Missed PATs was Conway Springs demise in Phillipsburg win in Class 2A playoffs
Cardinal Chase Ast makes a catch during a critical drive.
by James Jordan, Sumner Newscow — It was the difference in extra points. Phillipsburg converted its PATs, Conway Springs didn’t. And that allowed Phillipsburg to beat Conway Springs 25-24 in the state Class 2A quarterfinal playoffs Friday.
The game was considered the key Class 2A playoff game of the week in Conway Springs, pitting Phillipsburg at No. 1 in K-Preps and Conway Springs ranked No. 3. In the end, Phillipsburg proved its ranking while host Conway Springs season ends with a 10-1 record.
Conway Springs had four touchdowns, but was unable to convert any points after. Phillipsburg had three touchdowns with two PAT kicks, one PAT run, and a field goal to pick up the one-point win, (see game stats here).
Overall, Conway Springs outgained Phillipsburg 371 to 292 yards.
Conway Springs scored on its first possession and led for much of the game.
Peyton Winter had 83 yards in loss to Phillipsburg.
Especially in the second half, Phillipsburg was able to convert third and long situations into first downs, and that kept drives alive.
Peyton Winter scored on a six-yard run on the first drive for Conway Springs, and a pass for two failed.
Trelan Gross scored on a six-yard run for Phillipsburg on the next possession. Jonathan Hunnicut added the extra point and Phillipsburg led 7-6.
Conway Springs responded with another drive that included a pass from Collin Koester to Zachary Mercer for 20 yards, and Koester had a couple of nice runs. Koester scored with 20 seconds left in the first quarter from six yards out, and again a two-point conversion try failed.
With about eight minutes left in the second quarter, Hunnacutt kicked a 32-yard field goal to cut Conway Springs’ lead dto 12-10.
The Cardinals put another drive together, but gave up the ball on downs on the Phillipsburg three yard line with just over a minute left in the half.
Mercer scored on a 63-yard run on the first possession of the second half, and Conway Springs led 18-10.
Quarterback Trey Sides, also the punter, scored on a 43-yard run on a fourth down play on Phillipsburg’s next drive. Sides passed to Gross for a two-point conversion and the score was tied with four minutes left in the third quarter.
Aaron May with one of his three rushing attempts.
Conway Springs retook the lead though with Mercer scoring from 14 yards out. Another the two-point try failed, the Cardinals led 24-18 as the third quarter ended.
Phillipsburg then put together the winning drive, converting two third-downs and one fourth down, and finally scoring on a two-yard run by Gross. Hunnacutt added the extra point and the score was 25-24 with eight minutes left.
Conway Springs got one more drive going but it stalled out near midfield.
Phillipsburg managed to get some first downs and Conway Springs got one last gasp try with 1:20 left in the game.
The Cardinals had 320 yards rushing.
Mercer led the Cardinals with 153 yards rushing, and he had two pass receptions for 46 yards. Peyton Winter rushed for 83 yards and Koester had 52.
Gross had 81 yards rushing for Phillipsburg, and Nathan Moon had 66. Trey Sides had 50 more rushing.
