Grady Norris gets Wellington on the board. (Photos by Eric Rinehart).

By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Not since 2011, when Wellington opened with a victory over Andale, did the Crusaders make the Indians sweat as much as they did Friday night.

Andale pulled out a 56-48 victory in Wellington on a hot, sultry evening at Sellers Park in a nearly three-hour game. The contest featured 14 touchdowns, more than 100 points of combined scoring, 999 yards of total offense, eight lead changes, and an exhausting array of big-time plays.

“This was the best game I’ve seen Wellington play since coming here,” said Jeremiah Meeks, Wellington’s head football coach.

Another school record breaking night for Dusty Bannister.

Dusty Bannister, perhaps, broke another school record. According to Andale statistics, he threw for 480 yards, Wellington has him for 463. He threw for 472 against Rose Hill last year.

Bannister broke the school’s all-time passing completion per game record, completing 24 passes on 35 attempts. Carter Burnett, Grady Norris, and Jagger Norris combined for 172, 131, and 92, respectively, and accounted for four touchdowns.

“Our offensive line played so well,” Meeks said. “Andale couldn’t stop the pass, but we were able to run when we wanted to. I told the line that if they continue to play at that level, we are going to be really, really good down the stretch.

He also had big praise for Burnett.

“Carter proved tonight he is the best high school receiver in the state of Kansas.”

Wellington may be 0-2, but outgained both opponents by at least 90 yards. Wellington had 544 yards to Andale’s 455. It came down to a battle between Wellington’s passing and Andale’s rushing attack. The game also had no turnovers. Both teams fumbled one time. Wellington recovered its fumble. Andale gave up a huge touchdown opportunity in the first half.

Wellington’s defense of Hank Shinliver and Cole Zeka stops Andale in second quarter.

So, how did Wellington lose this game? Just looking at the stats, it didn’t make sense.

You have to look at the special teams. Andale routinely started with field position at midfield, resulting in less field to work with. Each team scored seven touchdowns. Andale was a perfect 7-of-7 on two-point conversions. Wellington gave up seven points, missing two two-point PATs and kicking three extra points.

Andale’s defense didn’t stop Wellington at all in the second half, except for one critical drive. Andale was leading 48-41, when Wellington was facing a fourth-and-6. Bannister could not connect with Grady Norris with 4:31 to play and Andale took over on downs. The Indians took the ball down the field and scored on a gassed Wellington defense with 2 minutes to play, leading 56-41

The Crusaders made one last great drive on a 6-play 75-yard drive that ended with Bannister throwing a 33-yarder to G. Norris with 1:11 to play. And darned if the onsides kick almost went Wellington’s way, with Andale securing it for the win.

Wellington enters field carrying the U.S. Flag.

The game had drama before anyone made contact. Three times kicker Cole Zeka fired the ball out of bounds to open the game and Wellington was kicking from the 25. And Andale eventually started at the Wellington 35. Four plays later Andale scored on a Sam Harp 2-yard keeper and Crusader fans were grumbling “here we go again.”

But that didn’t happen. Wellington scored on a 70-yard touchdown pass from Bannister to Burnett and it was 8-6. Andale wheeled its way back into the red zone and it appeared Cooper Marx was on his way to the end zone when he fumbled the ball away and Tristan Tencleve recovered in the end zone.

Later in the quarter, Andale was held on a three-and-out, and suddenly, this was looking like a different type of game against the black-and-gold. With 11:05 in the second, Bannister connected with G. Norris to make it 14-8.

There was only one fumble for a loss but it was a huge one for Andale.

Andale seized back the lead and added another touchdown later to make it 24-14 with 3:23 in the second quarter. But Bannister connected with the third receiver to score a touchdown on a Jagger Norris 36-yard score. Wellington went into halftime trailing 24-21. At that time, Bannister had already thrown for 236 yards.

In the second half, the Crusaders got a huge reception from Bannister to Burnett, putting the Dukes at the 1. Bannister, who had six of them on Friday (tying another school record for most TDs in a game), scrambled in from the 1.

This game became a free-for-all for the rest of the night. Andale scored, Wellington scored, Andale scored again, as did Wellington.

In the end, we were all exhausted.

Click to enlarge.

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