Anderson County puts end to Fort Scott's playoff hopes

Saturday, October 25, 2008

GARNETT, Kan. -- After a 33-20 loss to Anderson County in Class 4A District play here Friday night, Fort Scott will miss the playoffs for the first time since 1998. The Tigers (0-2 in district, 3-5 overall) will also have their first losing record since 1994, when they were 3-6, and just their second sub-.500 season since 1988.

Chanute clinched a playoff berth with a 37-0 win over Iola as the Blue Comets improved to 2-0 in district play. They hold the tie-breakers over both of the teams that could tie with them. The winner of next week's Iola-Anderson County game (both teams are 1-1 in district play) will win the second playoff berth. Chanute, Iola and Anderson County all have overall records of 6-2.

Fort Scott last missed the playoffs in 1998, when it was a Class 5A school and only one team advanced out of each district. The Tigers were 8-1 that season but that loss came to Pittsburg in the final game of the regular season. Fort Scott had never missed the playoffs as a Class 4A school (1996-97, 2000-07).

The Tigers trailed for most of three quarters but found a way to get themselves back into the contest with two quick touchdowns late in the third period. The Bulldogs, who led 12-6 at the half, extended the lead at the end of a drive that last more than seven minutes at the beginning of the half when quarterback Galen Ryman scoed on a one-yard plunge with 4:38 left in the third.

But the Tigers drove back as junior quarterback Ben Gettler kept the drive alive with a third-down, 51-yard run that put Fort Scott at Anderson County's 22-yard line. Mitchell Stoughton ran on the next two plays, the second an eight-yard scamper with 2:31 to go. Stoughton also ran in the two-point conversion to bring the Tigers within 19-14.

Fort Scott forced a punt, then Gettler ran for 55 yards on the first play of the ensuing drive to get to the Bulldogs' one. He snuck over on the next play to put the Tigers ahead for the first time, 20-19, with 1:09 left in the period. Fort Scott went for two points but didn't make it.

Anderson County was able to answer right back when it capped a 14-play, 6 1/2-minute drive with another one-yard run from Ryman with 6:28 left in the game. A two-point pass was unsuccessful, so the Bulldogs led 25-20.

The teams exchanged punts but the Bulldogs were able to pin the Tigers at their own 12 with 2:17 to go. Gettler was sacked for an eight-yard loss on the first play. On the third play, Bulldog defender Logan Fritz intercepted a screen pass and returned it for the clinching score with 1:32 to go.

The Tigers struggled defensively against the Bulldogs' pistol but not from Anderson County's passing game. Instead, eight different players rushed the ball a total of 56 times for 260 yards for the Bulldogs, with many long gains as ball carriers either broke tackles or found the holes in the defense. Ryman rushed 18 times for 82 yards and tailback Allen Troyer carried nine times for 73 yards.

Fort Scott spotted Anderson County a 12-0 lead. The Bulldogs had to drive only 38 yards for their first score, a one-yard run by Joseph Whitman just over three minutes into the contest. ACHS made it a 12-0 game when Ryman found receiver Ethan Schillig from 16 yards out with 5:59 to go. Anderson County drove 61 yards but gained 26 and 28 yards on back-to-back rushes by Kevin Yoder and Troyer.

Fort Scott got on the board with 8:31 left in the second quarter as Aaron Judy, now playing fullback, set up his own one-yard plunge with a 49-yard gain to get the ball to the Anderson County four. He scored two plays later.

The Tigers rushed for 135 of their 205 rushing yards in the second half. Gettler gained 86 yards on seven carries, Stoughton 64 on 12 totes and Judy 54 on six rushes.

Gettler, starting at quarterback for the second straight game, completed four of 18 passes for 46 yards. Gary Floyd caught two of them for 15 yards. Ryman was seven of 18 for 77 yards and Schillig caught three passes for 43 yards.

The Tigers will play their final game of the season at 7 p.m. Thursday night against Chanute at Frary Field, with the senior class looking to win at home for the first time this season. Iola and Anderson County will square off in Garnett on the same night.

NOTES -- Fort Scott had just seven first downs on the night. Anderson County had 13 first downs by halftime and 22 in the game. The final total was one more than Labette County gained in an Sept. 26 game the Tigers won 46-28....

This was Anderson County's second win over Fort Scott in the last three seasons. A 16-15 win for the Bulldogs at Garnett in 2006 was the Bulldogs' first-ever win over the Tigers. However, Fort Scott still leads the series 4-2....