By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post Sports
HAYS – The TMP-Marian Monarchs advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the second time in three years as they took down Valley Heights in the opening round of the 1A playoffs Thursday night, 36-7 at Lewis Field in Hays.
It took both teams some time to settle in. The Mustangs missed a field goal and punted on their first two drives while the Monarchs went three-and-out and fumbled twice on their first three drivers.
After the struggles, both teams caught fire with three big plays. TMP’s Jackson Gillespie broke free on a 66-yard gain, only to see him fumble on the next play.
The Mustangs answered with a 91-yard touchdown run, for a 7-0 Mustangs lead.
On the ensuing drive, Carson Liles found Grant Nehls for a 78-yard touchdown pass—the first of three similar connections on the night.
After two penalties for the Mustangs, TMP went for two, making it 8-7 TMP with a little more than 10 and a half minutes left in the first half.
TMP then forced Valley Heights to punt, and after another long Gillespie run, Liles found Nehls for an 11-yard score and a 15-7 TMP lead.
The Monarchs forced Valley Heights into another punt, and with the short field, Liles aired it out once more to Nehls for his third catch of the first half, covering 41 yards and setting TMP up for a Liles 11-yard touchdown run and a 22-7 halftime lead.
The Monarchs took the ball to start the second, and it took just three minutes for TMP to score again. This time it was Nash Dreiling picking up a TMP fumble at the one-yard line and taking it in for the score and a TMP 29-7 lead with eight minutes left in the third quarter.
In the final frame, TMP tacked on the third Liles to Nehl from 26 yards out. Putting the Monarchs up 36-7.
Unofficially, TMP outgained the Cardinals 493 to 236 total yards.
Carson Liles finished 9-of-15 passing for a career-high 252 yards and three touchdowns.
Jackson Gillespie amassed 186 yards on 16 carries. With the 186 rushing yards, Gillespie surpassed 1,000 career rushing yards.
Grant Nehls recorded three sacks on defense and added a career-high 177 yards five receptions and three touchdowns.
TMP will travel to Smith Center to take on the Redmed in the second round after the 36-7 victory.
Smith Center defered Whitewater-Remington 64-0 Thursday.