down the field and scored on a two-yard run from senior Bryce Seib two-yard run that put TMP up 13-7.
Following another three-and-out from Lakin TMP’s Harris scored his second of three rushing touchdowns in the game, this one from 57 yards out on the first play of the second quarter as TMP took a 20-7 lead.
Seib scored his second rushing touchdown with just under three minutes left in the first half top cap off a nine-play drive that put TMP up 27-7.
Two plays later Lakin fumbled the ball at their own 20-yardline and Harris punched it in two plays later from a yard out to put TMP up 33-7 and that was the score at the break.
The third quarter was full of mistakes and untimely penalties for both teams that saw Lakin score 10 unanswered points to cut the deficit to 33-16 heading into the fourth quarter.
In the final frame TMP’s Griffin Schumacher scored his first career rushing touchdown from 16-yards out to put TMP up 40-16 with just over 10:30 to play in the game.
TMP would go on to win by the 40-16 score.
The Monarchs amassed a season-high 463 total yards, 355 of that coming on the ground.
Harris led the way with 206 yards on 19 carries and those three touchdowns.
Harris also threw for 105 yards on 6-of-10 passing.
TMP will host the Minneapolis Lions in the first-round of the 2A playoffs next week at Lewis Field Stadium.
You can find the complete 2A playoff bracket HERE.