Hays Post Sports
HAYS – The TMP-Marian Monarchs scored on seven of their eight offensive drives Friday night and added a defensive touchdown as they picked up their first district win, 52-21 over Oakley.
The Plainsmen opened the game with an 18-play drive that took the majority of the first quarter, but they missed on a 31-yard field goal.
TMP (3-2, 3-2 MCL, 1-1 1A-D8) answered with a nine-play drive, but that drive also ended with a missed field goal.
On Oakley’s ensuing drive, the Monarchs got pressure on the Plainsmen quarterback with Grant Nehls, Bradon Gilmore and Kenneth Walker who combined for a strip-sack and Nehls recovered the loose ball and returned it inside the Oakley 25-yard line.
TMP drove down and capped off the short-field touchdown drive with a one-yard touchdown run by Carson Liles on fourth down, making it 7-0 after the touchdown and extra point.
Oakley (2-3, 1-2 MCL, 1-1 1A-D8) was forced to punt on their next two drives while the Monarchs scored on six straight to close out the night.
TMP put together a second straight seven-play drive that was capped off by an 11-yard touchdown run from Jackson Gillespie, his first of three on the night, for a 14-0 TMP lead.
The touchdown was set up by a 33-yard pass completion from Liles to Nehls.
Oakley answered right back with a 77-yard touchdown run on the first play of their drive, cutting the TMP lead to 21-7.
With just 58 seconds to play, TMP took over deep in their own territory after a penalty.
TMP wasted no time marching down the field on seven plays and in 55 seconds, with Liles finding Nehls for a 24-yard touchdown, putting TMP up 21-7 at halftime.
The Monarchs opened the second half with the football and took advantage of a short field with Gillespie scoring on a 36-yard touchdown run for a 28-7 TMP lead.
After Oakley got a touchdown back, on a tipped pass, cutting the TMP lead to 28-14, the Monarchs.
On the ensuing drive, Nehls hauled in a highlight reel one-handed catch in Oakley territory, covering 22 yards and setting up Gillespie for a 29-yard touchdown run as TMP took control once again with the 35-14 lead midway through the third quarter.
TMP recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff that set up the Monarchs with a short field, taking over at the Oakley 25-yard line.
Liles finished the drive with a 38-yard field goal for a 38-14 lead with just under three minutes left in the third quarter.
Oakley, who struggled with kickoff returns all night long, fumbled inside their 10-yard line, and on third down, Cade Dinkel intercepted a pass and returned it 23 yards for the score, putting TMP up 45-14, his second career pick-six.
The Monarchs added their final touchdown, a two-yard touchdown run by Nehls, making it 52-14.
Oakley was able to find the endzone one more time, in the final minutes, as TMP wins their fifth straight against the Plainsmen 52-21.
Unofficially, TMP amasses 386 yards of offense, with 190 yards through the air and another 196 on the ground.
Carson Liles completed 13-of-18 passes for 190 yards and one touchdown.
Grant Nehls recorded his first 100-yard receiving game with five catches and 122 yards and one touchdown.
Jackson Gillespie notched his third career 100-yard rushing game with 120 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries.
TMP will travel to Syracuse for a district contest next Tuesday.