Hays Post Sports
HAYS – The TMP-Marian Monarchs took advantage of several
first-half mistakes by the Plainville Cardinals, and the Monarchs' offense put
together one of its best games of the year in a 27-12 win Friday at Lewis
Field.
The Monarchs' offense set the tone early with an 18-play drive that covered 89 yards with Carson Liles finding Isaac Purinton from 11 yards out for a 7-0 lead after the extra point.
Liles rushed for 43 of his game and career-high 105 yards on the opening drive.
Plainville answered right back, scoring on an 84-yard touchdown pass on a wide receiver screen, but they failed on the two-point conversion, leaving TMP with a 7-6 lead with just less than two minutes remaining in the opening quarter.
On the Monarchs' second offensive possession, they again drove deep into the Cardinals’ territory but turned the ball over on downs.
TMP forced Plainville into a three-and-out, but a botched fourth-down play ended with defensive lineman Kenneth Walker intercepting the pass by the Plainville punter and giving TMP the ball at the Plainville 18-yard line.
Liles took advantage of the short field, finding Purinton for the second time, from 19 yards out, giving TMP a 14-6 lead with just over eight minutes left in the first half.
Plainville fumbled on its next drive, and Liles went back to the air for his third touchdown pass, this time finding Grant Nehls from 27 yards out, putting TMP up 20-6 after a failed extra-point attempt.
TMP took the 20-6 lead into the halftime break.
In the second half, the Monarchs forced a turnover on downs on the Cardinals' opening possession, after the Cardinals were aided by a penalty that negated an interception.
Liles broke free for a 52-yard run, setting up Jackson Gillspie from eight yards out, giving TMP the 27-6 lead with just over three minutes left in the third quarter.
Plainville added a late touchdown to close out the contest as TMP picked up the 27-12 victory.
The Monarchs outgained Plainville 400 to 255 total yards of offense.
Carson Liles finished 12-of-18 passing for 224 yards with three touchdowns. He added 105 yards on 16 carries.
Grant Nehls recorded his second career 100-yard receiving game with six catches for 130 yards and one touchdown.
TMP finishes as the district runner-up and will face Valley Heights next Friday night at Lewis Field in Hays in the first round of the 1A playoffs.