HAYS – The TMP-Marian Monarchs scored two more defensive touchdowns as they picked up their first playoff win since 2002 Friday night in a 42-18 win over Minneapolis.
It took the Monarchs (7-2) a little bit to get going on Friday night. Their only two drives in the first quarter showed promise, both reached inside the Lions’ 40-yardline, but penalties doomed the first one and an inception at the goal line ended the second one.
With the game tied at zero the Monarchs defense would get the scoring started.
After the TMP interception Kenton Ginther tipped a pass at the 20-yardline and hauled it in and returned the interception for a touchdown, the first of his career. Ginther also caught the two-point conversion pass to put TMP up 8-0.
Three plays later Jace Wentling hauled in his sixth career touchdown and returned for a touchdown, the third of his career on defense, to put the Monarchs up 15-0 with just over 3:30 to play in the first quarter.
In the last two years TMP has scored eight touchdowns on defense, four this year.
After the defense led the way in the first quarter, the offense found its rhythm in the second quarter.
Midway through the second-quarter quarterback Kade Harris hooked up with Mark Rack for a 57-yard touchdown pass giving TMP a 22-0 lead.
A little more than five and a half minutes later the Monarchs scored again through the air. This time it was Wentling turning in a shallow crossing route into a 41-yard touchdown putting TMP up 29-0.
The first half came to a bizarre end with a Minneapolis (4-5) player was called for a person foul and ejected for targeting and as the teams were leaving the field the Minneapolis coach got an unsportsmanlike penalty.
As a result of the penalties TMP kicked off from the Minneapolis 30-yardline.
Minneapolis was forced to punt after starting deep in their own territory.
The Monarchs wasted no time to get the offense going in the second half when Andrew Schwartz scored from 19 yards out to put TMP up 36-0 with just over seven minutes left in the third quarter.
Griffin Schumacher added a 19-yard touchdown less than a minute into the fourth quarter to put up 42-0.
In the second-half of the fourth quarter Minneapolis was able to score three touchdowns, two throw the air and one on the ground after the game was well in hand.
Harris was three-for-four for 106 yards passing with two touchdowns and an interception.
He added 83 yards on the ground.
Schumacher added 61 yards on the ground.
TMP will travel to Hoisington next Friday for a second-round matchup with the Cardinals.