By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
PLAINVILLE – The TMP-Marian Monarchs could not overcome three second-half turnovers as they dropped their district finale Friday in Plainville 24-14.
The Plainville Cardinals took possession of the ball on the first drive. After driving inside Monarchs territory, Carson Liles intercepted Plainville Cardinals quarterback Joey Dintino at the TMP 23-yard line. This was the first of three interceptions for the Monarchs' defense in the game.
The Monarchs' offense also struggled in the first half. They turned the ball over on downs twice and punted in the first three possessions of the game.
Plainville got on the scoreboard first, scoring on a 21-yard Dintino pass for a 7-0 lead with just over four and a half minutes in the first quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, TMP sophomore Carson Pinkney suffered a leg injury and was taken to the hospital. That resulted in a lengthy delay, and the Monarchs were forced to punt it right back in Plainville.
On that possession, TMP’s Adler Brown recorded his second career interception on the next Plainville drive and returned it to the Plainville 15-yard line.
TMP capitalized on the turnover, scoring on a four-yard touchdown pass to Grant Nehls, and the two-point conversion to Isaac Purinton gave TMP the 8-7 lead with 16 seconds to play.
The Monarchs had the lead at halftime, but on the first play of the second half, Liles fumbled the ball on an option play. Plainville recovered it and returned it 30 yards for the score, making it 14-8 Plainville.
The Monarchs lost a second fumble, and Liles threw an interception in the second half.
TMP got back on the board early in the first quarter, taking advantage of a short field with a 45-yard drive that was capped off on a two-yard Adler Brown run. The missed extra point made it 14-14.
Plainville scored the next 10 unanswered points and held off a late Monarch drive for a 24-14 victory.
Plainville secured the district title and a first-round home game next week with the win. Smith Center finished second, TMP third and Oakley fourth in 1A-district 8.
TMP quarterback Carson Liles finished 16-of-31 for 231 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Both Jacob Seib and Isaac Purinton finished with six receptions for TMP. Grant Nehls had a game-high 98 yards receiving.
TMP will be on the road next Friday night for a first-round playoff matchup. The playoff seedings will be released this weekend.