Hays Post Sports
The TMP-Marian Monarchs advanced to the second round of the 1A playoffs with a 47-12 win over the Bluestem Lions Thursday night at Lewis Field in Hays.
The Monarchs (9-0) opened the game with the ball and wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. They put together an eight-play, 54-yard drive, capped by an Austin Liles touchdown run from 3 yards out to take an 8-0 lead. Liles added the two-point conversion.
Running back Jackson Gillespie had the biggest play of the drive with a 24-yard run. He finished with 77 yards on nine carries and one touchdown.
Gillespie entered the game needing 71 rushing yards to surpass 2,000 for his career. He reached that milestone in the first half. He now needs 20 yards to reach 1,000 rushing yards on the season.
The Monarchs forced Bluestem to punt on its first three possessions, holding the Lions to negative yardage in the first half.
Meanwhile, TMP continued to add to its lead. With less than two minutes remaining in the first quarter, Grant Nehls scored on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Liles to put the Monarchs ahead 16-0 following the two-point conversion.
After another Lions punt, TMP went back to the air, with Liles finding Jacob Seib for a 47-yard touchdown pass to make it 24-0.
Gillespie added a touchdown run with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half to extend the Monarchs' lead to 31-0.
Just over a minute later, the Lions, backed up deep in their own territory, snapped the ball over the quarterback's head. Bluestem recovered the ball in the end zone for a safety, putting TMP ahead 33-0.
On the ensuing free kick, Nehls returned the kick 34 yards for a touchdown. Liles added the extra point to make it 40-0 with just under six minutes remaining in the first half.
TMP capped its high-scoring first half less than two minutes later when Liles found Camden Ford for a 10-yard touchdown pass. The extra point gave the Monarchs a 47-0 lead.
The two teams played with a running clock in the second half. Bluestem scored on two long touchdown runs against the TMP junior varsity and freshmen as the Monarchs earned the 47-12 victory.
TMP outgained the Lions 224-134.
Liles finished 4-for-5 passing for 77 yards and three touchdowns.
Gillespie finished with 77 yards on nine carries.
The win improved TMP to 9-0 for the first time since 1977. It is just the fourth time in school history a team has started a season 9-0, dating back to the 1920s.
The Monarchs will take on the winner of Medicine Lodge and Plainville next Friday at Lewis Field in Hays.