Hays Post Sports
The TMP-Marian Monarchs could not overcome three first-half turnovers as their season came to an end with a 28-7 loss to the Inman Teutons in the sectional round of the Class 1A state playoffs Friday at Lewis Field in Hays.
TMP (10-1) opened the game with the ball and put together an 11-play drive that set the Monarchs up inside the Inman red zone. However, a penalty pushed them back, and an Austin Liles interception ended the TMP threat at the Teutons' 12-yard line.
After an Inman three-and-out, TMP was driving again, but the Teutons played the Monarchs' option well, forcing Liles into a bad pitch. Inman recovered the ball and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown, taking a 7-0 lead with more than nine minutes remaining in the first half after the extra point.
Trailing 7-0, the Monarchs put together another long drive, but Jackson Gillespie fumbled inside the red zone. It was the Monarchs' third turnover of the first half and their second inside the Inman red zone.
Neither team was able to do much on its next offensive possession until late in the first half, when Inman used a 41-yard pass play to set up a 1-yard touchdown run. The Teutons converted the two-point attempt to take a 15-0 lead with 32 seconds remaining in the first half.
To open the second half, TMP's defense stopped the Teutons, and a 24-yard Nash Dreiling punt return, with an additional 15 yards added for an Inman facemask penalty, gave the Monarchs excellent field position at the Inman 41-yard line.
Gillespie scored on the very next play with a 41-yard run, and Liles' extra point pulled TMP within eight at 15-7 with just over seven minutes remaining in the third quarter.
The Monarchs' defense forced a punt on the Teutons' next possession, and it appeared TMP had all the momentum. However, Inman's punt pinned the Monarchs at their own 1-yard line.
TMP was unable to move the ball, and a short punt followed by a strong return gave Inman possession at the TMP 25-yard line. Two plays later, the Teutons capped the drive with a touchdown, extending their lead to 21-7 just six seconds into the fourth quarter.
In the final quarter, the Monarchs' offense threatened but could not find the end zone. Inman added its final score with just under five minutes remaining to secure the 28-7 victory.
TMP was held to 218 yards of total offense, including 146 yards on the ground. Senior running back Jackson Gillespie surpassed 2,200 career rushing yards in the game and finished with 35 career rushing touchdowns.
Freshman quarterback Austin Liles completed 6 of 16 passes for 73 yards and an interception.
Jacob Seib hauled in four catches for 70 yards.
The 2026 Monarchs finished with 10 wins for the first time in program history. TMP started the season 10-0 before finishing 10-1.